While Chromebooks are famous for their seamless, silent updates, sometimes a manual check is the only way to ensure that you get the latest and greatest features.
Luckily, Chromebooks make it easy to find out if you have an update available and install it. Keeping your Chromebook up-to-date ensures it has the latest features and security protection to keep it running smoothly.
Why Should You Update Your Chromebook?
Keeping your Chromebook, or any other device, updatedis importantfor a few reasons. The most visible is adding or updating features on your device. For example, a recent Chromebook update added the ability to useGoogle Lensanywhere on your Chromebook, which is an easily visible change since the icon is always at the top of the launcher. Some features may be less visible, such as remapping your keyboard. You can always find a summary of recently added features in the “What’s new” tab of the “Explore” app.
These features also include updates to keep your Chromebook running smoothly. Inevitably, bugs will pop up in software, so updates will bring bug fixes to patch these issues. They will also bring optimizations to help your Chromebook run more smoothly by helping processes run more efficiently. These changes not only improve how quickly your Chromebook responds, but can also improve battery life.
In addition, updates also improve the security of your device. Hackers and bad actors will do anything they can to try and access your device. This can be done through anything from taking advantage of exploits in ChromeOS software to trying to get you to accidentally install malware. By keeping your Chromebook updated, you’ll always have the most up-to-date protection for your software and data.
How to See if You Have an Update and Install It
Chromebook updates are found in the “Settings” app. On the updates page, you may see your software version and if you have an update available.
Launch the Settings app on your Chromebook. This can be done by searching for “Settings” in the Chromebook Launcher or tapping the time at the bottom-right of the screen and selecting the gear icon.
Select “About ChromeOS” on the left-hand side of the screen.
At the top of the screen under the “Google ChromeOS” banner, you’ll see the status of your software.
There are a couple of different things you may see when you come to this screen.
In addition, you may see a notification pop up telling you that there’s an update available. It’ll show up next to the date on the Chromebook shelf. Simply tap the “Restart” button in the notification to install the update.
How to See What Features Have Been Added Through Recent Updates
Part of the excitement of installing an update is seeing the new features that have been added to your Chromebook. you may view new Chromebook features in the “Explore” app.
Open the Launcher by tapping the Launcher key or selecting the circle at the bottom left of your screen.
Search for the word “Explore” and select the “Explore” option in the “Apps” section with an icon that looks like a rocket. If you’ve used the app recently, it may also appear in the “Continue where you left off” section when you open the Launcher.
Select “What’s new” on the left side of the screen.
Here you’ll see a list of features added in the most recent updates. If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you can look at previous releases by tapping the “Show previous update” button.
you may also access this page through the “About ChromeOS” settings page by tapping the “See what’s new” option.
See More Information About Your Software Version and Support
Chromebooks also have information around your software version and its support life. This is found on the “About ChromeOS” settings page.
Tap “Additional details”
Here, you’re able to see whichsoftware channelyour Chromebook is on (denoting how stable the software is), how long it will receive updates for, and information on the ChromeOS build that is currently installed.
Updates are essential to keep your device fresh and protected. By making sure that you keep your device up-to-date, you can have peace of mind that your device should work properly and safely.
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