Google Chrome facts for kids
The user wants me to rewrite the provided MediaWiki article about Google Chrome for a 12-15 year old audience. I need to adhere to all the strict formatting and content guidelines.
Here's a plan: 1. Infobox: Keep as is. 2. Lead Section: Simplify language, keep key facts about what Chrome is, its origins, market share, and Google's decision to create it. 3. History: * Simplify Eric Schmidt's initial opposition. * Condense rumors and early development. * Simplify announcement details (comic, code name). * Simplify public release details (beta, stable, early usage, CNET issue, OS X/Linux release). * Simplify development details (code libraries, V8, WebKit/Blink, logo change, Android/VR versions). I will remove the H.264 codec detail as it's too technical and not crucial for this age group. 4. Features: * User Interface: Simplify descriptions of Omnibox, New Tab Page, themes, bookmarks, Dark Theme, and Material You redesign. * Web Standards Support: Keep Acid tests and HTML5 scores, simplify JavaScript/ECMAScript test details. * Built-in Tools: Simplify translation, sync, developer tools, special URLs, saving pages. Remove Gears as it's deprecated and less relevant. * Desktop Shortcuts and Apps: Simplify explanation of web apps and Chrome Web Store. * Extensions: Explain what extensions are. Simplify Manifest V3 explanation, focusing on its purpose (security, performance) and the main criticisms (ad blocking, privacy) without getting too technical. List notable examples. * Speed: Simplify V8 engine, benchmark results, DNS prefetching, SPDY/HTTP/2. Remove "speed badging" and "Lite Mode" as they are less core features. * Security: Simplify blacklists, sandboxing, WebRTC issue (briefly mention it's a security concern without deep dive), HTTPS warnings, ad blocking, Secure DNS. * Password Management: Simplify Windows, Linux, and macOS password storage. Keep the "no master password" point but simplify the explanation. * Security Vulnerabilities: Briefly mention Pwn2Own and Pwnium, Flash Player phase-out, and Vault 7 (without going into detail about CIA capabilities, just that browsers can be compromised). * Malware Blocking and Ad Blocking: Combine with the security section if possible, or keep it concise. * Plugins: Simplify the history of NPAPI and PPAPI, and the removal of Java/Silverlight support. * Privacy: * Incognito Mode: Simplify explanation, mention what it does/doesn't hide, and the lawsuit (briefly, without legal jargon, just that it was about tracking). * Listening Capabilities: Briefly mention the Hotword module and its removal. * User Tracking Concerns: Simplify the table, explaining each method briefly. Simplify FLoC/Topics API, focusing on the goal of replacing cookies and the privacy concerns. * Do Not Track: Briefly explain DNT. * Stability: Simplify multi-process architecture, Task Manager, and battery life. * Release Channels, Cycles and Updates: Simplify Stable, Beta, Dev, and Canary channels. Explain auto-updates. Simplify version numbering.
5. Platforms: * List current supported OS versions. * Simplify details for Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, and macOS, focusing on key features or changes relevant to a young audience. Remove highly technical details about specific CPU instruction sets or old OS versions unless they are very simple to explain. * ChromeOS: Keep concise explanation.
6. Usage: * Market Share: Keep StatCounter data, simplify the "weekend bump" and historical milestones. Keep the bar chart. * Enterprise Deployment: Briefly explain that businesses use Chrome and Google provides tools for them. * Chromium: Briefly explain Chromium as the open-source base.
7. Developing for Chrome: Keep concise. 8. Impersonation by Malware: Keep concise explanation of "eFast."
9. See also: Keep as is. 10. Categories: Keep as is. 11. Images: * Ensure all standalone images have `|thumb|caption`. * Move images from deleted sections to the `==Images for kids== * Check for images inside infobox/gallery templates – do NOT add `thumb` there.
Word Count Check: I need to be mindful of the 1500-word limit for the article body. I will prioritize core functionality and history, and simplify or remove less critical technical details. Paragraphs and sentences must be short.
Final Review:
- All MediaWiki syntax?
- No Markdown?
- Headings correct?
- Bold/Italic correct?
- Lists correct?
- Links correct?
- Images correct (thumb, no deletion, gallery for moved images)?
- No TOC at end?
- Categories unchanged?
- Word count under 1500?
- Age-appropriate language?
- Sensitive topics handled?
Let's start rewriting.
