ChromeOS Latest Version: Release History, AUE Dates & ChromeOS Flex

The Latest Version of ChromeOS

The current stable release is ChromeOS 150 (browser version 150.0.7871.150, platform version 16700.46.0), which began rolling out to Chromebooks and ChromeOS Flex devices on July 16, 2026. ChromeOS shares its milestone numbering with the Chrome browser, so ChromeOS 150 ships with Chrome 150 built in.

Google ships a new ChromeOS milestone about every four weeks, typically a week or two after the matching Chrome desktop release. Updates download in the background and finish installing after a restart.

How to Check and Update Your ChromeOS Version

1. Click the time in the bottom-right corner and open Settings.
2. Select About ChromeOS in the left panel — your current version appears under "Google ChromeOS".
3. Click Check for updates. If an update is available, it downloads automatically.
4. Click Restart when prompted to finish installing the update.

On school or work devices, IT administrators control update timing through the Google Admin Console, so your Chromebook may sit a version or two behind the public stable release.

Understanding ChromeOS Release Channels: Stable, Beta, Dev, and Canary

ChromeOS ships through four release channels. Most users stay on Stable, but you can switch channels under Settings > About ChromeOS > Additional details > Channel to preview upcoming versions like ChromeOS 151:

Two cautions: switching back to a more stable channel (for example, Beta to Stable) requires a Powerwash that wipes local data, and the Canary channel is only available with Developer Mode enabled. Enterprises that prefer fewer, larger updates can also opt into Google's long-term support (LTS) channel instead of the 4-week Stable cycle.

Chromebook Auto Update Expiration (AUE): Can My Chromebook Be Too Old to Update?

Yes — and this is the most common reason a Chromebook stops seeing new versions. Every Chromebook model has an Auto Update Expiration (AUE) date set by Google. Until that date, the device receives automatic ChromeOS updates; after it, updates stop entirely, including security patches, bug fixes, and new features. Google sends a "Final software update" notification on the device when the last update arrives.

How long you get depends on the platform your Chromebook is built on. Under the policy Google announced in September 2023, every Chromebook platform released in 2021 or later receives 10 years of automatic updates from the platform's release date. The clock starts at the platform release, not your purchase date — a Chromebook bought new in 2023 that runs on a 2021 platform still expires in 2031. Older, pre-2021 models can usually opt in to Extended Updates to reach 10 years of security updates, but the opt-in is irreversible and removes Google Play Store and Android app support from the device.

To find your device's exact AUE date:

1. Go to Settings > About ChromeOS > Additional details.
2. Under Update schedule, you'll see "This device will get automatic updates until [date]".
3. You can also look up any model in the per-manufacturer tables on Google's official Auto Update policy page.

What happens after AUE? The Chromebook keeps working — Google explicitly says you can keep using it — and protections like Verified Boot still self-check the system at startup. But unpatched vulnerabilities accumulate over time, and apps that require newer ChromeOS or browser versions gradually lose support, so it's wise to plan a replacement. The good news: according to AboutChromebooks' tracking, roughly 83% of active Chromebooks in 2026 already qualify for the full 10-year update window.

How to Run the Latest ChromeOS on Old PCs and Macs with ChromeOS Flex

ChromeOS Flex is Google's free version of ChromeOS that you install on existing Windows, Mac, or Linux computers — a popular way to modernize aging hardware instead of discarding it. It follows the same release cycle as regular ChromeOS, so a supported Flex device is on ChromeOS 150 today. The minimum requirements are an Intel or AMD x86 64-bit processor (ARM is not supported), 4 GB of RAM, 16 GB of storage, and the ability to boot from USB; Google warns that CPUs from 2012 or earlier and Nvidia graphics from 2014 or earlier are unlikely to work well.

Installation takes about 15 minutes plus download time:

1. In Chrome, install the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension and choose Google ChromeOS Flex as the manufacturer.
2. Create a bootable installer on a USB drive of 8 GB or larger.
3. Boot the target computer from the USB drive — you can try ChromeOS Flex live from the stick before committing.
4. Choose Install ChromeOS Flex to install permanently. This erases the computer's internal drive.

