Where to find your Chrome version number

Chrome stores its version information in one place: the About Chrome menu. Open Chrome, click the three vertical dots in the top right corner, then select About Chrome. A new tab opens showing your current version number — it looks like "Version 123.0.6312.86" — along with your operating system.

The version number tells you which release you are running. The first number (123 in that example) is the major version. Chrome releases a new major version roughly every four weeks, so if you see a number that is several versions behind the latest, your browser has not updated recently.

You do not need to memorize or understand what each number means. The important part is whether Chrome tells you an update is available on this same screen.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Chrome version appears in the About Chrome menu, which you reach through the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
  • Chrome automatically downloads updates in the background, but you must restart the browser to install them — a restart button appears when an update is waiting.
  • If you see "Chrome is up to date", your browser has the latest version installed and no restart is needed.
  • On Windows and Mac, Chrome updates happen silently; on Linux, your system package manager may handle updates instead.
  • Restarting Chrome takes seconds and closes all your tabs, so save any work before you click the restart button.

What the update status messages mean

When you open About Chrome, you will see one of three messages. "Chrome is up to date" means you have the latest version and no action is needed. "Updating Chrome" means Chrome is downloading the latest version right now — you can close this tab and keep working. "Restart to update Chrome" means the read is complete and waiting for you to restart the browser.

The restart button appears in blue on the same screen. When you click it, Chrome closes completely and reopens with the new version installed. All your open tabs close, so if you have unsaved work in a web form or document, save it first.

Chrome checks for updates every time you start the browser and periodically while it is running. You do not need to manually trigger a check — it happens in the background. If you want to force a check right now, straightforward close the About Chrome tab and reopen it.

Why Chrome updates automatically

Chrome updates itself because security fixes and bug repairs happen frequently. A new version might patch a vulnerability that hackers are already exploiting, so waiting weeks between updates puts you at risk. Automatic updates may support you get these fixes without having to remember to check.

The trade-off is that you cannot choose when to update — Chrome decides based on its release schedule. If a particular update causes a problem with a website or tool you use, you have limited options: you can restart Chrome to roll back to the previous version (if the rollback window is still open, usually a few days), or you can wait for the next update to fix the issue.

How updates work on different operating systems

On Windows and Mac, Chrome handles all updates itself. You never interact with your operating system's update system. When a new version is ready, Chrome downloads it silently and prompts you to restart.

On Linux, the behavior depends on how you installed Chrome. If you installed it through your Linux distribution's package manager (like apt on Ubuntu or dnf on Fedora), your system's update tool controls when Chrome updates, not Chrome itself. In that case, you will not see an update prompt in Chrome — instead, you will see Chrome updates when you run your system's regular update command. If you installed Chrome directly from Google's website, it updates itself like it does on Windows and Mac.

Chromebooks (devices that run Chrome OS) update automatically and restart on their own, usually overnight. You cannot prevent a Chromebook update, but you can delay it by a few days if you are in the middle of work.

What to do if Chrome will not update

If you see "Updating Chrome" for more than a few minutes, or if the update button does not appear after several hours, something is blocking the process. The most common cause is that Chrome does not have permission to write files to your computer. Close Chrome completely, then restart it — this often clears temporary blocks.

If the problem persists, check that your hard drive has at least 100 MB of free space. Chrome needs room to read and unpack the new version. On Windows, also check that your user account has administrator privileges; Chrome cannot update without them.

If you are on a work or school network, your IT department may have blocked Chrome updates. Contact them to ask whether updates are managed centrally or whether you need special permission to update.

Checking your update history

Chrome does not keep a visible log of past updates, but you can see when the current version was released by looking at the version number itself. The Chrome release notes (available on Google's official Chrome blog) list what changed in each version, but you do not need to read them — Chrome only updates to fix problems or add features, never to remove them.

If you want to know whether a specific feature or fix is in your current version, search the Chrome release notes for that version number. This is useful if you are troubleshooting a problem and wondering whether a known fix has reached you yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off automatic updates in Chrome?

No. Chrome does not offer an option to disable automatic updates. If you are on a work computer, your IT department can configure Chrome through group policy (Windows) or managed preferences (Mac and Linux) to control update timing, but individual users cannot opt out entirely.

Will updating Chrome delete my bookmarks or passwords?

No. Updates only change the program itself, not your data. Your bookmarks, passwords, browsing history, and saved settings remain exactly as they were before and after the update.

What happens if I restart my computer before Chrome finishes updating?

Chrome will resume the update the next time you start it. Restarting your computer does not cancel a Chrome update — it just pauses it temporarily. When you open Chrome again, it will either continue downloading or prompt you to restart the browser to complete the installation.

Why does Chrome update so frequently?

Chrome releases a new major version every four weeks because frequent updates allow Google to ship security patches and bug fixes faster. Older browsers updated once or twice a year, which meant users waited months for critical security repairs. Chrome's approach closes security gaps more quickly.

Can I see what changed in my Chrome update?

Yes. After you restart Chrome to install an update, a "What's new" tab sometimes opens automatically. You can also visit Google's Chrome release notes page to read about features and fixes in any version. Most updates are small and invisible to users — you will not notice any change.