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Google Chrome running on Windows 11
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| Written in | C, C++, Assembly, HTML, Java (Android app only), JavaScript, Python | ||||||||||
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| Type | Web browser, mobile browser | ||||||||||
| License | Proprietary freeware, based on open source components | ||||||||||
Google Chrome is a popular web browser created by Google. It first came out in 2008 for Microsoft Windows computers. It was built using parts from other free software like Apple WebKit and Mozilla Firefox. Later, versions were made for Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android. On Android, it's often the main browser that comes with the device. Chrome is also a big part of ChromeOS, which is an operating system for web applications.
Most of Chrome's basic code comes from Google's free and open-source software project called Chromium. However, Chrome itself is a special kind of free software that Google owns. At first, Chrome used the WebKit engine to show web pages. But Google later made its own engine called Blink. Since 2017, all Chrome versions, except the one for iOS, use the Blink engine.
As of April 2024, Chrome is the most used web browser in the world. It has about 65% of the market share on personal computers. It's also the most used browser on tablets and smartphones. This means most people use Chrome to browse the internet!
Google's CEO, Eric Schmidt, didn't want to make a web browser at first. He thought Google was too small to join the "browser wars". But Google's founders, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, showed him how good Chrome could be. This made Schmidt change his mind, and Chrome became a huge success. Because Chrome became so popular, Google used the "Chrome" name for other products. These include ChromeOS, Chromecast, Chromebook, Chromebit, Chromebox, and Chromebase.
Contents
- How Google Chrome Started
- Cool Features of Google Chrome
- Where Chrome Works
- How Many People Use Chrome?
- Making Things for Chrome
- Malware Impersonating Chrome
- Images for kids
How Google Chrome Started
Google's CEO, Eric Schmidt, didn't want to make a web browser for six years. He felt Google was a small company and didn't want to get into tough "browser wars". But the company's founders hired some Mozilla Firefox developers. They built a demo of Chrome that was so good, Schmidt changed his mind.
In September 2004, people started hearing rumors that Google was building a browser. Online news and newspapers said Google was hiring web developers from Microsoft. This happened after Mozilla Firefox 1.0 came out and became popular. Firefox was taking users away from Internet Explorer, which had some security problems.
Chrome is based on the open-source code from the Chromium project. Work on the browser began in 2006. Sundar Pichai led the development. Much of Chrome was developed in Google's office in Kitchener, Ontario.
Announcing Chrome to the World
Google planned to announce Chrome on September 3, 2008. They were going to send a comic book by Scott McCloud to journalists. This comic would explain all the new browser's features. But copies sent to Europe arrived early. A German blogger shared a scanned copy of the comic online on September 1, 2008. Google then put the comic on Google Books and talked about it on their official blog. The name "Chrome" was first a project code name because it sounded like fast cars. Google kept the name for the final product. It was a bit ironic because one main goal was to make the browser's look, or "chrome," very simple.
When Chrome First Came Out
Chrome was first released as a test version (beta) on September 2, 2008. It worked on Windows XP and newer versions and supported 43 languages. The "stable" public version came out on December 11, 2008. On that day, a news report from CNET pointed out something in the terms of service. It seemed to give Google a license to all content sent through Chrome. Google quickly said this language was from other products and removed it.
Chrome quickly gained about 1% of the browser market. After a quick rise, its share dropped a bit. But by December 2008, it was back above 1%. In early 2009, CNET reported that Google planned to release Chrome for OS X and Linux later that year. The first test versions for OS X and Linux were announced on June 4, 2009. Google said these were for early feedback and not for general use. In December 2009, Google released beta versions for OS X and Linux. Google Chrome 5.0, released on May 25, 2010, was the first stable version for all three computer systems.
Chrome was one of the twelve browsers offered to users in Europe in 2010. This was part of an agreement with Microsoft.
How Chrome Was Developed
Chrome was built using 25 different code libraries from Google and other companies. These included parts from Mozilla, SQLite, and other open-source projects. The V8 JavaScript engine was a very important part. It was handled by a separate team in Denmark. Google said that old JavaScript engines were slow for complex web applications like Gmail. They needed an engine that could work much faster.
Chrome first used the WebKit engine to show web pages. In 2013, Google created its own engine called Blink from WebKit. Blink uses WebKit's core parts but has its own way of handling multiple processes. Chrome is tested very carefully. It uses automated tests and is checked against popular websites. Google also created Gears for Chrome. Gears added features for web developers, like offline support for web apps. Google stopped using Gears as these features became part of HTML5 standards.
In March 2011, Google changed Chrome's logo to a simpler, flatter design. Google designer Steve Rura said the new logo showed Chrome's goal: to make the web experience easy and clean.
