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March 2021

What’s New with Chromebook?

Chromebooks update automatically* to provide you with the latest features and keep the software fresh and speedy. Here are some highlights from recent updates.

*See how long a device is eligible for updates at g.co/chromeosupdates/en/.

Directly control your Android phone

Using your Chromebook, and your phone is out of reach? With Phone Hub, you now have a built-in control center that brings key capabilities from your Android phone to your Chromebook. See the tabs that you last opened on your phone, check your phone’s battery life and cellular signal and even respond to messages, all from your Chromebook. To set up Phone Hub, click the Phone Link symbol on your Shelf.

Get online faster with Wi-Fi Sync

We've expanded Wi-Fi Sync to work with more devices, making it easier to get online. Your Chromebook can automatically connect to trusted Wi-Fi networks that you’ve used on your Android phone and other ChromeOS devices when signed in with the same Google Account. To enable syncing with your Android phone, go to “Connected devices” in ChromeOS Settings, click the arrow next to the phone, and toggle "Wi-Fi Sync" on.

Powerful screen capture tools

Screen Capture lets you take precise screenshots without needing to remember complex keyboard shortcuts. Easily switch between taking a screenshot or screen recording, and choose if you want to capture your full screen, full window or crop to a specific area of your screen. To use it, go to your Quick Settings menu and click “Screen capture.”

Keep critical files at your fingertips

Tote is a new holding space that makes it easy for you to find the right file fast. You’ll have quick access to recent downloads, recent screen captures, and any files that you’ve decided to pin. Tote will pop up on your Shelf as soon as you take a screen capture, download a file or pin a file.

Save time copying and pasting

With Clipboard, your Chromebook saves the last five items copied so you can easily paste any or all to a new page without needing to switch between windows. Just press the Everything button (Launcher key or Search key) + V to use your Clipboard.

Get answers fast

Quick Answers will automatically provide helpful information—like a definition, a translation or unit conversion—when you right-click a word. No need to open a separate tab to search for the definition if you see a tricky word on a website, recipe or presentation. You can remove this feature by turning off “Related info” in ChromeOS Settings.

Multitask easily with Desks updates

We’ve supercharged Desks to help you organize your workspace. When you reboot, your windows will restore to their previous desks so your workflow isn’t interrupted. Right-click at the top of a window to send it directly to one or all desks, and swipe across your trackpad with four fingers to switch between desks. See your desks by pressing the Overview mode key Overview key ) or swiping up in tablet mode.

Personalize your lock screen

Turn your Chromebook’s lock screen into a personalized smart display. Show off your favorite photo album from Google Photos or pick from hundreds of art gallery images. You can use your lock screen to check information like the current weather and what music is playing; you can also pause a track or skip songs without unlocking your device. Turn it on now by going to “Screen saver” in your ChromeOS Settings.

Easily access your media controls

Your media controls are now built directly into the Quick Settings menu, so you’ll always know where to go to play, pause or skip to the next song. To see them, play a track from your favorite music streaming platform like YouTube Music or Spotify. You can also pin this media player directly to your Shelf for quicker access.

Looking to make a switch?

Switching from Mac or Windows is as easy as logging in. In just three simple steps, you’ll find your files and photos ready to go on your new Chromebook.

View previous updates

Latest update

March 2024

Quickly share files between Chromebook and Android phones, switch between desks with a tap, and transform PDFs into text.

November 2023

Easily find and add gifs with just a tap, multitask with new Clipboard features, slow your battery's decline with Adaptive Charging, and more.

September 2023

Personalize your device with a new set of accent colors that match your wallpaper, select a shared Google Photos album for your wallpaper to rotate through, multitask across different window screen configurations, and more.

June 2023

Express your creativity with Google Photos' new movie editor and video editing features, easily organize your apps you've downloaded on your Chromebook in the Launcher, discover new articles about apps in the Explore app, multitask across different windows, and find more options for your handwritten notes.