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Reduced User-Agent strings by default

Category
Miscellaneous
Type
New or changed feature
Status
Proposed (Chrome Proposed)
Intent stage
None

Summary

Starting in Chrome 145, we will remove the **UserAgentReduction** policy. This policy was previously available to control whether Chrome sent a reduced or full User-Agent string. To enhance user privacy and reduce passive tracking capabilities, Chrome began reducing the information contained in the User-Agent header by default in Chrome version 110. The **UserAgentReduction** policy was provided as a temporary measure for enterprises to manage this transition. The recommended mechanism for websites to access browser and device information is now User-Agent Client Hints (UA-CH). UA-CH requires websites to actively request specific information, which is a more privacy-preserving approach than the legacy User-Agent string. For more details, see this article on web.dev, [Migrate to User-Agent Client Hints](https://web.dev/articles/migrate-to-ua-ch). From Chrome 145 onwards, the **UserAgentReduction** policy will have no effect. Chrome will send a reduced User-Agent string by default. Systems or applications that relied on this policy to receive the full (legacy) User-Agent string may no longer receive the detailed information they expect.

Standards & signals

View on chromestatus.com