Google will support some upcoming Chromebooks for eight years

Google is extending the Chrome OS Automatic Update period for upcoming Chromebooks from the current maximum of seven years to a longer period. The tech company cites two new Chromebooks as an example, whose support ends in June 2028.

Google reports that the extended support applies to Chromebooks coming this year and beyond. The recently announced Lenovo 10e Chromebook Tablet and Acer Chromebook 712 will receive Chrome OS updates until June 2028. How many years Chromebook buyers can actually expect new updates depends on the model and time of purchase.

Google lists the end date of support for all Chromebooks that have been released, and that date can now also be seen within the Chrome OS installation of individual devices. The period during which Google offers support starts when the first Chromebook based on that hardware platform goes on sale.

Google announced in November last year that it was considering extending the Auto Update Expiration time from 6.5 to 7 years. At the time, the company said that updating the kernel, tweaking the drivers, and testing the updates takes a lot of time and money. In the past, the end of support led to misunderstanding among users, because the hardware of a Chromebook is often still OK, but the device should no longer be used due to possible security problems.

Google also announced that it has started the Chrome Education Upgrade program for educational institutions. The company makes automatic security and other updates available for Chromebooks within educational institutions every six weeks and offers more management options.