Google Chrome is designed to update itself automatically in the background. When a new version is released, Chrome silently downloads the necessary files while you are browsing the web.
However, the update is never fully applied until you actually close the browser and open it again. Since Mac users frequently leave their computers running for weeks at a time without ever fully quitting their applications, Chrome can get stuck on an outdated, insecure version.
If you see a small, colored bubble (green, yellow, or red) appearing next to your profile picture in the top-right corner of the browser, it means an update has been waiting for several days. You should manually force the update to install immediately.
How to Manually Check for and Install Updates
You can force Chrome to ping Google’s servers, download the latest security patch, and install it safely without losing your open tabs.
- Open Google Chrome on your Mac.
- Look at the very top of your screen at the Mac menu bar (next to the Apple Logo). Click on the word Chrome.
- From the drop-down menu, select About Google Chrome.
- A new settings tab will open.
The moment this tab opens, Chrome will automatically check its current version against Google’s servers.
- If you are up to date, it will display a blue checkmark and say “Chrome is up to date.”
- If an update is available, Chrome will immediately begin downloading it. You will see a percentage counter ticking up to 100%.
How to Safely Relaunch Chrome
Once the download reaches 100%, a new button will appear on the screen labeled Relaunch.
Many users are afraid to click this button because they have 20 important tabs open for work or research, and they don’t want to lose them.
It is completely safe to click Relaunch. Chrome is designed to save your exact session state. When you click the button, Chrome will shut down, apply the update, reopen, and instantly reload every single tab you were just looking at.
Note: If you have an Incognito window open, those tabs will not be saved, as Incognito mode specifically prevents session saving.