To update Google Chrome on a computer, click the three-dot menu, choose Help, then About Google Chrome; Chrome downloads any update automatically, and you click Relaunch to finish.
Keeping Chrome current is mainly about security. Each release closes vulnerabilities that attackers actively look for, so an out-of-date browser is one of the easier ways to get compromised online. The good news is that Chrome largely updates itself; the steps below simply make sure the process actually completes on every device you use.
How to update Chrome on a computer
- Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
- Hover over Help and click About Google Chrome. You can also type chrome://settings/help into the address bar.
- Chrome checks for updates and downloads any it finds automatically.
- When it finishes, click Relaunch.
- Chrome restarts and reopens your tabs on the updated version.
That is the whole process. There is no separate installer to download, because opening the About page both checks for and applies the update.
What the colored menu dot means
If Chrome has quietly downloaded an update but you have not relaunched, the three-dot menu changes color to nudge you. The color signals how long the update has been waiting, and the fix is always the same: relaunch the browser.
| Menu color | How long the update has waited | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Less than 2 days | Relaunch when convenient |
| Orange | About 4 days | Relaunch soon |
| Red | 7 days or more | Relaunch now |
How to update Chrome on Android and iPhone
On phones and tablets, Chrome is an ordinary app, so it updates through the app store rather than from inside the browser.
- Android: open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, choose Manage apps & device, and update Chrome if it is listed, or search for Chrome and tap Update.
- iPhone or iPad: open the App Store, tap your account picture, scroll to pending updates, and tap Update next to Chrome.
Turning on automatic app updates in either store means Chrome stays current without any manual steps.
How to update Chrome on a Chromebook
On a Chromebook, Chrome is part of ChromeOS, so the browser updates when the system does. Click the clock in the bottom-right corner, open Settings, choose About ChromeOS, and click Check for updates. If one is found it downloads automatically, and you click Restart to apply it. This single update refreshes both the operating system and the browser at once, which is one of the main appeals of a Chromebook and means you rarely have to think about Chrome versions separately.
Turning automatic updates on and off
Chrome is built to update itself, and on personal computers you generally cannot and should not disable that behavior, because it is exactly what keeps you protected. What you can control is when the update finishes. Enabling Continue where you left off under Settings means relaunching to update never costs you your open tabs, which removes the main reason people put off restarting. On phones, switching on automatic app updates in the Play Store or App Store achieves the same hands-off result, so the browser quietly stays current in the background.
Why updates matter
Browser updates are not just about new features. The majority of each Chrome release is security work, patching flaws that could let a malicious website run code or steal data. Because those fixes become public when the update ships, attackers move quickly to target anyone who has not installed it, which is precisely why relaunching promptly is worthwhile. Staying current pairs well with other safe-browsing habits, such as understanding what a VPN is and enabling two-factor authentication on your important accounts.
If Chrome will not update
If the About page never finishes or shows an error, first close every Chrome window and reopen it, then try again. A full computer restart clears many stubborn cases, because a background updater may be waiting. Confirm your operating system is still supported; very old versions of Windows, macOS, or Linux no longer receive new Chrome releases, which quietly caps you at an older build. On work or school devices, an administrator policy can also control updates, in which case the update button may be missing by design. If the browser feels sluggish after updating, clearing browsing data can help, much as you would clear the cache on an iPhone to free things up. Extensions can also misbehave after a version jump; if a page or tool suddenly breaks, open the three-dot menu, go to Extensions, and temporarily disable recent additions to see whether one is the cause.
Confirming the update worked
After relaunching, revisit chrome://settings/help. It should now read Google Chrome is up to date and show a higher version number than before, and the colored dot on the three-dot menu clears once the pending update is applied. If you manage several machines, checking this page is faster and more reliable than hunting for a version number buried elsewhere in the settings.
Keeping every device in sync
Because Chrome runs on computers, phones, and tablets, the safest approach is to enable automatic updates everywhere and glance at the menu color on desktop once in a while. A browser that updates itself, combined with strong account security, removes one of the most common weak points in everyday online life. A quick relaunch today is far cheaper than dealing with a compromised account later.
