Google Chrome

2,009 'Google Chrome' storiesMay 2011 - November 2025
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Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, Google Chrome is the most widely used desktop browser in the world. Since its launch in 2008, Chrome has expanded to Android, iOS, and is the basis of a cloud-based operating system.

Chromebooks Chrome

Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, Google Chrome is themost widely used desktop browser in the world. Since its launch in 2008, Chrome has expanded to Android, iOS, and is the basis of a cloud-based operating system.

History

Chrome was developed out of frustration at the state of browsers that limited Google’s increasingly complex web apps. In creating its own browser, Google could push the state of the web and build the best experience for its products.

Launched in September for Microsoft Windows, Chrome quickly gained 1% of the total desktop market share by the end of the year. A developer preview in 2009 brought Chrome to Mac OS X and Linux, but a stable version was not available until May 2010. In November 2011, Chromeovertook Firefox in worldwide usage and in September 2012 became the mostwidely used web browser beating Internet Explorer.

In July 2009, Google announced a project to build an operating system that stored applications and user data in the cloud. The thin client OS was publicly demoed in November, but it was not until 2011 that the first Chromebooks shipped from OEM partners.

A beta version ofGoogle Chrome for Android launched in February 2012, with a stable version ready by June. Google also released aniOS version, but it is limited technically due to security restrictions enforced by Apple.

Features

Chrome shares many of the same features and underlying technology across all platforms. The browser and OS maintain version number parity across all platforms. Every six weeks a major version is released to the Stable Channel and a new developer version is introduced in the Canary Channel. A Beta Channel acts as an intermediary way to access new features without too many bugs.

Security

The automatic Chrome update system downloads updates in the background and insures that users are always on the latest version of Chrome. There are many minor patches between between major updates that delivers security fixes and keeps users secure. Chrome maintains aSafe Browsing blacklist of malicious sites that pop up a bright red warning so users can turn back.

Tabs are sandboxed to make sure processes cannot interacting with critical memory functions and other processes. Besides for security, a multi-process architecture gives each site and plug-in a separate process. As such, a crash will only take down that tab and not the entire application.

Since the first version, Chrome has had a private browsing feature. Incognito mode prevents the browser from storing cookies or history and can be opened alongside regular tabs.

Interface

The main Chrome interface has remained mostly the same over the years. In fact, the ‘Chrome’ name refers to the lack of UI elements and a focus on the browsing experience. An Omnibox acts as both the URL bar and search box. At the time, many browsers had two separate fields right next to each other. The Omnibox has prediction capabilities to help users find what they are looking for and is also present on the mobile apps.

Android apps

Later this year,Android apps and the Play Store will arrive on Chrome OS. Google previously experimented usingARC Welder to virtualize the Android run time and allowed apps to run on all platforms, including Mac, Windows, and Linux. The latest approach is limited to Chrome OS, but provides a much more native and fast experience. Apps open up as windows and can become phone or tablet-sized. Touchscreen Chromebooks will provide the best experience.

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Google AI Mode comes to Chrome for Android & iOS, expands agentic booking

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After giving AI Modenew floating controls on Android, the new Search experience is expanding its presence on Chrome and getting more agentic features.

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Chrome can now autofill driver’s license, vehicle info, and more

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Google is updating Chrome Autofill to support passport, driver’s license number, and vehicle info.

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Chrome for Android rolls out M3 Expressive redesign

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The rollout of Chrome’s M3 Expressive redesign, which began inlate August, is now complete. It comes a few weeks aftermost first-party apps have received their updates.

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Chrome New Tab Page adds AI Mode, Incognito shortcuts on Android

Avatar for Abner LiOct 24 2025 - 5:15 am PT

Following desktopin July, Chrome for iOS and Android’s New Tab Page now has a shortcut for AI Mode, as well as Incognito.

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ChatGPT Atlas is an AI-infused, but Chromium-based browser

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OpenAI has launched its first browser in ChatGPT “Atlas,” and while it has its own set of features, it’s justanother Chromium-based browser.

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Gemini overlay rolls out Summarize page shortcut in Chrome for Android

Avatar for Abner LiOct 13 2025 - 8:37 am PT

Aspreviewed last month, activating the Gemini overlay in Chrome for Android now lets you quickly Summarize pages.

