Chromebook Auto-Update Expiry: How to Check Yours

Updated

Every Chromebook, Chromebox and Chromebase has a date after which Google stops sending ChromeOS and browser updates. Google used to call this the Auto Update Expiration (AUE) date. Here's how the policy works now and how to find your device's date.

Google's policy: 10 years

Google's Auto Update policy says ChromeOS devices receive 10 years of updates, counted from the platform release date. A "platform" is the set of components (processor, Wi-Fi and so on) that the manufacturer builds the device around. That's why the date can come earlier than you'd expect from the date you bought it.

The details depend on age. Google announced this in September 2023:

  • Chromebooks released from 2021 onward get the 10 years automatically.
  • Chromebooks released before 2021 can opt in to extended updates, up to 10 years from platform release, after their original last update. On these older models, some features and services may not be supported. On Google's official list, these devices carry an asterisk (*).

How to check in Settings

  1. At the bottom right, select the time, then Settings.
  2. At the bottom left, select About ChromeOS.
  3. Select Additional details.
  4. The "Update schedule" section shows when your Chromebook will get its last update.

How to check on Google's official list

Google publishes every approved model with an "Automatic updates until" month and year on its Auto Update policy page (linked below). Find your manufacturer and exact model name. The model is usually on the sticker underneath the device. For example, the list currently shows the Google Pixelbook Go until June 2029, and the Pixelbook until August 2027.

Buying a Chromebook? Check this date first. Google notes that a manufacturer's "end of sale" date has nothing to do with update eligibility. A cheap Chromebook that's been sitting in a warehouse may have only a few years left.

What happens after the last update?

You'll see a "Final software update" notification. After that, the device gets no more security updates, bug fixes or new features. Over time, some apps and websites that need newer ChromeOS or browser versions may stop working. Google says the device keeps Verified Boot: it checks itself at every start-up and typically repairs itself if the system has been tampered with.

Your options after expiry

  1. Opt in to extended updates if your pre-2021 model is eligible (asterisk on Google's list).
  2. Use it for low-risk tasks only. Avoid banking and sensitive accounts on an unpatched device.
  3. Install another OS. Some older Chromebooks can run Linux, but it's fiddly and model-specific. Only try it if you're comfortable with that.
  4. Replace it. A newer or refurbished Chromebook from a reputable seller, with plenty of update years left on Google's list, is often inexpensive.
  5. Recycle it responsibly once you're done with it.

Buying a used replacement?

A cheap used laptop can still be a bad deal if it is locked to someone else's account, reported stolen, or close to its own end-of-support date. Our own guide, Safe to Buy Used? The Second-Hand Phone & Gadget Checklist, walks you through the checks to do before you pay. It is a paid PDF we make ourselves; checking a model on our device list stays free.

Looking for a replacement with years of updates left? Compare prices for Chromebooks at bol.com (search results; check the seller, condition and warranty before you buy).

Affiliate disclosure: bol.com links are affiliate links; we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure.

Sources

Dates on Google's list can change. Always check the official page for your exact model.

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