In February 2012, Google launched Google Chrome Beta for Android 4.0 devices. On many new devices with Android 4.1 and later, Chrome is the default browser. In May 2017, Google also announced a version of Chrome for augmented reality and virtual reality devices.
Cool Features of Google Chrome
Google Chrome has a very simple look. Its design ideas were later used in other browsers. For example, it combined the address bar and search bar into one "omnibox." Chrome is also known for being very fast.
How Chrome Supports Web Standards
The first version of Google Chrome passed the Acid1 and Acid2 tests. These tests check if a browser follows web standards correctly. Starting with version 4.0, Chrome passed all parts of the Acid3 test.
As of May 2011, Chrome has excellent support for JavaScript. In a test called Test 262, Chrome version 37 failed only 10 out of 11,578 tests. Lower scores are better in this test.
On the HTML5 web standards test, Chrome 41 scored 518 out of 555 points. This put it ahead of the five most popular desktop browsers. Chrome 44 scored even higher, with 526 points.
What the User Interface Looks Like
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By default, Chrome has back, forward, refresh/cancel, and menu buttons. A home button isn't shown at first, but you can add it in Settings. This button can take you to a new tab page or a custom home page.
Tabs are a main part of Chrome's design. They are at the top of the window, not below the controls. You can easily move tabs between different windows by dragging them. Each tab has its own controls, including the Omnibox.
The Omnibox is a special box that works as both the address bar and a search box. If you type in a website you've searched before, Chrome lets you press Tab to search that site again directly from the Omnibox. As you type, Chrome suggests websites you've visited or popular searches. Chrome will also automatically complete URLs for sites you visit often. If you type something that isn't a website and press enter, Chrome will search for it using your default search engine.
A unique feature of Chrome is the New Tab Page. This page shows up when you open a new tab. It used to show thumbnails of your most visited websites. In Google Chrome 2.0, you could hide thumbnails you didn't want to see.
Starting with version 3.0, the New Tab Page was updated to show eight most visited websites. You could move, pin, or remove these thumbnails. There was also a "Recently closed" bar for tabs you just closed. Chrome 3.0 also let users install themes to change the browser's look. Many free themes are available online.
Chrome has a bookmarks menu. It lists your saved pages and lets you easily open the Bookmark Manager. You can also turn a bookmarks bar on or off.
In 2019, Google added a Dark Theme for Chrome on Windows 10.
In 2023, Google announced a big redesign for Chrome. It will use Google's Material You design, with more rounded corners and new colors. The address bar, icons, and tabs will also be updated.
Helpful Tools Built-in
Starting with Google Chrome 4.1, the browser added a built-in translation tool using Google Translate. It can translate between 52 languages. If Chrome sees a foreign language, it asks if you want to translate it.
Chrome lets you sync your bookmarks, history, and settings across all your devices. This happens by sending data through your Google Account. This keeps all your Chrome browsers up to date.
For web developers, Chrome has an element inspector. This tool lets them look at the code that makes up a web page.
Chrome also has special URLs that load pages about the application itself. It also has a way to turn on experimental features. These are hidden under `about:flags`.
The desktop version of Chrome can save web pages as HTML files. It can also save them in the MHTML format.
Desktop Shortcuts and Apps
Chrome lets you create shortcuts on your desktop for web applications. When you open these shortcuts, the browser window is very simple. It only shows the title bar. This makes web apps feel more like regular programs on your computer.
This feature was improved with the Chrome Web Store, which opened in December 2010. It's an online place to find web applications.
In September 2013, Google started making Chrome apps "For your desktop." This meant they could work offline and launch in their own window. They looked more like regular computer programs.
Chrome Web Store
The Chrome Web Store was announced on December 7, 2010. It lets users install web applications as extensions for the browser. Many of these extensions are links to popular websites or games. But some, like Springpad, offer extra features such as offline access. Themes and extensions are also part of this store.
The Chrome Web Store officially opened on February 11, 2011, with the release of Google Chrome 9.0.
Browser Extensions
Browser extensions can change how Google Chrome works. They are available for desktop Chrome but not for mobile versions. These extensions are made using web technologies like HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. You can find them in the Chrome Web Store. Some extensions help with accessibility. Google Tone is an extension that uses your computer's speakers to share URLs with nearby computers that also have the extension.
In September 2009, Google turned on extensions by default for Chrome's developer version. They also provided sample extensions for testing. In December, the Chrome Extensions Gallery beta started with about 300 extensions. It officially launched on January 25, 2010, with Google Chrome 4.0, offering about 1500 extensions.
