How to Update Google Chrome

Because the internet is fraught with security threats, running an outdated web browser is one of the biggest cybersecurity risks you can take. To combat this, Google designed Chrome to update itself automatically in the background. Most of the time, you will never even notice an update has occurred.

However, if you habitually leave dozens of tabs open and never actually close the Chrome application, the browser cannot finalize the installation of these critical updates. If you suspect your browser is out of date, or if you simply want to manually force Chrome to check for the latest version, the process takes only a few seconds.

How to Manually Update Google Chrome (Desktop)

If you are using Google Chrome on a Windows PC, an Apple Mac, or a Linux computer, the process for forcing a manual update is identical.

1. Open the Google Chrome browser on your computer.
2. Look at the top right corner of the window, immediately to the right of the address bar. You will see an icon composed of three vertical dots.
3. Click those three dots to open the main Chrome menu.
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the drop-down menu and hover your mouse over Help.
5. A small secondary menu will slide out. Click on About Google Chrome.

The moment you click “About Google Chrome,” a new settings tab will open. Chrome will immediately ping Google’s servers and check your current version against the newest available release.

• If you are up to date: You will see a blue checkmark and the message “Chrome is up to date.” You do not need to do anything else.
• If an update is available: Chrome will automatically begin downloading the update file. You will see a percentage indicator tracking the download progress.

The Relaunch Button

Once the download reaches 100%, Chrome will install the update files, but the process is not finished. You will see a prominent blue button appear labelled Relaunch.

You must click this button to apply the update. When you click it, Chrome will completely close down and restart itself. Don’t worry about losing your work; Chrome will automatically reopen all the tabs and windows you had active before the restart (except for Incognito windows, which are permanently lost when closed).

What Do the Colored Dots Mean?

If you never manually check the “About” page, Chrome has a subtle visual system to warn you that an update is pending. The three vertical dots in the top right corner of your browser will change color based on how long an update has been waiting to install:

• Green: An update was released less than 2 days ago.
• Orange: An update was released about 4 days ago.
• Red: An update was released at least a week ago. This is a severe security risk, and you should update immediately.

If you see any of these colors, simply click the colored icon and select Update Google Chrome from the top of the menu, then click Relaunch.

How to Update Chrome on Mobile Devices

Unlike the desktop version, the mobile versions of Google Chrome cannot update themselves from within the app. They rely entirely on your smartphone’s built-in app store.

On Android

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
3. Tap on Manage apps & device.
4. Under the “Updates available” section, tap See details.
5. Scroll through the list to find Chrome. If it is listed, tap the Update button next to it.

On iPhone and iPad (iOS)

1. Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner of the screen.
3. Scroll down past your account balance to see the “Upcoming Automatic Updates” section.
4. If Chrome is in the list, tap the Update button next to it.