To find your Chromebook’s end-of-life date, open Settings, click About ChromeOS, then click Additional details and read the line under Update schedule. It tells you the month and year your Chromebook stops receiving automatic software and security updates.
Google calls this the Auto Update Expiration date, or AUE. It is fixed per model, not per device, so buying a used Chromebook does not reset the clock. It is the single most useful number to check before you buy a second-hand Chromebook or decide whether to keep an old one.
What do you need before you start?
- A Chromebook you can sign in to. Guest mode works too.
- No admin rights are needed. This is read-only information.
How do I find my Chromebook’s end-of-life date?
- Click the time at the bottom right, then click the Settings gear.
- Click About ChromeOS at the bottom of the left pane.
- Click Additional details.
- Read the line under Update schedule. It says something like “This device will get automatic software and security updates until June 2031.”
If the date has already passed, the wording changes to say the device stopped getting updates. That is the clearest sign your Chromebook has aged out.
How do I check the date before I buy a Chromebook?
You do not need the device in your hands. Google publishes every model’s expiry date on its Auto Update policy page. Search that page for the exact model name, not just the brand, because two Chromebooks from the same maker can expire years apart.
This is worth doing every single time with a used or heavily discounted Chromebook. A very cheap model is often cheap because it has a year of support left.
How long do Chromebooks get updates now?
Chromebook models released from 2021 onward receive ten years of automatic updates from the platform’s release date. That is a big change from the six to eight years that older guides describe.
Many Chromebooks released before 2021 can also be moved to the ten-year window, but the extension is opt-in rather than automatic. On a personal Chromebook you will see the option in Settings > About ChromeOS > Additional details if your model qualifies. On a school or work device, an administrator has to turn it on. Google marks the eligible models on the Auto Update policy page.
What happens after the end-of-life date?
Your Chromebook keeps working. Nothing switches off and nothing is deleted. What stops is the flow of new features and, more importantly, security patches.
That second part is the real issue. A browser that no longer receives security fixes is a poor place to do banking or handle email. Over time you will also see websites and apps that no longer support your version. An expired Chromebook makes a fine guest machine or a media player. It is a bad main computer.
Can I keep using an expired Chromebook safely?
- Move it to low-risk work. Streaming, kids’ homework and video calls are fine. Move banking and shopping to a supported device.
- Check for the extension first. If your model is on Google’s eligible list, opting in is free and gives you years back.
- Consider Linux. A lightweight Linux distribution will run on many expired Chromebooks and keeps getting security updates. It takes effort and voids the simple Chromebook experience.
- Recycle it properly. Google and most manufacturers run free take-back programmes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I install ChromeOS Flex on an expired Chromebook?
Generally no, and this trips a lot of people up. ChromeOS Flex is built for old Windows, Mac and Linux computers with Intel or AMD chips. It is not designed for Chromebooks, and it does not support the ARM processors many Chromebooks use. If a guide tells you to install CloudReady on your old Chromebook, it predates ChromeOS Flex and no longer applies.
Does buying a used Chromebook reset the update clock?
No. The expiry date is tied to the model’s release, not to when you bought it or first turned it on. A brand new box of an old model expires on the same day as one bought years ago.
Where is the full list of Chromebook end-of-life dates?
On Google’s Auto Update policy page, listed by manufacturer and model. It is the only list worth trusting, since third-party tables go out of date quickly.
Will my Chromebook warn me before it expires?
Yes. ChromeOS shows a notification in the months leading up to the date, and again once updates have stopped. It is easy to dismiss and forget, so it is worth checking the date yourself.
Wrapping up
Your Chromebook’s expiry date is four clicks away under Additional details, and Google’s policy page has the date for every model ever made. Check it before you buy, and check whether your older Chromebook qualifies for the ten-year extension. It is the difference between a laptop with two years left and one with eight.
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