In 2014, Google started stopping some Windows users from installing extensions not from the Chrome Web Store. The next year, Google said this led to a "75% drop in customer support help requests for uninstalling unwanted extensions." So, they expanded this rule to all Windows and Mac users.
Manifest V3: A Big Change for Extensions
In October 2018, Google announced a big update to Chrome's extension system called "Manifest V3." This update aims to make extensions more modern, secure, and faster. It changes how extensions can block or modify network connections. It also stops extensions from using code that is hosted somewhere else.
Manifest V3 has received some criticism. Ad-blocking and privacy extensions use a tool called WebRequest API. The new system, DeclarativeWebRequest, has limits on how many rules can be set. This could affect how well ad blockers work. Also, stopping remotely-hosted code means filter lists might not update as quickly.
Some people think Google is trying to limit ad blockers because of its own advertising business. Google says the changes improve performance and security. In June 2019, Google increased the limit for filtering rules to help address concerns. In 2021, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) said Manifest V3 would "greatly limit the functionality of privacy extensions."
In December 2022, Google paused the change to address developer feedback. In November 2023, Google announced it would continue the move to Manifest V3. Support for older extensions will be removed from non-stable Chrome versions starting June 2024. Other browsers based on Chromium, like Microsoft Edge, will also adopt Manifest V3. Mozilla Firefox is adding Manifest V3 support for compatibility. However, Mozilla said its version won't have the same limits that affect privacy and content-blocking extensions.
Popular Extensions
- Adblock Plus
- Adblock for Chrome
- Dropbox
- Evernote Web
- Facebook Messenger
- Ghostery
- Google Maps
- HTTPS Everywhere (discontinued)
- Pandora Radio
- Pixlr Express
- Privacy Badger
- TweetDeck
- uBlock Origin
How Fast is Chrome?
Chrome uses a special JavaScript engine called V8. This engine has features that make JavaScript code run very quickly.
In 2008, many websites tested Chrome's speed. They used tools like SunSpider and Google's own tests. These tests showed that Chrome was much faster than other browsers like Safari, Firefox 3.0, Internet Explorer 7, and Opera. However, by October 2010, other browsers like Opera had improved their JavaScript speed.
Mozilla said their own JavaScript engine, TraceMonkey, was faster than Chrome's V8 in some tests. Two weeks after Chrome launched, the WebKit team announced a new JavaScript engine that was even faster than Chrome's V8.
Like most major web browsers, Chrome uses DNS prefetching. This helps speed up how quickly websites load by looking up their addresses ahead of time.
Chrome used to use a special protocol called SPDY to talk to servers. This made Google services, Facebook, and Twitter load faster. SPDY support was removed in Chrome version 51 because it was replaced by HTTP/2, a newer standard.
In November 2019, Google said it was working on "speed badging" systems. These would tell users if a page was loading slowly.
Chrome used to have a "Lite Mode" feature to make pages load faster and save data. This feature was turned off in Chrome 100.
Security Features
Chrome regularly gets updates for two lists: one for phishing sites and one for malware sites. It warns you if you try to visit a site that might be harmful. This service is also available for others to use through the "Google Safe Browsing API."
Chrome uses a special system called a sandbox for each tab. This means each tab runs in its own separate space. If an attacker gets into one tab, they can't easily get into other tabs or your computer's main files. This makes Chrome more secure. If one tab crashes, only that tab stops working, not the whole browser.
In January 2015, it was reported that using Chrome with a VPN could have security issues because of its support for WebRTC.
Starting with Chrome 56 in September 2016, users are warned when they visit insecure HTTP websites. This encourages more websites to switch to the more secure HTTPS.
In December 2018, Google released Chrome 71 with new security features. This included a built-in ad filtering system. Google also announced plans to stop websites that trick people into unwanted mobile subscriptions.
In September 2020, Chrome 85 added support for Secure DNS in Chrome for Android. This feature, called DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH), helps improve safety and privacy when browsing. Chrome automatically switches to DoH if your current DNS provider supports it.
Password Management
On Windows
Since 2008, some people have criticized Chrome for not having a master password. A master password would prevent others from easily seeing your saved passwords. Chrome developers say a master password doesn't offer true security against skilled hackers. They have decided not to add one. As of February 2014, Google Chrome asks you to enter your Windows account password before showing saved passwords.
On Linux
On Linux, Google Chrome can save passwords in three ways: GNOME Keyring, KWallet, or plain text. Chrome automatically chooses the best way based on your computer's setup. Passwords saved in GNOME Keyring or KWallet are encrypted (scrambled) on your disk. Access to them is controlled by special software. Passwords saved in plain text are not encrypted. When GNOME Keyring or KWallet is used, any old unencrypted passwords are moved to the encrypted storage.
