Last updated on: Sep 27, 2022
For administrators who manage Chrome browser or ChromeOS devices for a business or school.
Chrome 106 release summary
The enterprise release notes are available in 9 languages. You can read about Chrome's updates in English, German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Indonesian, and Japanese. Please allow 1 to 2 weeks for translation for some languages.
Chrome browser updates
- Accurate screen labels for window placement
Chrome 105 launched a feature to display a label that meaningfully describes the screen to a user. For example, you can use this label to request permission to open and place windows on a connected screen.
This feature is a requested enhancement of the Multi-Screen Window Placement API which launched in Chrome 100, and was first rolled out in Chrome 105. You can read more on our Chrome Platform Status page. Enterprise policies are available to control access to the Window Placement API: WindowPlacementAllowedForUrls and WindowPlacementBlockedForUrls.
- Chrome shows Journeys on the History page on Android
Chrome 96 started clustering local browsing activity on the History page into Journeys. This makes it easier to find prior activity and to resume related search suggestions. This feature rolls out to some users on Android starting in Chrome 106. For keywords typed into the Omnibox that match a cluster, an action chip displays for seamless access to the Journeys view. Users can delete clusters and disable Journeys, if desired. Additionally, admins can disable this feature using the HistoryClustersVisible policy.
- Incognito lock on Android
Chrome 106 on Android 11 and later requires authentication when resuming an Incognito session. The feature is disabled by default. It can be enabled using the new Lock Incognito tabs when you leave Chrome toggle under Settings > Privacy and security. This feature is not available on managed devices where the IncognitoModeAvailability enterprise policy is set to Disabled.
- Incognito downloads prompt on Android
When a user initiates a download while browsing on an Incognito tab, they now see a new prompt. Users can dismiss the prompt or tap Download to save the file. Files downloaded on Incognito continue to be accessible through the download manager.
- Release of Prerender2 in Desktop
Expanding our prerender efforts released on Chrome 101 for Android, we shipped Prerender2 for Desktop in Chrome 105 which allows Chrome to pre-render pages that the user may highly-likely navigate next, aiming to produce an instant navigation. An enterprise policy, NetworkPredictionOptions, is available to block the usage of all prerendering activities which results in Chrome ignoring any hints or triggers to prerender a page. See our article for more information.
- Chrome allows users to search their history, bookmarks, and tabs directly in the Omnibox
Chrome 106 helps users to quickly find what they are looking for by enabling them to search their history, bookmarks, or tabs directly in the Omnibox. Using one of the prepopulated shortcuts—@history, @bookmarks, or @tabs—users can choose to conduct a focused search limited to the area selected. You can change or deactivate these shortcuts in Settings -> Search Engine > Manage search engine and site search > Site search.
- New lock screen widgets for iOS 16
On iOS16 devices and up, Chrome enables four new lock screen widgets. These widgets allow users to search in Chrome, or search with voice, or in Incognito mode, or quickly start the dino game.
- Updates to the instructional chip shown when using region search
When using Google Lens, some users see a new look on their instructional chip, which includes a helpful icon and updated text. This ensures users have all the information they need to search visual elements on their screen. You can control this feature with the LensRegionSearchEnabled enterprise policy.
- Persistent quota deprecation launch
In Chrome 106, the window.PERSISTENT quota type inwebkitRequestFileSystemis no longer supported.webkitRequestFileSystemstill accepts a type parameter and use of the PERSISTENT and TEMPORARY types creates file systems with separate roots, but the PERSISTENT type no longer grants access to a persistent file system.
Legacy quota APInavigator.webkitPersistentStorageis an alias tonavigator.webkitTemporaryStorage. The deprecated quota, APIwebkitStorageInfo, ignores thestorageTypeparameter for its methods.
- Changes to chrome.runtime
In Chrome 106, chrome.runtime is no longer defined unconditionally on all sites. In contexts where there is no connectable extension, websites should never expectchrome.runtimeto be defined.
