Chrome checks for updates automatically, but you can force a check right now

Google Chrome updates itself in the background without asking you. When you close and reopen the browser, it installs any waiting updates. But if you want to see whether an update is available right now — or force one to install immediately — you can check manually in about 30 seconds.

The process is the same whether you're on Windows, Mac, or Linux. You'll open a single menu, click one option, and Chrome will tell you whether you're current or what version is waiting.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the three-dot menu in the top right corner of Chrome, then select "About Google Chrome" to see your current version and check for updates.
  • If an update is waiting, Chrome will show a colored dot next to the three-dot menu icon — red means restart required, yellow or green means update in progress.
  • Chrome updates automatically when you close and reopen the browser, so manual checks are optional unless you want to update immediately.
  • Your Chrome version number appears in the "About Google Chrome" window, which is useful if you need to troubleshoot or report a problem.

The three-dot menu is your starting point

Look at the top right corner of your Chrome window. You'll see three vertical dots stacked on top of each other. Click that menu.

A dropdown list will appear. Scroll down until you see "About Google Chrome" — it's usually near the bottom of the menu. Click it.

Chrome will open a new tab showing your current version number and checking for updates at the same time. The page displays text like "Version 123.0.6312.86" or similar. Below that, you'll see either "You're up to date" or a message telling you an update is available.

What the status messages mean

If Chrome says "You're up to date," you're running the latest version. Nothing else needs to happen. You can close that tab.

If Chrome shows "A new version of Google Chrome is available," an update is ready to install. You'll see a blue "Update" button. Click it, and Chrome will download and prepare the update. After it finishes, you'll see a "Relaunch" button. Click that to restart Chrome and apply the update immediately. If you don't click "Relaunch," Chrome will install the update the next time you close and reopen the browser.

If you see "Checking for updates," wait a few seconds. Chrome is contacting Google's servers to see whether a newer version exists. This usually takes less than 10 seconds on a normal internet connection.

The colored dot tells you update status at a glance

Once you've checked for updates, look at the three-dot menu icon again. If a colored dot appears next to it, that's Chrome's way of signaling update status without opening any menus.

A green dot means an update is available and Chrome is preparing it. A yellow dot means the update is ready but Chrome is waiting for you to restart. A red dot means the update is overdue — Chrome has been waiting for a restart for several days. None of these require immediate action; they're just visual reminders.

If you don't see a dot, Chrome is current and no update is waiting.

Why Chrome updates so frequently

Chrome releases a new version roughly every four weeks. These updates include security patches, bug fixes, and new features. The frequent schedule means security problems get fixed quickly — usually within days of being discovered.

Because updates happen automatically in the background, most people never notice them. You don't have to do anything. The only time you'll see a restart prompt is if you leave Chrome open for several days without closing it.

What to do if an update won't install

Occasionally, an update fails to install. This usually happens if your computer runs out of storage space or if Chrome crashes during the update process. If you see an error message on the "About Google Chrome" page, try these steps in order: first, close all other Chrome windows and tabs, then click the "Update" button again. If that doesn't work, restart your computer and open Chrome again.

If the problem persists, you can uninstall and reinstall Chrome. Go to your system settings (Settings on Windows, System Preferences on Mac), find Chrome in your installed programs, and remove it. Then download Chrome fresh from google.com/chrome. This is rarely necessary, but it solves stubborn update problems.

Checking Chrome version without opening the About page

If you just want to know your version number without checking for updates, you can see it in Chrome's settings. Open the three-dot menu, click "Settings," then click "About Chrome" in the left sidebar. The version appears at the top of the page, but Chrome will also check for updates automatically while you're there.

You can also type chrome://version into the address bar and press Enter. This shows your version number plus technical details like your profile path and command-line flags. It doesn't check for updates, so it's useful if you want to see your version without triggering an update check.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off automatic updates in Chrome?

Not completely. Chrome is designed to update automatically for security reasons, and Google doesn't provide a way to disable this. On Windows and Mac, you can delay updates by not restarting your browser, but Chrome will eventually update when you close and reopen it. On Linux, updates depend on your system's package manager, which you can control separately.

What happens if I ignore the update notification?

Nothing bad happens immediately. Chrome will keep working. But the update will install the next time you close and reopen the browser, so you can't avoid it indefinitely. If you want to delay an update, just keep Chrome open — it won't restart until you close the window.

Does Chrome update on its own while I'm using it?

Chrome downloads and prepares updates in the background while you work, but it doesn't apply them until you restart the browser. You'll see a colored dot on the menu icon when an update is ready, but your browsing won't be interrupted.

How do I know if a Chrome update broke something?

After an update, if a website stops working or a feature behaves differently, try clearing your browser cache first. Open the three-dot menu, go to "Settings," click "Privacy and security," then "Clear browsing data." If the problem persists, check the Chrome Help Center or the website's support page — the issue might be on their end, not Chrome's.