I would like to add that no one of said supporting group demands having the merge feature back as default. It's really all about the removal of the option to have it that way. Please restore that checkbox. No matter how well hidden it may be.

Confirmed bug for me as well.n Ltd that for most phones, especially ones where chrome is the default browser rather than the earlier "browser" app are fairly large.  Phones where even an adult male's hands have an ergonomic issue with reaching the tab management button while maintaining a good single hand grip on the phone.

I really miss this feature too. It's a deal breaker for me. 

Browsing without it feels like stone  age again. 

This bugs me as well.
I comprehended how useful it was to have the tabs behave like apps as soon as you added that genius feature, and I appreciated it so much more as soon as it was removed, I think in error, or in a quick and not thought through call.

It has been the calling of Google to blur the difference between web apps and native apps, and that we are stepping into a future where apps and web apps will be one.
Isn't that why Google released Chromebooks?
Isn't that why there are Chrome apps?
Isn't that why merge tabs and apps was brought to Chrome Android?

You led this way and we loved it. 
which is why it makes no sense to abandon this wonderful path.

Since you removed it, dozens of users, who have grown accustomed to this new innovative and effective UI, have cone and gave you feedback on different Google forums. We still Care and we want you to take us into consideration. We represent many more who miss this feature.

1. Why not let people choose? Disable it by default and let users who like it opt in.

2. Having two different ways to switch apps (with overview) and to switch tabs (with a dedicated tab manager button at the top of the Chrome app) is not good user experience. Your users got used to doing it the same way (via the overview), which is good wanted behavior. It makes Android stand out, and is a unique selling point! People who care about this, will remain your loyal customers, and do not have any alternative. Why uproot this to be like all others?

3. Users who got used to using merge tabs and apps are now closing Chrome out of habit by swiping out the chrome app in the overview, thinking they are killing just the current tab. I still do this myself, half a year later.

4. The overview button is so comfortable on the Android platform (bottom placement near the thumb) and you have just reduced its greatness and usability. What's our advantage of using Chrome on Android? You have just made it like all others.

5. On large screen Androids, you now need two hands or a change of grip to reach the dedicated tab button on Chrome top bar. This by itself is a usability bug. What about people with smaller hands? Women? My wife says she doesn't want a big screen phone because of this. You are silently killing a market for big phones with this back step.

6. The only real problem I heard you describe is people not finding their tabs. Why not have an option to group all tabs, or group them by surfing instances. At the very least, let people have the basic option to have it, even with this inconvenience. You read all the comments above me. We like it better.

7. You said you are rolling out an improvement codenamed HERB. Can you let us know what to expect? Why remove the option before its replacement?

8. Can you just to us all a great gesture,bring merge tabs and apps back and have it turned off by default? We will love you for it.
I am now on Chrome 50, vulnerable to security risks because it is that important to me.

Eyal.

Second this. 

Using Nexus 6P is now far from what it used to be. Kept on chrome 50 until Android update, switched to alternative browser after it, usability is still subpar. 

Please don't interpret wrongly with 'very less' people urging to get this feature back.
There are many many many silent users who are using their browsers unsatisfied. And many users switched to new browser.

Honest request devs, please get this feature back. Current UI workflow is big pain for big screen phones and those who like to use phone by single hand.

I've been using "Herbs" for a while now ever since I lost merged tabs. I have tried all the flavors, and let me tell you: all of them simply don't compare to merged tabs.

Please bring it back!

On a side note, I know that the Chrome App Launcher is going away. Has someone powerful at Google decided the web "app" revolution needs to end? Is it because, money?

I have a better idea for you: make an in-app purchase system in Chrome. Problem solved!!!! It would be so easy!!!! Google would take percentage of profits, just like it does with Play Store apps.

To be clear, I meant: restore all "Web App" features including merged tabs and app launcher, then monetize on in-app purchases.

Also, this is a good idea too: place web apps into the app drawer, not just directly to the home screen. Make them more officially *apps*, then add the in-app purchase system and you will make everyone happy (including your pockets, which I'm willing to bet is the reason why you removed merged tabs, not for "code cleanliness").

In the forum: https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!msg/chrome/DN9GFt3yqPE/8ZdnvH1LEgAJ

A Google Rep mentioned "...we heard from many of you that you could not find the tabs you created. This was especially difficult on phones that do not have a dedicated Overview button."

So for some devices / users, the merged tab concept was apparently a hassle, which they had an option to opt out of, but now (because one checkbox in the settings confuses people) it's completely removed for everyone.

Instead, what if you put chrome tabs in BOTH places?

Have the tabs appear in the app overview list, as it was with merged tabs, and ALSO have the tabs in chrome's tab list. This way both sides of the fence are satisfied and we don't need that "pesky" option that google tries to avoid.

Plus, merged tabs had a really nice way of grouping new tabs together inside the app switcher. That was really nice. It was also super nice to see the web app's color in the app switcher tab header. Both of those features are missing from in-app tab switching.

Please just bring it back.

Allow the following options:

- in-app tabs only
- merged tabs only
- both at the same time (default) where tabs can be accessed in the app switcher, or inside Chrome's tab switcher. People will be able to weigh both options much more fairly.

This would be a great feature to bring back. In. Chrome 50 the web had become a part of my phone now I'm back to the feeling that the web is this external entity, something not really supported by my phone's os.

"web apps" have definitely been demoted. :[

I forgot to mention that app switcher places MRU tabs in front, but Chrome switcher doesn't.  App switcher's MRU feature is more useful!

Agree with MRU feature, chrome tab management is always a disaster for me not only on mobile but also on desktop. Imagine when 50+ open tabs... But MRU app switcher is such a great invention I need not to care what I opened anymore! Chrome devs really need to think how to improve the tab management. Merge tabs with apps was the best chrome feature I can think of but....

Please, I really want to stay with chrome. Giving you a chance to reinstate this feature before starting life with a new browser.

Not just feature. The most useful and innovative feature of chrome.

Not only Google has long pushed the idea of web apps as first class apps, of which this removed feature was a logical consequence, but also it's hard to ask the user to remember for each app if it is web based or Java based. It's an implementation detail that should not be exposed to the user. If I need to switch to an activity, say banking or reading, I don't want to have to remember if I was using a java app or a web appb for either. Excluding web apps from overview shows even Google considers web apps second class. 

I assume it would be no problem to just re-enable *the option* like it was pre-v50. It could be disabled by default, it could even be hidden in the advanced settings with the debug options.
If however valid reasons prevent tabs to show up as separate apps, please at least communicate this with the community.

I'm pretty sure even better solution would be to leave merged tabs as
default feature (no option to turn it off == cleaner code) and to transform
the button that shows open tabs (square one with number, currently present
on post-50 Chrome) to the button that 'stacks' open tabs, showing them in
row all together like the current one does. This way we can get our beloved
feature back, as well as the ones who 'could not find the tabs they
created' can find them all simply pressing the button.

Issue has not been modified or commented on in the last 365 days, please re-open or file a new bug if this is still an issue.

For more details visit https://www.chromium.org/issue-tracking/autotriage - Your friendly Sheriffbot

Please reopen this, as it is still a much desired feature. Will it reopen automatically when commented on?

Obviously it's still an issue, since nothing has been done to resolve it (nor address it). So yes, please reopen.

I miss this feature SO MUCH! Please, let us have merge tabs and apps back
as a non default option.

Just let it go. Google obviously could not care less about the fraction of percent of people asking for something. By the way there is an App-Tab-Merge App in the store, might work for you.