Google is hard at work on a new Chrome for Android feature referred to as 'download later’. The tool, spotted by TechDow’s Venkat, would do exactly what that implies. In effect, it would allow users to schedule downloads for later on in a bid to save mobile data.
The feature is currently tucked behind an experimental setting in the „chrome://flags” hidden settings menu. Once activated, it gives users the option to choose when to complete downloads. That choice appears as a pop-up window. Google offers the ability to complete downloads „Now,” „On Wi-Fi,” or on a user-selected schedule with „Pick date & time.”
The final option there calls forward Android’s date and time picker UI. Namely, that’s a calendar and then a clock. And all of the options can, apparently, be set as the default. The UI also presents a checkable box that offers not to show the box again.
Presumably, choosing to download at a specific date and time would call forward the date and time picker UI every time a download is started. That’s as opposed to just downloading on the selected schedule each and every time, which would prove problematic.
How is this download later different from how Chrome currently works?
As it presently stands, Chrome currently doesn’t offer users the option to download later. Instead, downloads just start — or fail — over mobile data. That’s an issue if the user happens to be on mobile data and a limited plan. Or if the user is on a plan that charges based on data used. And it can lead to downloads failing to initiate.
The latest change offers the option to do things differently and appears to be part of the Chrome 84 update. But there’s no indication as to when it will arrive as a default choice for end-users without the flags settings.
Here’s how you can access this feature now
As indicated above, the first step to turning on this feature early is going to be to navigate to the „chrome://flags” URL. Once there, users will need to use the search bar at the top of the page to find „Enable download later.”
To activate the feature, that setting needs to be switched over from its „Default” position to „Enabled.”
Then users will need to restart Chrome. Upon instantiating a download after that point, Chrome will no longer show the standard downloading UI. Instead, it’ll present users with the „Choose when to download” option.
Chrome for Android will soon present users with the option to schedule downloads
The post Google Looks To Bring Download Later To Chrome For Android appeared first on Android Headlines.

Source: ndroidheadlines.com