On macOS
As of version 45, the Google Chrome password manager no longer works directly with Keychain.
Security Problems
No security problems in Chrome were found at the Pwn2Own hacking contests from 2009 to 2011. At Pwn2Own 2012, a French team found ways to take control of a Windows 7 computer. They used new security flaws in the Flash player that came with Chrome.
Chrome was also hacked twice at the 2012 CanSecWest Pwnium event. Google quickly fixed these problems within 10 hours.
Many security problems in Chrome were related to Adobe Flash Player. For example, a successful attack on Chrome in 2016 used four security flaws. Two were in Flash, one in Chrome, and one in Windows. In 2016, Google said it would slowly stop supporting Flash Player in Chrome. The goal was to disable it completely by the end of the year, except for a few sites that needed it.
Documents leaked from 2013 to 2016, called Vault 7, showed that the United States Central Intelligence Agency could hack web browsers, including Google Chrome.
Blocking Malware and Ads
Google added download scanning protection in Chrome 17. In February 2018, Google added an ad blocking feature. This feature blocks ads on sites that use annoying or intrusive ads. Websites get a 30-day warning before their ads are blocked. Consumer Reports suggested that users install separate ad-blocking tools for better security against malware and tracking.
Plugins
- Chrome used to support plug-ins like Adobe Flash Player until version 45. These plug-ins ran separately and were not as secure as sandboxed tabs. Since 2010, Adobe Flash was built into Chrome and updated automatically. Java applets also worked in Chrome with certain Java versions.
- In 2009, Google introduced a new, more secure way for plug-ins to work called Pepper Plugin API (PPAPI). This new Flash Player was first on ChromeOS, then replaced the old one on Linux, Windows, and OS X.
- In September 2013, Google announced it would remove support for the older NPAPI plug-ins. This happened for Linux in Chrome 35. By September 2015, Chrome version 45 completely removed NPAPI support. This meant plug-ins like Java, Silverlight, and Unity no longer worked in Chrome.
Privacy Settings
Incognito Mode
Chrome's Incognito mode is a private browsing feature. It stops the browser from saving your history, cookies, site data, or things you type into forms. However, files you download and bookmarks you save will still be stored. Also, your activity is not hidden from the websites you visit or your internet provider.
Incognito mode is similar to private browsing in other browsers. It only works in the Incognito window. You can switch between an Incognito window and regular windows.
The iOS version of Chrome also lets you lock Incognito tabs with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device's passcode.
A lawsuit was filed against Google in 2020. It claimed Google misled people into thinking it wouldn't track them in Incognito mode. A settlement was reportedly reached in December 2023.
Listening Features
In June 2015, some developers found that Chrome 43 could download a "Hotword Shared Module." This module could turn on the "OK Google" voice recognition feature, even though it was off by default. This raised privacy concerns. The module was removed in Chrome 45.
How Chrome Tracks Users
Chrome sends information about its users and their activities to Google. Some of these tracking features can be turned on or off. Other versions of Chrome, like SRWare Iron, try to remove these features completely.
In March 2010, Google started a new way to collect installation numbers. A unique ID is sent only when Chrome first connects to Google's server.
The optional suggestion service in Chrome has been criticized. It sends what you type into the Omnibox to the search provider before you even press enter. This helps with suggestions but also shares your web use with your IP address.
Chrome used to suggest similar pages if a page couldn't be found. This sometimes contacted Google servers. This feature has since been removed.
A 2019 review by Washington Post found that Chrome allowed thousands more cookies than Mozilla Firefox in a typical week. The reviewer noted that Google, with its advertising business, has a financial interest in collecting user data. He suggested switching to Firefox, Safari, or Chromium-based Brave.
| Method | What information is sent | When it's sent | Can you turn it off? | Is it on by default? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installation | A random code in the installer. Used to see if Chrome installs successfully. | When you install Chrome | No | N/A |
| RLZ identifier | A coded message that shows where Chrome was downloaded from and when it was installed. Used to measure how well promotions work.
|
|
Partial |
No |
| clientID | A unique ID, your settings, and records of how you use Chrome and any crashes. | Unknown | Yes | Yes |
| Omnibox predictions | Text you type into the address bar is sent to your search engine, unless you're in Incognito mode. In Incognito, suggestions are made on your device. | While you are typing | Yes | No |
| Google Update | How often Chrome is used, details about your computer's operating system and Chrome version. | Regularly | Partial |
No |
FLoC and Topics API
In January 2021, Google said it was working on new ways to replace third-party cookies. These cookies are used by advertisers to track browsing habits. Google planned to stop using cookies in Chrome by 2022 and use a new technology called FLoC instead. This announcement caused concerns from different countries about Google's market power. The FLoC idea also received criticism from DuckDuckGo, Brave, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. They said it still tracked users too much.
