> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://tbd-6fc993ce-hypeship-docs-chrome-policy-on-demand.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Chrome policies

> Customize Chrome behavior on Kernel browsers using Chrome enterprise policies

Kernel browsers accept an optional `chrome_policy` object that lets you apply [Chrome enterprise policies](https://chromeenterprise.google/policies/) to the browser at launch. Use this to control startup behavior, default homepages, bookmarks, download UI, notifications, and other browser-level settings.

`chrome_policy` is supported on:

* [`browsers.create()`](/api-reference/browsers/create-a-browser#body-chrome-policy) — on-demand browser sessions
* [`browserPools.create()`](/api-reference/browser-pools/create-a-browser-pool#body-chrome-policy) and [`browserPools.update()`](/api-reference/browser-pools/update-a-browser-pool#body-chrome-policy) — reserved browser pools

Keys are Chrome policy names and values are the corresponding settings.

## On-demand browsers

Pass `chrome_policy` when creating an on-demand browser. The policy is applied at session creation time.

<CodeGroup>
  ```typescript Typescript/Javascript theme={null}
  import Kernel from '@onkernel/sdk';

  const kernel = new Kernel();

  const kernelBrowser = await kernel.browsers.create({
    chrome_policy: {
      HomepageLocation: "https://kernel.sh",
      HomepageIsNewTabPage: false,
      ShowHomeButton: true,
      DownloadBubbleEnabled: false,
    },
  });
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  from kernel import Kernel

  kernel = Kernel()

  kernel_browser = kernel.browsers.create(
      chrome_policy={
          "HomepageLocation": "https://kernel.sh",
          "HomepageIsNewTabPage": False,
          "ShowHomeButton": True,
          "DownloadBubbleEnabled": False,
      },
  )
  ```
</CodeGroup>

The policy is echoed on `GET /browsers/{id}` and `GET /browsers` responses so you can verify what was applied.

## Reserved browser pools

Pass `chrome_policy` when [creating](/browsers/pools/overview#create-a-pool-of-reserved-browsers) or [updating](/browsers/pools/overview#update-a-pool) a pool. Every browser in the pool launches with the policy applied. See [Custom chrome policies on pools](/browsers/pools/policy-json) for the pool-specific update flow (including `discard_all_idle`).

<CodeGroup>
  ```typescript Typescript/Javascript theme={null}
  import Kernel from '@onkernel/sdk';

  const kernel = new Kernel();

  const pool = await kernel.browserPools.create({
    name: "my-pool",
    size: 5,
    chrome_policy: {
      DownloadBubbleEnabled: false,
      HomepageLocation: "https://example.com",
    },
  });
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  from kernel import Kernel

  kernel = Kernel()

  pool = kernel.browser_pools.create(
      name="my-pool",
      size=5,
      chrome_policy={
          "DownloadBubbleEnabled": False,
          "HomepageLocation": "https://example.com",
      },
  )
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Example policies

| Policy                  | Type       | Description                                                                                |
| ----------------------- | ---------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `HomepageLocation`      | `string`   | URL loaded when clicking the home button                                                   |
| `HomepageIsNewTabPage`  | `boolean`  | When `false`, the home button navigates to `HomepageLocation` instead of the new tab page  |
| `ShowHomeButton`        | `boolean`  | Shows the home button in the toolbar                                                       |
| `NewTabPageLocation`    | `string`   | URL shown when opening a new tab                                                           |
| `RestoreOnStartup`      | `integer`  | Set to `4` to open a specific list of URLs on browser startup                              |
| `RestoreOnStartupURLs`  | `string[]` | URLs to open when the browser starts. Requires `RestoreOnStartup` set to `4`               |
| `BookmarkBarEnabled`    | `boolean`  | Shows the bookmark bar                                                                     |
| `ManagedBookmarks`      | `array`    | Pre-configured bookmarks. Supports folders via nested `children` arrays                    |
| `DownloadBubbleEnabled` | `boolean`  | Controls the download bubble UI. Set to `false` to fall back to the classic download shelf |

## Available policies

Any policy listed in the [Chrome Enterprise policy documentation](https://chromeenterprise.google/policies/) can be used in the `chrome_policy` object. Refer to the official docs for the full list of supported policy names, types, and values.