Unfortunately, no computer or phone lasts forever. All devices stop getting updates eventually, so it’s smart to know when your devices will “expire” so you can plan accordingly.
Below, we explain how to check when a Chromebook will stop getting updates, whether you have a Chromebook or are thinking of buying one.
How to Check the Expiration Date for Your Chromebook
If you own a Chromebook and want to see how long it will receive updates for, you can do this right on your device. To do so, click the time and battery icons at the bottom-right, followed by the Settings gear. On the resulting window, click About Chrome OS on the left side, followed by Additional details.
Here, you’ll see a field titled Update schedule. This tells you when your Chromebook will stop receiving updates, such as “This Chromebook will get automatic software and security updates until [Month/Year].”
In case this date has passed, you’ll see a date when your Chromebook stopped getting updates. If this is the case for you, you should replace your Chromebook as soon as possible.
How to Check the End of Life Date for Any Chromebook
Google keeps a list of the Auto Update Expiration (AUE) dates for each Chromebook model on its Auto Update policy page. This is buried on an enterprise and education support resource, so it’s easy for normal consumers to miss.
To see how long a given Chromebook will last, use the list to find a model by the manufacturer. The model number should be easy to find on a Chromebook’s product listing page at any online retailer, though keep in mind that some manufacturers use the same name for many Chromebook models.
For instance, Acer has several devices sold under the Chromebook 11 name. These differ by model number, so it’s important that you check the right device. If the model number isn’t listed in the item’s title, search the listing page for “Item model number” or similar.
In this example, we can see that Acer’s CB314-1H Chromebook will get updates until June 2027. Five years of use is solid for a cheaper device like this, so it would be a good buy. If you discover that a Chromebook expires in the next year or two, avoid buying it. Your money is better spent on a newer model that will last longer.
The length of life differs by Chromebook. For certain models released starting in 2020, Google now offers roughly eight years of support, which is excellent—it’s on par with what you can expect from a MacBook. However, this isn’t the case for all Chromebooks.
Be aware that these dates are based on when a model released. You might be surprised that certain Chromebooks currently for sale are several years old.
The Dangers of an Unsupported Chromebook
While Chromebook updates can bring cool new Chrome OS features, they’re more important for applying security patches. Once your Chromebook has passed its AUE date, Google won’t fix any issues that may arise with the browser.
Since we do so much in browsers nowadays, a security hole could have major repercussions. You can’t install an alternative browser like you could on another unsupported OS, so there are few options once your Chromebook expires.
A Chromebook won’t stop working after its AUE, so you can continue to use it for a short time if you need. But you should get a new Chromebook once you’re able. By knowing when your Chromebook will stop getting updates, you can plan for this.
Know When Your Chromebook Expires
It’s easy to see when any Chromebook will stop receiving important security updates from Google. Use this information to know when you’ll need a new Chromebook, or to avoid buying a device that doesn’t have much life left in it. Google can’t support devices forever, so it’s sensible to have a clear lifecycle policy.
If you plan to keep your current Chromebook for a while, small improvements like upgrading the storage can help hold you over.
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