On January 25, 2022, Google announced it stopped developing FLoC. Instead, they proposed a new system called Topics API. Topics is also meant to replace cookies. It uses your weekly web activity to figure out five interests. Topics is supposed to update every three weeks, changing the types of ads you see. It also doesn't keep the collected data for long.
Do Not Track
In February 2012, Google said Chrome would add the Do Not Track (DNT) standard. This tells websites that you don't want to be tracked. This feature was added in version 23. Like the standard, it is turned off by default in Chrome.
Stability of Chrome
Chrome uses a special design where each website or plugin runs in its own separate process. This is called process isolation. It makes Chrome more secure and stable. If one part of Chrome crashes, it usually only affects that one tab. You might see a "Sad Tab" screen, but the rest of your browser keeps working. This design was later used by Safari and Firefox.
Chrome has a Task Manager tool. This lets you see which websites and plugins are using the most memory, downloading the most data, or using a lot of your computer's power. You can also close them if needed. Chrome Version 23 also improved battery life for systems that use Chrome's special video decoding.
Release Channels and Updates
The first official release of Chrome was on December 11, 2008. Soon after, on January 8, 2009, Google announced a new release system with three channels: Stable, Beta, and Developer preview (or "Dev" channel).
Each channel has its own update schedule and stability level. The Stable channel updates about every three months. It gets features that have been tested well in the Beta channel. The Beta channel updates about once a month. It gets features from the Developer channel that are stable. The Developer channel updates once or twice a week. This is where new ideas and features are first tested. These versions can sometimes be unstable.
On July 22, 2010, Google decided to release new stable versions faster. Major updates now come out every six weeks. This faster pace also brought a fourth channel: the "Canary" channel. Canary updates daily and is the most experimental version. The name "Canary" comes from the idea of canaries in coal mines. If a change "kills" Chrome Canary, it won't be sent to the Developer channel until it's fixed. Canary runs separately from other Chrome versions. This means if Canary has a problem, your main Chrome browser still works.
The Chrome beta channel for Android launched on January 10, 2013. Like Canary, it runs alongside the stable Android version. Chrome Dev for Android launched on April 29, 2015.
All Chrome channels update automatically. On Windows, it uses Google Update. On macOS, it uses Google Update Service. On Linux, it uses your system's normal update system. This automatic updating is a key difference from Chromium. Chromium is the open-source browser that Chrome is based on. Chromium users have to manage their own updates.
In March 2021, Google announced that starting with Chrome 94, Stable releases would come out every four weeks instead of six. They also announced a new release channel for system administrators that updates every eight weeks.
Version Numbers Explained
Chrome versions have four parts, like 42.0.2311.90. The parts are major.minor.build.patch.
- Major means a new product release. These happen 7–8 times a year.
- Minor is usually 0.
- Build numbers always increase. For a release, there are many builds in the Canary and Developer stages. The last build number from Developer is kept for Beta and Stable.
- Patch numbers reset with each build. They increase with each small update.
The release schedules for Chromium and Chrome are linked.
Color Management
Chrome supports color management. This means it can display colors accurately using special profiles. On macOS, it uses the system's color support. From version 22, it supports color profiles on other platforms by default.
The Dinosaur Game
If you're using Chrome and your internet is off, you'll see an error message with a small Tyrannosaurus rex. If you press the space bar (or click/tap it), the T-Rex jumps and starts running across a desert with cacti. This is a hidden game, or Easter egg! It's an endless runner game that gets faster and changes colors. School Chromebook administrators can turn off this game.
Where Chrome Works
The current version of Chrome runs on:
- Windows 10 or newer
- macOS 10.15 or newer
- 64-bit versions of Ubuntu 18.04+, Debian 10+, openSUSE 15.2+, and Fedora 32+
- Android Oreo or newer (Android 10 and newer for 64-bit Chrome)
- iOS 15 or newer
As of April 2016, stable 32-bit and 64-bit versions are available for Windows. Only 64-bit stable versions are available for Linux and macOS.
