Google announced that the lock will be replaced by a new “tune” icon with the release of Chrome 117 in September to help users better understand what its actual purpose is.

Chrome's lock symbol will be based on this tune image. Google Chrome. To replace it, the team behind Chrome is working on a version of tune icon (pictured at right) that encourages people to click ...

Google will retire Chrome’s HTTPS padlock icon because no one knows what it means Google says only 11% of users understand "the precise meaning of the lock icon." ...

Google says it will roll out the new icon with Chrome 117, which is set to launch in September, 2023. But folks running beta, dev, or canary channel builds of Chrome may be able to see it sooner.

Google is bringing a subtle yet controversial change to its Chrome web browser. Beginning with Chrome 117, secure HTTPS connections will no longer have a padlock icon next to the URL.

The former was once an exception for specific sites where security was paramount (Netscape introduced SSL 2.0 in February 1995), and Google Chrome's lock icon is a remnant from that time.

Google now plans to replace the lock next to the address in Chrome with a variant of the "tune" icon you see below. Simply put, most people don't understand it.

On iOS, Google is fully removing the lock, as the icon isn’t tappable on this platform at all. Google previously tried to get rid of the lock icon in 2018. Back then, HTTPS sites still carried a ...