The Hidden Subdomains
To make the web appear more user-friendly, Google Chrome hides certain parts of a website’s URL (web address) in the Omnibox. By default, Chrome strips away the https:// and the www. prefix from the address bar, displaying only the root domain and the specific page path (e.g., displaying digitash.com/article instead of https://www.digitash.com/article).
While this looks cleaner, it can be problematic for web developers, cybersecurity professionals, or power users who need to know exactly which protocol or subdomain they are connected to at a glance. Hiding the full URL can sometimes mask subtle phishing attempts that rely on look-alike subdomains. If you want Chrome to display the exact, raw URL of every page you visit without truncating anything, you can force it to show the full web address.
How to Force Chrome to Show Full URLs
You can change this behavior with a simple right-click in the address bar.
- Open Google Chrome.
- Navigate to any standard website (like google.com).
- Right-click anywhere inside the Omnibox (the address bar at the top).
- A context menu will appear. Look for the option labelled Always show full URLs.
- Click to place a checkmark next to this option.
Chrome will immediately reveal the hidden components of the web address. Every site you visit will now proudly display its full https://www. prefix, ensuring you always know the exact, unabridged path of your current location.