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There are command line flags (or "switches") that Chromium (and Chrome) accept in order to enable particular features or modify otherwise default functionality.

I want to add --sync-url flag to use my sync server instead of Google sync servers. chrome://flags only enable/disable flags but won't let you add a new flag.

Tried Chrome 41.0.xx and Chromium 43.0.xxx shell with:

# echo "chrome <flags>" > /data/local/tmp/android-webview-command-line
# echo "chrome <flags>" > /data/local/tmp/content-shell-command-line
# echo "chrome --sync-url whatever" > /data/local/tmp/chrome-command-line

Any idea how to run Chrome with flags on Android or directly add these to the default profile?

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  • Hey, if my answer has helped you, I'd appreciate it if you could "accept" it. This community only works if people who volunteer answers get something back :)
    – Munim
    Commented Apr 2, 2015 at 11:16
  • No luck, not reflected in chrome://sync-internals or chrome://version
    – Laam Alif
    Commented Apr 12, 2015 at 14:48

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
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You need to add the entire command into the /data/local/tmp/chrome-command-line file. For example, I usually you want to skip the "First run experience", and I do:

# echo "chrome --disable-fre" > /data/local/tmp/chrome-command-line

You probably need

# echo "chrome --sync-url whatever" > /data/local/tmp/chrome-command-line

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  • 1
    Seems the OP has updated his question without informing you that it's not working.
    – Andrew T. ♦
    Commented May 11, 2015 at 1:10
  • @AndrewT. Yep.. I am pretty sure this is the correct way to set a command line switch in mobile chrome as I use it regularly. There must be some other reason the sync url is not being set. In any case, I think I answered the question asked.
    – Munim
    Commented May 11, 2015 at 8:31
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    Reading from other source, I found similar syntax for Chromium (different file, as already mentioned by OP), so I believe this answer should be correct. Perhaps the problem is the sync URL itself.
    – Andrew T. ♦
    Commented May 11, 2015 at 8:34
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I just went through this myself on Android 5.0.1. It's what was mentioned by Munim with two important tweaks.

  1. In chrome://flags, enable the "Enable command line on non-rooted devices" flag, this makes Chrome look in /data/local/tmp/chrome-command-line (instead of /data/local/chrome-command-line)
  2. Create the chrome-command-line file with chrome plus the additional flags you want (no need to repeat existing flags found in about:version), e.g. chrome --sync-url whatever
  3. Change the mode of the chrome-command-line file to 755, e.g. chmod 755 chrome-command-line
  4. Restart Chrome and verify that the flags you specified appear in about:version at the beginning
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