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Chrome to Default to HTTPS-First, Warning on Public HTTP Sites in 2026

The change is meant to curb man-in-the-middle risks left by lingering HTTP use.

Overview

  • Starting with Chrome 154 in October 2026, Chrome will enable Always Use Secure Connections by default and ask permission before first access to any public site without HTTPS.
  • In April 2026, Chrome 147 will turn the feature on for more than 1 billion users enrolled in Enhanced Safe Browsing.
  • The default applies to public websites, while private and local addresses such as intranets and router pages are exempt unless users choose to include them.
  • Chrome will limit prompts to new or infrequently visited insecure pages, and Google’s testing shows the median user sees fewer than one warning per week.
  • Google cites HTTPS adoption of roughly 95–99% of Chrome navigations, users can disable the setting, and site operators have about a year to migrate remaining public HTTP endpoints.