Starting with version 89, Chrome will only work on Intel/Intel x86 and AMD processors that have the SSE3 instruction set.
| Operating system | Latest version | Support status | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | 10 and later | 124 | 2015– |
| 7, 8 and 8.1 | 109 | 2009–2023 | |
| XP and Vista | 49 (IA-32) | 2008–2016 | |
| macOS | 10.15 and later | 124 | 2019– |
| 10.13 and 10.14 | 116 | 2017–2023 | |
| 10.11 and 10.12 | 103 | 2015–2022 | |
| 10.10 | 87 | 2014–2021 | |
| 10.9 | 67 | 2013–2018 | |
| 10.6–10.8 (x64) | 49 | 2009–2016 | |
| 10.6 (IA-32) | 38 | 2009–2014 | |
| 10.5 (IA-32, x64) | 21 | 2008–2012 | |
| Linux (X11/Wayland) | x64 | 124 | 2008– |
| IA-32 | 48 | 2008–2016 | |
| Android | 8.0 and later | 124 | 2017– |
| 7.x | 119 | 2016–2023 | |
| 6.x | 106 | 2015–2022 | |
| 5.x | 95 | 2014–2021 | |
| 4.4 | 81 | 2013–2020 | |
| 4.1-4.3 (ARMv7,IA-32,x64) | 71 | 2012–2019 | |
| 4.0 (ARMv7,IA-32) | 42 | 2012–2015 | |
| iOS | 15.0 and later | 125 | 2021– |
| 14.x | 113 | 2020–2023 | |
| 13.x | 93 | 2019–2021 | |
| 12.2-12.5.x | 92 | 2018–2021 | |
| 12.0-12.1.x | 86 | 2018–2020 | |
| 11.x | 76 | 2017–2019 | |
| 10.x | 71 | 2016–2019 | |
| 9.x | 63 | 2015–2018 | |
| 8.x , 7.x | 47 | 2013–2016 | |
| 6.x | 37 | 2012–2014 | |
| 5.x | 29 | 2011–2013 | |
| 4.x | 23 | 2010–2012 | |
Chrome on Android Devices
A test version for Android 4.0 devices launched on February 7, 2012. It was available in a few countries from Google Play.
Cool features include:
- Syncing with desktop Chrome to share bookmarks and open tabs.
- Pre-rendering pages to load them faster.
- Using your device's hardware to speed things up.
- Support for many new HTML5 features like GPU-accelerated canvas and CSS 3D Transforms.
- Mobile-friendly features like swiping to switch tabs and zooming in on links.
Some features missing from the mobile version are sandboxed tabs, Safe Browsing, apps or extensions, and Adobe Flash.
The code for Chrome on Android is a special version of the Chromium project. Google aims to share most new code back with Chromium.
An update on April 17, 2012, made Chrome available in 31 more languages and all countries where Google Play works. You could also ask for the desktop version of a website instead of the mobile one. Android users could also add bookmarks to their home screens.
On June 27, 2012, Google Chrome for Android left its beta stage and became a stable release.
Chrome 18.0.1026311, released on September 26, 2012, was the first Android Chrome version to support phones and tablets with Intel x86 processors.
Starting from version 25, Chrome for Android updates at the same time as the desktop version. Google released a separate Chrome for Android beta channel on January 10, 2013. This beta version can run at the same time as the stable release.
Chrome on iOS Devices
Chrome is available on Apple's mobile iOS operating system as Google Chrome for iOS. It was released in the Apple App Store on June 26, 2012. It works on iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. The current version needs iOS 15.0 or newer. Apple requires that browsers in its App Store use Apple's own mobile rendering engine, iOS WebKit. This means Chrome on iOS cannot use Google's own V8 JavaScript engine. Chrome is the main web browser for the iOS Gmail app.
In July 2012, Chrome had 1.5% of the iOS web browser market. By October 2013, Chrome had 3% of the iOS browser market.
Chrome on Linux Computers
For Linux distributions, support for 32-bit Intel processors ended in March 2016. However, Chromium still supports them. As of Chrome version 26, Linux installations can only be updated on systems that support GCC v4.6 and GTK v2.24 or newer.
Chrome on Windows Computers
Google Chrome stopped supporting Windows XP and Windows Vista in April 2016. The last version of Chrome that worked on these systems was 49.0.2623.112.
Support for Google Chrome on Windows 7 was planned to end in January 2022. But because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses needed more time to switch to Windows 10 or 11. So, the end date was moved to at least January 15, 2023. Support for Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 officially ended in January 2023. The last version for Windows 7 was Chrome 109.
"Windows 8 mode" was added in 2012 but has since been removed. It allowed Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 users to run Chrome with a full-screen, tablet-friendly interface. In October 2013, Windows 8 mode changed to look like ChromeOS. This feature was removed in version 49.
