According to the latest report, unlike Windows 10, Windows 11 has a new, modern “Fluent smooth scroll bar”, which changes shape when users interact with it.
Smooth scrollbars are dynamic, they scale automatically on different form factors or when changing the size of the window, it is currently used in settings, media players, etc. applications.
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Moreover, Google’s Chrome browser may soon have smooth scroll bars, according to a new proposal from Microsoft. In a proposal, Microsoft said they wanted to modernize the old scrollbars in Chrome to align Google Chrome with Windows 11 design standards.
The proposal aims to modernize Chromium’s scrollbars (both overlays and non-overlays) to accommodate Windows 11’s fluid design language. In addition, Microsoft is also considering some visual changes to the way users interact with scroll bars in Chrome, with different modes.
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Minimalist Mode: This will be the default design of the scrollbar.
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Full Mode: Full mode scrollbars are when the cursor is over the scrollbar area, all parts such as thumbs or buttons are drawn.
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Hidden Mode: This is a new feature, the scrollbar will fade out completely and may not be able to find the exact position on the page. Google has raised concerns about the hidden mode, and Microsoft is actively exploring a better way to handle visual improvements.
Other features/changes:
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Scrollbars covered by the root will always exist in minimal mode.
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When the pointer is directly on the track, the scroll bar transitions to full mode.
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On startup, all scrollbars are drawn, the root scrollbar is still visible (in minimal mode), and the rest fade out.
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When the pointer enters a non-root scroll node, the scroll bar is drawn in minimal mode.
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The scroll bar in minimal mode fades out when the pointer leaves the node’s bounds.
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Text matching via Ctrl+F causes the scrollbar to draw in full mode immediately, with a checkmark on the track at the matching position.
Microsoft also points out that “Hidden Mode” can be bypassed with Windows 11’s native solution “Always On Scrollbars”. As with macOS, you can “Always show scroll bars” from Settings -> Accessibility -> Visual Effects. The new scrollbar will be aware of local settings.
“When the feature is enabled, scroll bars will be drawn in full mode. Under this OS setting, scroll bars will take up layout space,” Microsoft noted.
Furthermore, Microsoft’s proposed scrollbar will behave more like an overlay scrollbar. They will be thinner, with inset and rounded edges. If Google developers reject overlay scroll bars, Microsoft also plans to redesign non-overlapping scroll bars to modernize Chrome on Windows 11.
Microsoft has been considering this feature for Chromium-based web browsers since January 2022. Back in 2021, a Microsoft developer has confirmed that the company intends to bring some of Edge’s design improvements to the Chromium open source project as well.