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Chrome will turn off notifications from sites you don’t often visit

Avatar for Abner LiOct 10 2025 - 10:00 am PT

To help reduce notification overload, Chrome for Android and desktop will automatically disable notifications from websites you don’t frequently visit. 

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Chrome is Google’s first iPhone app with Liquid Glass

Avatar for Abner LiSep 20 2025 - 12:38 pm PT

With thelaunch of iOS 26 earlier this week, Google Chrome 141 rolled out with Liquid Glass tweaks on iPhone and iPad.

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Upgraded Gemini in Chrome rolling out to free users, agentic browsing coming soon

Avatar for Abner LiSep 18 2025 - 10:00 am PT

Gemini in Chrome for Mac and Windows will no longer require an AI Pro or AI Ultra subscription, while Google today also announced a number of upgrades.

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Chrome for Android getting Material 3 Expressive tweaks

Avatar for Abner LiAug 31 2025 - 12:38 pm PT
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The Google Chrome interface has remained remarkably consistent over the years, and the Android browser is now getting Material 3 Expressive tweaks to matchother first-party apps.

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Chrome 139 elevates Tab Groups, fixes new ‘Copy link’ shortcut

Avatar for Abner LiAug 14 2025 - 2:22 pm PT

Google’s Tab Grouptweaks continue with Chrome 139 for Android, which also makes a handful of other small changes across the browser.

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Perplexity wants to buy Google Chrome for $34.5 billion, twice the company’s value

Avatar for Ben SchoonAug 12 2025 - 9:10 am PT

Perplexity, an AI startup, is putting together a bid to buy Google Chrome. There are just two potential problems. First, Chrome isn’t actually for sale. Second, the bid is worth twice as much as Perplexity.

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Are you using Chrome for Android’s bottom address bar? [Poll]

Avatar for Abner LiAug 3 2025 - 6:30 am PT

In July, Google finally launched a bottom address bar for Chrome on Android. Are you using it?

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Chrome New Tab Page adding AI Mode shortcut

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Like the Pixel Launcher, Google is adding an AI Mode shortcut to desktop Chrome’s New Tab Page.

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Google Chrome for Android rolls out bottom address bar

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Following theannouncement last month, Google Chrome is now widely rolling out the bottom address bar option on Android.

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Chrome for Android tweaks the controls for Tab Groups

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The tweaks to Tab Groups in Chrome for Android continue today with Google rearranging the bottom strip of controls. 

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How Android 16’s Advanced Protection secures Chrome

Avatar for Abner LiJul 9 2025 - 11:13 am PT

With Android 16, users can enableAdvanced Protection to “activate Google’s strongest security for mobile devices.” The Chrome for Android team hasnow detailed how Advanced Protection works.

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Google Chrome will stop getting updates on older Android phones in August

Avatar for Ben SchoonJun 26 2025 - 8:30 am PT

Google has announced that its Chrome browser will stop supporting a few older versions of Android in the next few weeks.

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Google finally rolling out Chrome for Android’s bottom address bar

Avatar for Abner LiJun 24 2025 - 10:00 am PT

In a move that has been a long time coming, Google is now letting Chrome for Android users have a bottom address bar.

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Chrome 137 for Android rolling out rounded menu corners, moves Tab Group button

Avatar for Abner LiJun 4 2025 - 3:56 pm PT

Followinglast month’s update, Google is continuing to round the corners of various interface elements in Chrome for Android, with version 137 today focusing on menus.

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Chrome now lets users copy and search text from scanned PDFs

Avatar for Andrew RomeroJun 3 2025 - 8:16 am PT

Google Chrome is rolling out a feature that allows users to copy text from scanned PDFs. This has been a long time coming.

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Gemini (Live) coming to Google Chrome for Mac and Windows 

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Google is bringing Gemini and Gemini Live to Chrome for Mac and Windows. The initial launch lets you ask questions about a page, while future versions will be able to navigate the web and take other actions on your behalf.

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Google Chrome’s Tab Search button is moving

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The Tab Search tool in Google Chrome – frequented by users with way too much RAM – is getting a new dedicated button. The tool lets Chrome users search open and closed tabs by keyword, making for an easier time sifting through active pages.

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Chrome for Android ‘Page Zoom’ now just boosts text as Expressive Captions expand

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For Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2025, Google is announcing updates across Android (Expressive Captions) and Chrome (Page Zoom).

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