Google will end ChromeOS updates in mid-2034 as Googlebook OS arrives

Google will stop updating ChromeOS in mid-2034, it says on a support page for schools and businesses that manage Chromebooks. Many newer Chromebooks will be able to switch to Googlebook OS, the system behind Google’s new Googlebook laptops, which is built on Android’s tech stack.

“ChromeOS devices will continue to receive regular updates and security patches through mid-2034,” Google wrote.

Ben Schoon spotted the page for 9to5Google on Monday. Google last updated it on 23 September.

Chromebooks bought today

Google promises newer Chromebooks 10 years of updates under its Auto Update policy. A Chromebook bought now would still be inside that window after mid-2034. For those devices, Google says it will support a move to Googlebook OS. Many of them will have a direct migration path, it said.

Google has not said which models qualify. The page says “many newer commercial Chromebook models” will be able to upgrade, and that details on eligibility will follow later.

The Chromebooks schools and businesses own today will keep getting updates for their supported lifetime, Google said. Chromebooks also remain on sale for schools and companies.

Fleet management arrives in 2027

The first Googlebooks are built for consumers. They do not yet support domain enrolment or central fleet management, the tools IT teams use to run large numbers of devices. Google plans to start rolling those out in the second half of 2027.

Existing Chrome Enterprise Upgrade and Chrome Education Upgrade licences stay valid for Chromebooks. Googlebooks, and Chromebooks moved to Googlebook OS, will use a new licensing structure, Google said. It will share the details before commercial availability.

Google also said it remains committed to web apps and web developers, while it adds support for Android apps.

A date first seen in court

The 2034 date first appeared in court documents in February, 9to5Google reported at the time.

Google first showed Googlebook in May. Googlebook pre-orders opened on 21 September, with prices from $899, and the first models ship on 4 October. Chromebooks are common in schools, where Google’s products have shaped what children learn.