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Helium is a privacy-focused Chromium-based web browser that puts control back in your hands. Built from the Chromium source, Helium removes tracking features and adds powerful enhancements for a better browsing experience.

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Core Features

Privacy by Default

No telemetry, Safe Browsing disabled, and privacy-first configuration out of the box

Native Bangs

DuckDuckGo-style !bang shortcuts built into the omnibox for faster searching

uBlock Origin Built-in

Industry-leading content blocker pre-installed as a native component

Vertical Tabs

Modern vertical tab layout with customizable width and collapsible sidebar

UI Customization

Clean, minimal interface with reduced padding and streamlined design

Open Source

GPL-3.0 licensed with transparent development on GitHub

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Philosophy

Helium is designed around three core principles:
Every feature in Helium is evaluated through a privacy lens. We remove telemetry, disable unnecessary network requests, and configure defaults that protect your data.
  • Safe Browsing disabled (safe_browsing_mode=0)
  • No Google API keys or default client IDs
  • Remote services disabled by default
  • No field trial testing configuration
You decide how your browser works. From UI layout to search engines, Helium gives you granular control without unnecessary restrictions.
  • Customizable toolbar layout
  • Flexible vertical tab positioning (left or right)
  • Control over which services to enable
  • Add your own search engines
A fast, efficient browser shouldn’t compromise on features. Helium maintains Chromium’s performance while adding useful enhancements.
  • Native bang implementation for instant searches
  • Efficient vertical tab rendering
  • Minimal UI overhead with reduced padding
  • Built-in ad blocking without performance penalty

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What’s Removed

Helium removes features that compromise privacy or add unnecessary bloat:
  • Hangout Services Extension - Disabled (enable_hangout_services_extension=false)
  • mDNS - Removed (enable_mdns=false)
  • Remoting - Disabled (enable_remoting=false)
  • Reporting - Disabled (enable_reporting=false)
  • Service Discovery - Removed (enable_service_discovery=false)
  • Field Trial Testing - Disabled (disable_fieldtrial_testing_config=true)

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What’s Enhanced

Helium doesn’t just remove features - it adds meaningful improvements to your browsing experience.
Key enhancements include:
  1. Native Bangs System - Search across hundreds of websites instantly using !bang shortcuts, powered by a custom BangManager that integrates with Chromium’s search engine system
  2. Integrated uBlock Origin - Version 1.69.0-2 installed as a component extension, ensuring it’s always available and up-to-date
  3. Vertical Tab Support - Full vertical tab strip implementation with:
    • Resizable width (30px collapsed, 160-400px uncollapsed)
    • Snap-to-default sizing
    • Smooth animations (250ms)
    • Smart button placement
  4. Refined UI - Thoughtful design changes including:
    • Reduced corner radius for toolbar buttons
    • Cleaner tab rendering
    • Streamlined settings pages
    • Minimal padding throughout

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Getting Started

Explore each feature in detail:

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