To update a Chromebook, open Settings, click About ChromeOS, then click Check for updates. ChromeOS downloads the update in the background, and you click Restart to finish. The whole thing usually takes a few minutes on Wi-Fi.
Most of the time you do not have to do anything at all. Your Chromebook checks for updates on its own and just needs a restart now and then. The manual steps below matter when you want a new feature today, or when the update seems stuck.
What do you need before you start?
- A Chromebook or other ChromeOS device that has not passed its update expiry date.
- A Wi-Fi or wired connection. ChromeOS holds back large updates on a metered mobile connection.
- A few minutes and a willingness to restart. The update only takes effect after a reboot.
How do I update my Chromebook?
- Click the time at the bottom right, then click the Settings gear.
- Click About ChromeOS at the bottom of the left pane.
- Click Check for updates. If an update is waiting, it starts downloading right away.
- When the download finishes, click Restart.
You will often see the same prompt as a small arrow icon in the status area near the clock. Clicking that gets you to the same restart button without opening Settings.
How do I know which version I have?
The version number sits right at the top of the About ChromeOS page. To compare it against what Google has shipped, check the ChromeOS row on the Chromium Dash release page at chromiumdash.appspot.com/releases. That page replaced the old OmahaProxy site that many older guides still link to.
How often do Chromebooks get updates?
The Stable channel now moves on a four-week cycle, so a new ChromeOS version lands roughly once a month. Security fixes arrive in between, without waiting for the next big release.
The old six-week cycle that many guides still mention is gone. If a page tells you to expect an update every six weeks, it was written before the change.
Which release channel should I use?
- Stable. The default. Tested, safe, updated about every four weeks. Use this on any device you rely on.
- Beta. Features arrive here before Stable. Fairly reliable, occasionally rough.
- Dev. Updated once or twice a week. Expect bugs. Good for testing, bad for schoolwork.
- Canary. Rebuilt almost daily and genuinely unstable. This is where new features show up first, which is why we spend time here at Chrome Story, but never on a main device.
- Long-term support. Aimed at schools and businesses. New features only every six months, with security fixes in between. Managed devices only.
How do I switch channels?
Warning: moving to a less stable channel is easy, but moving back down wipes your local files. ChromeOS has to powerwash the device to return you to Stable. Back up anything that is not in Google Drive first.
- Go to Settings > About ChromeOS > Additional details.
- Next to Channel, click Change channel.
- Pick the channel you want and click Change channel to confirm.
Why is my Chromebook not updating?
Work through these in order. The first one accounts for most cases on older hardware.
- Check the update expiry date. Go to Settings > About ChromeOS > Additional details and read the Update schedule line. If that date has passed, there are no more updates to install and nothing you do will change that.
- Check your connection. Switch off any metered connection setting, or move to normal Wi-Fi. ChromeOS deliberately skips large downloads on metered networks.
- Restart and check again. A plain reboot clears a surprising number of stalled downloads.
- Free up storage. An update needs room to unpack. Clear the Downloads folder and empty the trash.
- Try a different network. School and office networks sometimes block the update servers.
- Powerwash as a last resort. This erases local data and returns the Chromebook to a clean state. Only do this once the steps above have failed.
Frequently asked questions
How long will my Chromebook receive updates?
Chromebook models released from 2021 onward get ten years of automatic updates. Many older models can be opted in to extended updates by an administrator or from Settings. Your exact date is on the Update schedule line under Additional details.
Do I lose my files when a Chromebook updates?
No. A normal update leaves your files, apps and settings alone. Only a powerwash or a downgrade to a more stable channel erases local data.
Can I stop my Chromebook from updating?
Not on a personal Chromebook, and that is on purpose. Updates carry security fixes. School and business administrators can pin devices to a specific version through the admin console.
Why does my Chromebook keep asking me to restart?
Because an update finished downloading and is waiting to install. It sits there until you restart, so the prompt keeps coming back. Save your work and click Restart.
Wrapping up
Updating a Chromebook is three clicks and a restart, and it happens on its own most of the time. If nothing arrives, check the update expiry date first. That single line under Additional details explains most Chromebooks that seem stuck.