Over the past couple of months, we have taken steps to remove Chrome's legacy U2F security API. This API was implemented in an internal Chrome extension called CryptoToken, which by design was externally connectable from all URLs. The presence of this extension meant thatchrome.runtimewas effectively always defined on any web origin, because there was always at least one extension to connect to, even if the user installed no other connectable extensions. As part of the U2F removal process, Chrome 106 stops loading CryptoToken by default, which means thatchrome.runtimeis now undefined in contexts where there is no other connectable extension.
Websites should never assume thatchrome.runtimeis defined unconditionally. As a temporary workaround, the effects of this change can be reversed by enabling thechrome://flags/#load-cryptotoken-extensionflag or by using the enterprise policy named LoadCryptoTokenExtension.
- New and updated policies in Chrome browser
Policy Description Load the CryptoToken component extension at startup.
Configuration policy for the OnPrint Google Enterprise Connector.
Keep browsing data by default when creating enterprise profile.
Enable or disable persistent quota.
Re-enable the deprecated
window.webkitStorageInfoAPI.
ChromeOS updates
- Default link capture behavior
Newly installed apps no longer handle links clicked in the browser by default. Links clicked in the browser are always opened in the browser, unless the Open supported links setting is enabled from the Settings app.
Admin console updates
- Networks management in Chrome Policy API
We have added support for network management in the Chrome Policy API. This allows admins to use the API to create, delete, and configure WiFi, ethernet, and VPN networks, and certificates. For more details, see Policy schema names.
- CUPS print servers management in Chrome Policy API
Admins can now create, delete, and manage print server configurations within their ecosystem using the Chrome Policy API. For more details, see the Chrome Printer Management API guide and Policy schema names.
- Support for group-based policies for printers in Policy API
Adding to existing support for printer management on an OU-by-OU basis, admins can now modify printer settings for particular Google groups within their organization using the Policy API. For more details, see Group policy.
- New policies in the Admin console
Policy Name Pages Supported on Category/Field WebUsbAllowDevicesForUrls User & Browser Settings; Managed Guest Session Chrome ChromeOS Android Hardware > WebUSB API allowed devices ApplicationLocaleValue User & Browser Settings Windows User experience > Browser locale RestoreOnStartup User & Browser Settings; Managed Guest Session Chrome ChromeOS Startup > Pages to load on startup
Coming soon
Note: The items listed below are experimental or planned updates. They might change, be delayed, or canceled before launching to the Stable channel.
Upcoming Chrome browser changes
- Support for Encrypted Client Hello (ECH)
As early as Chrome 107, Chrome will start rolling out support for ECH on sites that opt-in, as a continuation of our network related efforts to improve our users’ privacy and safety on the web, for example, Secure DNS.If your organization’s infrastructure relies on the ability to inspect SNI, for example, filtering, logging, and so on, you should test it with Chrome 106. You can enable the new behavior by navigating to
If you encounter any incompatibilities, you will be able to use the EncryptedClientHelloEnabled enterprise policy to disable support for ECH.chrome://flagsand enabling the#encrypted-client-helloflag. On Windows and Linux, you also need to enable Secure DNS for the flag to have an effect.
- Link anonymization when entering Incognito
As early as Chrome 107, Chrome will remove some URL parameters when a user selects Open link in incognito window from the context menu. You can control this behavior with the UrlParamFilterEnabled enterprise policy.
- Device token deletion
As early as Chrome 107, when deleting a browser from the managed browsers list in the Admin console, a new policy will allow you to automatically delete the device token on the end-point devices. The default value will remain to invalidate the device token.
- MetricsReportingEnabled policy will be available on Android in Chrome
As early as Chrome 107, Chrome on Android will slightly modify the first run experience to support the MetricsReportingEnabled policy. If the admin disables metrics reporting, there will be no change to the first run experience. If the admin enables metrics, users will still be able to change the setting in Chrome settings. When enabled, the MetricsReportingEnabled policy allows anonymous reporting of usage and crash-related data about Chrome to Google.
