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When your Chromebook reaches its automatic update end date, it does not immediately stop working. Google says you can keep using a working device, but it will no longer receive ChromeOS or browser updates. Check your exact model’s date first, then decide whether extended updates, continued use, an upgrade or recycling best fits your needs.
Find your Chromebook’s exact update end date
The date depends on the device model, not simply its purchase year or brand. On the Chromebook, open Settings → About ChromeOS → Additional details and read Update schedule. Google’s update schedule instructions explain how to check. If the Chromebook is managed by a school or workplace, the schedule may say updates are controlled by its administrator; ask them about the device’s policy.
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Google’s policy, checked in 2026, provides 10 years of automatic updates, with some eligible Chromebooks released before 2021 requiring an opt-in to extended updates. That policy duration does not establish an individual device’s end date: confirm it in the schedule for the exact model.
What changes when automatic updates end?
At the final automatic update, the Chromebook stops receiving ChromeOS and browser updates. Google says those updates include security updates, bug fixes and new features. Some existing features or app support may also stop working.
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Verified boot remains after automatic updates end, according to Google, but it is not a replacement for new security updates. The end date does not mean a working Chromebook becomes unusable overnight; it means its software no longer receives those updates.
Choose what to do next
Keep using it
You can continue using a working Chromebook. Whether that makes sense depends on your security expectations and whether the apps and services you need still work. Google’s consumer guidance says: “You can continue using your computer but should consider upgrading.”
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Check whether extended updates are available
Some eligible older Chromebooks can receive extended updates toward a total of 10 years from the platform release. Check the exact model and its settings before opting in; eligibility and terms are model-specific. Google’s extended updates guidance describes the option.
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On some older devices, opting in removes Android apps and the Google Play Store. Other eligible older devices retain them. If you rely on Android apps, verify what happens on your model before choosing extended updates.
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Upgrade to a new Chromebook
If you need ongoing updates or your current apps and services are no longer supported, compare replacement devices by their exact automatic update end dates as well as their hardware and app support. Google’s schedule is model-specific, so do not assume that all Chromebooks have the same support period remaining. Google lists upgrading as an option in its guidance for using or upgrading an old Chromebook.
Recycle it if you no longer need it
Google links to recycling facilities in the United States through its old Chromebook guidance. That route is specific to the US; check local recycling options if you are elsewhere.
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Contact the administrator for a managed device
For a work- or school-managed Chromebook, ask the administrator about the update policy and options for that device. Google’s operating system update guidance covers updates and administrator-managed devices.
ChromeOS Flex is not a supported Chromebook workaround
Google does not support installing ChromeOS Flex on a Chromebook after its automatic update date. Flex is intended for supported Windows, Mac and Linux computers, not as a way to extend an out-of-support Chromebook’s update life. See Google’s ChromeOS Flex FAQ.
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For a Windows, Mac or Linux computer, check that the exact model appears on Google’s ChromeOS Flex certified-model list. Certification identifies guaranteed functions; features such as Bluetooth, touchscreens and SD-card slots may not be guaranteed on every model.
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