Chrome to Make HTTPS-Only Browsing Default Starting Next Fall

Starting in October 2026, Google Chrome version 154 is set to have “Always Use Secure Connections” turned on by default. This means Chrome will try to connect to every public website using HTTPS. If someone tries to visit a public website that does not use HTTPS, Chrome will display a warning and ask for permission before letting the user continue.

The change is designed to protect users from hackers and malware that sometimes target insecure websites. For the past decade, Google has tracked how often Chrome users visit secure (HTTPS) websites compared to insecure ones. In 2015, fewer than half of visits used HTTPS, but now that number hovers around 95%.

But even a single visit to a non-secure site is enough to cause trouble. Some insecure sites automatically lead users to secure versions, but that split second of unprotected browsing can still cause risk.

Warnings will appear in Chrome ...