How do I update Google Chrome?

I'm having fun with Google Chrome but am wondering: how the heck do you get an update to it when there's a new version? Do you just wait until the social networks are abuzz, or does the program automatically check?

Dave's Answer:

Your timing is splendid! As it happens, Google just this evening released an update to its barnstorming Google Chrome web browser and so I expect a lot of people will have this same question. With Windows you know that it automagically updates (assuming you have autoupdate turned on) but what about individual Windows applications?

A bit of digging reveals how this works in Chrome: the update subsystem is displayed as part of the About Google Chrome window, including an indication that there's a new version - if there is - and how to get it.

First, of course, like with anything else to do with Chrome, you have to figure out how to get there!

To find the "About Google Chrome" box, you need to click on the little wrench icon:

Then you probably would never notice this, but it actually checks for a new version back at Google central when this window launches. This time I caught it in the act:

A few moments later, the bottom portion changes to tell me what's going on:

Do I want to update? Uh, yeah! I click on "Update Now" and...

It took me a few minutes before it had finished downloading the new version of Google Chrome, but once it did, finally, I saw this:

I quit and restarted the browser, and now when I go to the About Google Chrome window, you'll notice the version and release numbers are updated:

Now I did this manually. I would be surprised if the browser didn't automatically check when you launched it next, so you can probably just ignore the update until it tells you to check it out. But if you're impatient or want to gain more control over the process, well, now you know how to do so!

Finally, if you haven't yet installed Google Chrome, you might want to check out my handy tutorial: How to download and install Google Chrome.

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Categorized: Computer and Internet Basics , Windows PC Help (Article 8493, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: google chrome, microsoft internet explorer, microsoft windows xp, windows vista, winxp
Previous: How do I add a new extra account to Microsoft Entourage?
Next: How do I update Firefox on my Windows XP system?

Reader Comments To Date: 35

Randy Gniadecki said, on September 6, 2008 9:49 PM:

Thanks for Tweeting this Dave, great info.

Johan Danforth said, on September 9, 2008 2:12 AM:

Great info about how to update Chrome - not easy to find out by yourself :) Cheers!

film fan said, on September 16, 2008 4:43 PM:

there are so many advantages and features with Chrome, such as it's speed, for example; now if only they would take care it's flighty cookie management...

ifhusain said, on October 10, 2008 1:58 PM:

i have no words for appreciations for the Google services and prompt action and reply from the Google Team. Who are always helpful to the customers. Being a retired senior citizen, i am utilizing free Google services because i am not in position to purchase the software. i am always thankful to the Google Team the services rendered to the poor people, senior citizen and to the students.
Once again lot of thanks to the Google Team and its services.thanks. ifhusain

Shafar said, on October 26, 2008 10:47 AM:

Thanks for the useful information.

Sohail said, on November 12, 2008 4:45 AM:

I have read one of ur article that really helped me while my first dynamic site.

Now i got a confusion and I wanna ask u
plz if you can help

what does this regular expression mean
"/]*href\s*=\s*[\��?‘]?([^\��?‘ >]+)[\��?‘ >]/isU"
plz if you can tell me in words

i will be v thankful

Best Regards
sohail

AHA said, on March 18, 2009 9:40 AM:

hey
I wounder if there is any way to make costumizeable buttons and place them depending on needs. For instance adding new buttons. Also I miss having some more options to really make the browser personal.

Regards
AHA

michael higgins said, on April 30, 2009 4:59 AM:

I installed google chrome and found it faster and more user friendly, however after 3 weeks I have returned to IE8 due to
(1) pfd's will not download from the web
(2) an increasing number of non acess sites from AVG virus protection service

callum said, on May 24, 2009 8:03 AM:

Hey dave,

wonder if you know any information about Microsoft works word processor...

Basically when i scroll down the page it scrolls really fast and i need to know how to slow it down?
question 2 - I want to multiple highlight somethings for example ctrl + highlight but it wont let me?
questions 3 - on previous Microsoft word processors they have the ability to press the paint icon and then quickly duplicate the font and size onto another section?

Could you help me with any of these questions

Thank you for you time,

Callum

Dave Taylor said, on May 27, 2009 11:07 AM:

Hi Callum. Check here for help with Microsoft Works: http://www.microsoft.com/products/works/support.mspx

Trond B Krokli said, on June 16, 2009 11:43 AM:

Thanks for a precise and to-the-point explanation. Only thing I would love to see here, is an updated picture of a later (latest?) version of Chrome, though I can also see the value of stating when this feature became available. If it's easier to add a text line stating the latest version, I guess that would be just as nice. Keep up the good work! :-)

javier said, on June 28, 2009 11:29 PM:

Hi Dave,

I have installed Google Chrome and didnot choose the quick launch. But now i find it nice and how do i set the quick launch(without reinstallation)?

silof said, on August 7, 2009 1:12 AM:

nice. thx realy sorted that out 4 me :)
i do have a question about the bookmark toolbar in chrome: can i have 2 lines instead of 1?
i have a lot of sites i visit reguarlly so i want 2 have 2 line at the top of the browser instead of 1.

