Turn On Auto For Chrome Software Updates Itself

Google says all Chrome OS devices now receive regular upgrades for a minimum of six and a half years from when their chipset first appeared on the platform which usually ends up meaning any given device will be updated for at least five years from its initial sale date.

It looks like Android, it acts like Android, and it even runs Android apps.

But for all their similarities, Chrome OS and Android still differ in some pretty significant ways.

One of those is how the two operating systems handle upgrades.

Software updates on Chrome OS are much simpler, more frequent, and more consistent than what you see on Android to put it mildly and you as the user have far more visibility into what exactly is happening and whats ahead.

Whether youre already using Chrome OS or just thinking about giving it a whirl, here are some important things to know and remember.

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Chrome OS upgrades happen automatically and quietly, with no annoying delays or notifications.

The first rule of Chrome OS upgrades is that your device doesnt talk about Chrome OS upgrades.

Turn On Auto For Chrome Software Updates Itself

Googles software updates itself automatically in the background while youre using your Chromebook; the system wont pester you to reboot or make you wait while it applies new software at startup (with the exception being the very first time you power up and sign into a new Chrome OS device).

Youll see a small arrow icon in the lower-right corner of the screen, near the clock, whenever a new update has been downloaded and is ready to go.

If you open it, the system will offer you the opportunity to apply the update immediately; otherwise, itll just take effect on its own with no fanfare the next time you restart.

You can manually force a Chromebook to check for updates by going into its Help screen (chrome:help) but unless youre just impatient and itching for something new, theres really no need to do that.

The updates will always show up and take care of themselves in short order.

Chrome OS upgrades arrive every two to three weeks sometimes even more frequently regardless of what device you have.

Software updates on Chrome OS are delivered multiple times a month and since theyre sent to all devices directly from Google, they generally show up for everyone at more or less the same time.

Device-makers cant modify the operating system as they can with Android, so theres no real variance in the software from one device to the next and thus no need for manufacturers to be involved in the rollout process.

You can step up your Chrome OS update schedule and get early access to new features if you want.

Like Googles Chrome browser, Chrome OS has three different channels from which you can choose: the Stable channel, which provides fully tested and polished software and is the best bet for most users; the Beta channel, which is updated every week or so and sees new features more than a month ahead of their Stable channel release; and the Dev channel, which is often updated multiple times a week and includes cutting-edge stuff thats still actively being developed (and often rough around the edges or sometimes even completely nonfunctional as a result).

If you want to try out a different channel, type chrome:help into the address bar of a browser tab on your Chromebook.

Select the channel you want and follow the steps the system provides to complete the process.

Just be aware that anything other than Stable can by its very nature make your system less stable to use, since it relies on software thats still being tested and developed instead of a polished final release.

The Dev channel in particular comes with a warning that its subject to bugs and should be selected only by advanced users who are interested in seeing whats in the works and dont mind the occasional glitch.

You can always find out whats new in a Chrome OS update if you know where to look.

Even though Chrome OS itself doesnt typically jump and shout about incoming upgrades, Google does make detailed info about whats new readily available for the curious among us.

The easiest way to keep tabs on releases is to follow the official Chrome Releases blog.

Look for the posts involving the Chrome OS channel you use ( Stable Channel Update for Chrome OS, for instance), and click inside to find out whats changed with any given update.

Chrome OS devices dont receive updates forever, but they do get them for a pretty long time.

Turn On Auto Update For Chrome Mac