Know the limitations before switching: ChromeOS Flex does not support the Google Play Store or Android apps, it lacks the Google security chip so ChromeOS Verified Boot isn't available (UEFI Secure Boot is the optional alternative), firmware updates still come from your PC's manufacturer, and Linux development environment support varies by model. Google maintains a certified models list where each device has its own end-of-support date (December 31 of the listed year) — Flex runs on uncertified machines too, but without guarantees.

One important caveat: ChromeOS Flex is designed for PCs and Macs, not as a way to revive an expired Chromebook — Google does not support installing Flex on Chromebooks that have passed their AUE date.

Is ChromeOS Being Phased Out?

Not overnight — but the platform is changing. Google confirmed in July 2025 that it is combining ChromeOS and Android into a single platform, and on May 12, 2026 it unveiled the successor: an Android-based desktop OS developed under the codename Aluminium OS (Google says the final product name will be announced closer to launch). Built on Android 17 with Gemini integrated at the OS level, it will ship on new consumer laptops — branded "Googlebooks" from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo — expected in fall 2026.

For current users, little changes right away: ChromeOS continues for enterprise and education customers, ChromeOS Flex continues, and every existing Chromebook keeps receiving updates until its individual AUE date. Court filings from Google's US antitrust case (reported February 2026) indicate ChromeOS would be maintained into the 2030s to honor the 10-year update commitment. On the business side, Google's 2024 acquisition of Cameyo lets ChromeOS stream full Windows applications as web apps, closing the legacy-app gap without a virtual desktop.

How to Test Your Website on Different ChromeOS and Chrome Versions

For web developers, ChromeOS fragmentation is a real testing problem: users on current Chromebooks run Chrome 150, early adopters are already on the 151 beta, and devices past their AUE date remain stuck on older Chrome versions for years. Buying physical Chromebooks for each combination doesn't scale.

A cloud testing grid solves this: with TestMu AI you can test on Chrome browsers online — from the latest stable and beta builds down to legacy versions that post-AUE Chromebooks still run — across 3,000+ real browser and OS environments, without maintaining any local devices. Pair it with cross browser testing on real machines in the real device cloud to catch rendering issues before your users do.

What OS do I have?

Frequently Asked Questions About ChromeOS Versions

What is the latest version of ChromeOS?

As of July 17, 2026, the latest stable version of ChromeOS is ChromeOS 150 (browser version 150.0.7871.150, platform version 16700.46.0), released on July 16, 2026 for both Chromebooks and ChromeOS Flex devices. ChromeOS 151 is currently in the Beta channel, with its stable release expected around August 11, 2026.

Can my Chromebook be too old to update?

Yes. Every Chromebook has an Auto Update Expiration (AUE) date, after which Google stops delivering automatic updates, including security patches. Chromebook platforms released in 2021 or later get 10 years of updates from the platform's release date; older models can often opt in to Extended Updates to reach 10 years, though that removes Android app support. Check your date under Settings > About ChromeOS > Additional details > Update schedule. The device keeps working after AUE, but it no longer receives security fixes.

Is ChromeOS being phased out?

Not immediately. Google has confirmed that new consumer laptops will move to an Android-based desktop platform (developed under the codename Aluminium OS, unveiled May 12, 2026), with the first devices expected in fall 2026. However, ChromeOS continues for enterprise and education, ChromeOS Flex continues, and every existing Chromebook keeps receiving updates until its individual AUE date. Court filings from Google's antitrust case suggest ChromeOS would be maintained into the 2030s.

What is the current stable version of Chrome?

As of July 17, 2026, the current stable version of the Chrome browser on desktop is Chrome 150 (150.0.7871.129), released July 16, 2026. ChromeOS uses the same milestone numbering, so ChromeOS 150 ships with Chrome 150 built in. Chrome 151 reaches desktop stable on July 28, 2026.