Hi,

Your system details show this extension :

'Google Search "View Image" Button 1.4' - would you disable it and see if that will make a difference  ?

Also see :

https://www.ghacks.net/2018/02/12/say-goodbye-to-the-view-image-button-on-google-images/

It doesn't change anything - I tried that before.

In addition - this is not about the missing 'view image' button. That was a change google made a few months ago - but this didn't affect the brown bar (except for that one missing button).

In my case the whole site layout was changed - as you can see on the screens...

269091 said

It doesn't change anything - I tried that before. In addition - this is not about the missing 'view image' button. In my case the whole site layout was changed - as you can see on the screens...

Yes, I got that - I merely thought that maybe the extension might be the culprit.

Does the same happen when you use another browser  ?

Google occasionally runs user interface experiments on small groups of people. Sometimes you can "escape" the experiment by clearing your Google cookies.

Before doing that, could you capture the URL of the results page to see whether it has any special parameters? Here's a minimal search with the key parameter that switches from web search to image search:

https://www.google.com/search?q=puppies&tbm=isch

I think the other parts are not critical, but for comparison:

https://www.google.com/search?q=puppies&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiznseY9-7aAhVN_oMKHTgRD6AQ_AUICigB&biw=1536&bih=764

Removing Current Site Cookies

While viewing a page on the site, try either:

• right-click (on Mac Ctrl+click) a blank area of the page and choose View Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
• (menu bar) Tools > Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
• click the padlock or "i" icon in the address bar, then the ">" button, then More Information, and finally the "View Cookies" button

In the dialog that opens, the current site should be pre-filled in the search box at the top of the dialog so you can remove that site's cookies individually.

Then try reloading the page. Does that help?

Murphy said

Does the same happen when you use another browser  ?

@jscher2000

Although it wans't what you guessed your tips where actually very helpful. By comparing your link and adding/ changing bits and pieces of mine accordingly I have found it out:

In my link it was google.de instead of com - as soon as I replaced it with google.com it was back to the view I wanted.

Seemingly they test things with the (stupid) Germans (I am one of tem ;))

Anyway - thanks a load for your help :)

I don't get that exciting alternate layout with

https://www.google.de/search?q=puppies&tbm=isch

but perhaps because I'm sitting in California.

Nah - it's not exciting - it covers part of your search results - I don't like that ;)

Nevertheless strange that you didnt get it....

With this link:

https://www.google.de/search?q=coastline&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X

I am getting the new one, and with this link:

https://www.google.com/search?q=coastline&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X

the old one...

And when I click on your puppy link in the last message I get the new one as well... odd...

I would try deleting the google.de cookies to see whether that helps.

269091 said

Nah - it's not exciting - it covers part of your search results - I don't like that ;) Nevertheless strange that you didnt get it.... With this link: https://www.google.de/search?q=coastline&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X I am getting the new one, and with this link: https://www.google.com/search?q=coastline&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X the old one...

If by 'the old one' you mean less images in a row : that's what I get when I click on your last coastline link (a lot of white space in between).