Google Web Light is a compression proxy service offered by Google. It is aimed for mobile devices having slow internet connection. It transcodes web pages to a compressed and optimized version, and hence results faster web browsing experience with saving bandwidth consumption.
Google announced this service in April 2015, and claims that the Web Light optimized pages load 4x faster and use 80% less data than the original pages. Google has now integrated Web Light compression proxy in the search results on mobile devices in few countries like India, Indonesia and Brazil. Whenever Google Search detects slow internet connection on a mobile device, it serves result pages through the proxy.
Thankfully, one can use the Web Light proxy service even on the desktop platforms. Google suggests to use device emulation in Chrome to test out pages served through Web Light proxy, but that’s not necessary. To test it yourself, browse any public web URL formatted like http://googleweblight.com/?lite_url=%5Byour_URL].
Chrome Extension
I’ve created a tiny extension for Google Chrome browser, which enables you to easily open the current tab and links via Google Web Light proxy. Use extension’s button on the toolbar, option in the context menu or the keyboard shortcut Alt + G.
Install this extension from Chrome Web Store.
Note that the transcoding may strip down the page contents, and thus, page may not render as the original one. For example, here is the link to the transcoded output for this web page.
Liked this extension? Rate it 5-star on the store, and check out my other extensions and Chrome apps.
very useful to unblock thesis and research papers websites. I use it daily to save lots of money. thank you.
I am using this to bypass medium.com paywall. visit any medium post page, and they will block content and ask for $5 membership … click on icon of this extension on toolbar and medium article would load in a new tab via google proxy .. full content.
thanks browsernative for creating this tiny extension
This tool is extremely easy to use, great for low speed internet connections or if you want to unblock websites at school and whatnot.
Great extension. I have one request. Please add the option to not automatically take the focus to the newly launched tab after you click “Open via GWL” off the context menu. Often I like to launch a bunch of URL links into GWL tabs. I can do so much more efficiently if I can just stay on that same source page without being taken to the newly opened tab every time. Plus it avoids distraction so I can continue reading the source page if I’m not done there yet. And/or if you could enable it via a keyboard shortcut combo, like I always use “Ctrl+left mouse click” when I click on links to launch URL’s into new tabs (when I’m not using GWL extension), and the options of the browser enable me to maintain focus on my source page rather than jumping to the new tab immediately. So a keyboard shortcut, like even just holding down “Crtl” when clicking “Open via GWL” off the context menu (to maintain focus on originating/source page) would be GREAT! Please, consider. Your extension should be much more widely used, known and popular than it is. Highly useful. Cuts down on memory and bandwidth usage! Great stuff. Spread the word! 🙂 Hope you can find the time to tend to my humble request. Shouldn’t be too complicated I shouldn’t think. Thank you! 🙂
Gud extension
Works great. Google web light is an excellent service by Google. It acts as a proxy, finally we have a reliable proxy site!
thanks browsernative for this extension 10/10
good extension 🙂
please update the app like a vpn
Thanks for adding keyboard command. Very useful.
@Payel: you can find our other extensions and apps on this page: https://browsernativeapps.wpcomstaging.com/extensions/
Hi Arpit thank you for Web Light Proxy Chrome extension. Would you please share what are the other tools you manage?