CCS said, on September 1, 2009 9:02 AM:

I have Google Chrome on my Desktop. In the download screen there about three earlier downloaded scripts that would not go away even I clear all downloaded items. Every time I open the download screen I see my old 3 downloaded scripts that will come up again. Please help. Thanks

Irfan said, on September 30, 2009 8:11 AM:

Hi Dave ,I have version one of the chrome and when i check "About google chrome" as u mentioned it says "update server not available"

Russ said, on October 23, 2009 7:47 AM:

This was awesome. I typed in Google "How do you updated Google Chrome" and there this was. Now I know how. It was actually a very easy thing that I could have discovered, if I wasn't too lazy, lol.

I like Google Chrome, but... what I don't like is the fact that when users on deviantART create their own skins or themes for it, they are only able to be installed by swapping the .dll file, and if the themes .dll file that they provide, isn't compatible with the version you have, then it won't work.

It shouldn't be tied to the version you have, that's unfair. Also I don't like the fact that Google won't let users make their own themes, and put them up on their site, instead they have celebrities, and artists the world already knows... which is not fair.

If there are ways to make themes not tie to the .dll file, and be able to work with any version, no problem - just one click install deal. Then I'd be happy.

erron said, on October 30, 2009 9:39 PM:

how do i re-install live messanger?

soltan said, on December 30, 2009 8:38 PM:

google chrome not compatible with any capture software,example ashampoo snap not work capture
scrolling.

Steve Bearden said, on January 21, 2010 7:29 PM:

Good helpful tips if anybody would be interested in Farmville Walkthroughs check this out :) have a nice day ya'll.

Thamizhan said, on February 6, 2010 9:01 AM:

I am go to about box for update
but there is no update button is available
the msg "update server not availabe (error 3)"
is displayed please help me
i am using first release of chrome
i want use full features of google chrome
help me
thanks in advance

nitin said, on March 21, 2010 10:20 AM:

can i download google chrome 4 on my windows xp service pack 2? if yes tell me the downloading site.
plz help me!

Onur said, on March 25, 2010 2:48 PM:

BTW, Chrome tries to update itself behind the scenes using chrome_updater.exe, which seems not available on computer, and seems created temporarily intentionally for update process.

But the question, why ISN'T there any option to disable Google Chrome updates? Or couldn't i find it?

Thanks!

Dave Taylor said, on March 26, 2010 5:33 AM:

I'm not running Chrome on my PC at this point, but Onur, if you go into preferences and unselect "automatically check for updates", does that cause the chrome_updater.exe to not launch when the program is started up?

Sudip Dutta said, on June 3, 2010 4:32 AM:

I always like google web browser,i think google is
best of web. browser.
Sudip Dutta
6.6.10

slinger said, on October 12, 2010 3:11 AM:

thanks.. really help full..

A said, on December 3, 2010 2:58 PM:

Quick and clear information, thanks!

Jeremiah Saldana said, on January 22, 2011 12:38 PM:

Google Chrome seems to still have problems streaming certain online games. Funnytowers.com is a game that seems to run error free exclusively, only on Internet Explorer. Now, I absolutely LOVE Google Chrome, and I recommend it to every one of my friends who is computer/internet savvy. But not being able to implement my favorite browser and my favorite internet game is disheartening to say the least. PLEASE fix it. I would love to make Google Chrome my only browser but I simply can't do it if I can't play my beloved Funny Towers game within Google Chrome.

Tim said, on August 5, 2011 10:17 AM:

Just what I needed. Although a few things have changed, this was perfect. Now it doesn't ask you if you want to upgrade, it just starts for you. In addition, there is now a relaunch button, to more easily restart the browser.

Donald said, on September 26, 2011 6:33 PM:

thanks for the information - a bit hard to find on your own....

Harald Stautland said, on April 7, 2012 1:52 PM:

while in China this winter Google Chrome & Firefox suddenly wouldn`t open.Firefor did,after a while,but not GCH.And,I cannot uninstall it,whatever I try.Any suggestions ?
A compuuterwise friend suggested it may be a virus.Norton 360 doesn`t find one,nor does Spybot
Search & Destroy.

Phillip Messenger said, on June 8, 2012 1:27 AM:

I have downloaded Google Chrome for a specific Deviantart purpose called Muro. But for some inexplicable reason, i can no longer get on Deviantart, period. Whenever I try to get on Deviantart, it just says, " Google Chrome" stopped working, and then i have to exit out of the internet. And for any other site it is fine. What do I do?

ankita said, on July 8, 2012 9:38 AM:

hey dave i hv 1 prblm .....whn i click the äbout google chrome dn it ws writtn dt 'update servr nt availabel error :3 '..nw tll me hw 2 updt google chrm...plzzz

Tim O'Neill said, on August 17, 2012 8:31 PM:

Thanks for showing me how to update Chrome.

theresa dianne a. gamulao said, on November 14, 2012 5:51 AM:

i like this app :)

Srik said, on December 10, 2012 6:06 AM:

Hi,

I found no such update button when i did as directed (on the "About google Chrome"). I can't believe it worked for everybody else!

Thanks.

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

How do I update Google Chrome?

Reader Comments To Date: 35

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

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