Chrome on macOS Computers
Google stopped supporting Mac OS X Leopard with Chrome 22. Support for 32-bit versions of Chrome ended in November 2014 with Chrome 39. Support for Mac OS X Snow Leopard, Mac OS X Lion, and OS X Mountain Lion ended in April 2016 with Chrome 50. Support for OS X Mavericks ended in April 2018 with Chrome 66. Support for OS X Yosemite ended in January 2021 with Chrome 88. Support for OS X El Capitan and macOS Sierra ended in August 2022 with Chrome 104. Support for macOS High Sierra and macOS Mojave ended in September 2023 with Chrome 117.
ChromeOS: An Operating System
Google Chrome is the foundation of Google's ChromeOS operating system. This OS comes on special hardware from Google's partners. ChromeOS has a very simple design, much like the Chrome browser. It's made for people who spend most of their computer time on the internet. The only applications on these devices are a browser, a media player, and a file manager.
Google announced ChromeOS on July 7, 2009.
How Many People Use Chrome?
Chrome became more popular than Firefox in November 2011. As of September 2022, StatCounter says Google Chrome has 67% of the worldwide desktop usage share. This makes it the most used web browser.
Like Safari and Mozilla Firefox, Chrome often sees a boost in its market share on weekends. This can be as much as three percentage points.
StatCounter reported that on Sunday, March 18, 2012, Chrome was the most used web browser in the world for the first time. Chrome had 32.7% of global web browsing that day, just ahead of Internet Explorer with 32.5%.
From May 14–21, 2012, Google Chrome was responsible for more internet traffic than Microsoft's Internet Explorer for a full week. This was a big moment, as Internet Explorer had been the most used browser for a long time.
At the 2012 Google I/O conference, Google announced that Chrome had 310 million active users. This was almost double the number from 2011.
In June 2013, StatCounter reported that Chrome became more popular than Internet Explorer in the US for the first time.
In August 2013, Statista reported that 43% of internet users worldwide used Chrome. In North America, 36% of people used Chrome, which was the lowest percentage globally.
| Browser | Share |
|---|---|
| Google Chrome | 64.84% |
| Microsoft Edge | 12.96% |
| Safari | 8.83% |
| Mozilla Firefox | 7.57% |
| Opera | 3.23% |
| Other | 2.57% |
This table shows the desktop web browser market share according to StatCounter for January 2024.
Chrome for Businesses
In December 2010, Google made it easier for businesses to use Chrome. They provided an official Chrome MSI package. This package allows system administrators to control how Chrome updates. Google also created group policy objects. These let businesses fine-tune Chrome's behavior, like setting update times or disabling auto-updates.
In 2016, Google launched Chrome Browser Enterprise Support. This is a paid service that gives IT admins access to Google experts for help with Chrome. In 2019, Google launched Chrome Browser Cloud Management. This tool helps business IT managers control what content can be accessed, app usage, and browser extensions on their computers.
Chromium: The Open-Source Project
In September 2008, Google released a large part of Chrome's code as an open-source project called Chromium. This allowed other developers to study the code and help bring the browser to macOS and Linux. The code written by Google for Chromium is available under the BSD license. Other parts of the code have different open-source licenses. Chromium is similar to Chrome but doesn't have automatic updates or a built-in Flash player. It also doesn't have Google branding and has a blue logo instead of the colorful Google logo. Chromium also doesn't track users with RLZ.
Making Things for Chrome
You can create applications, extensions, and themes for Chrome. These are saved in a .crx file. This file contains a manifest.json file with basic information like the version, name, description, and permissions. It also includes other files for the user interface. Google has an official guide on how to create, develop, and publish projects. Chrome has its own web store where users and developers can share these applications and extensions.
Malware Impersonating Chrome
Because Google Chrome is so popular, some harmful software (malware) tries to pretend to be it. In late 2015, an adware version of Chrome called "eFast" appeared. It would replace Google Chrome on your computer. It would also change file types so that shortcuts for common files would open with "eFast" instead. This software would also put advertisements on web pages. Its icon looked very similar to Chrome's to trick users.
Images for kids
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Google Chrome running on Windows 11
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Logo used since February 2022
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2D motif from March 2011 until October 2015
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Material Design motif used from September 2014 onward for mobile versions and October 2015 onward for desktop versions
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New Google Chrome logo from 2022. It has increased brightness and clarity compared to the previous logo.
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Google Chrome Incognito mode message
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Google Chrome Canary application icon
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Google Chrome running on an Android phone
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