- Removal of window.webkitStorageInfo
As early as Chrome 107, window.webkitStorageInfo API will be removed. This legacy quota API has been deprecated since 2013, and has been replaced by the now standardized StorageManager API.
- Removal of master_preferences
master_preferences and initial_preferences are ways of setting default preferences for a Chrome install. The historical name of the file is master_preferences, but it was renamed to initial_preferences in Chrome 91. To make the transition easy for IT admins, from Chrome 91 to Chrome 107, naming the file either initial_preferences or master_preferences has the same effect. In Chrome 108, if you name the file master_preferences, it will not work by default. You should rename the file initial_preferences.
Alternatively, you will be able to use the CompatibleInitialPreferences enterprise policy to extend support for the master_preferences naming. This policy is not currently available.
- User-Agent reduction Phase 5
Beginning in Chrome 107, some portions of the User-Agent string will be reduced on desktop devices. As previously detailed in the Chromium blog, we intend to proceed with Phase 5 of the User-Agent reduction plan. The<platform>and<oscpu>tokens, parts of the User-Agent string, are reduced to the relevant<unifiedPlatform>token values, and will no longer be updated. Additionally, the values fornavigator.platformare frozen on desktop platforms. For more details, see this Chromium update.
The UserAgentReduction policy will allow for opting out of these changes.
- Automated password changes on Desktop
Chrome 107 will allow users to change their passwords automatically using Google Assistant on Desktop. If their passwords have been compromised, for example, this feature makes it easier to change passwords, and ultimately will help keep users safer. A policy will be available to enable or disable automated password changes in Google Assistant.
- Chrome sends Private Network Access preflights for subresources
Chrome 104 started sending a CORS preflight request ahead of any private network requests for subresources, asking for explicit permission from the target server. This request carries a newAccess-Control-Request-Private-Network: trueheader. In this initial phase, this request is sent, but no response is required from network devices. If no response is received, or it does not carry a matchingAccess-Control-Allow-Private-Network: trueheader, a warning is shown in DevTools. For more details, see this blog post).
In Chrome 107 at the earliest, the warnings will turn into errors and affected requests will fail. You can disable Private Network Access checks using the InsecurePrivateNetworkRequestsAllowed and InsecurePrivateNetworkRequestsAllowedForUrls enterprise policies.
If you want to test this feature in advance, you can enable warnings usingchrome://flags/#private-network-access-send-preflights. If you want to test how it behaves once warnings turn into errors, you can enablechrome://flags/#private-network-access-respect-preflight-results.
Chrome is making this change to protect users from cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks targeting routers and other devices on private networks. To learn more about mitigating this change proactively, see details on what to do if your site is affected. Read the whole blog post for a more general discussion and latest updates about Private Network Access preflights.
- Marshmallow deprecation for Chrome on Android
Chrome 106 is the last version that supports Android 6.0 Marshmallow. From Chrome 107 and onwards, the minimum version supported is Android 7.0 Nougat.
- BuiltinCertificateVerifierEnabled being removed on Mac
The BuiltinCertificateVerifierEnabled policy will be removed in Chrome 107 on Mac. This policy was used to control the use of the built-in certificate verifier while using the platform provided root store. Starting in Chrome 105, a new implementation is available that uses the built-in certificate verifier with the Chrome Root Store. The new implementation may be controlled by the ChromeRootStoreEnabled policy.
- Network Service on Windows will be sandboxed
As early as Chrome 108, to improve security and reliability, the network service, already running in its own process, will be sandboxed on Windows. As part of this, third-party code that is currently able to tamper with the network service may be prevented from doing so. This might cause interoperability issues with software that injects code into Chrome's process space, such as Data Loss Prevention software. The NetworkServiceSandboxEnabled policy allows you to disable the sandbox if incompatibilities are discovered. You can test the sandbox in your environment using these instructions and report any issues you encounter.
- Chrome apps no longer supported on Windows, Mac, and Linux
As previously announced, Chrome apps are being phased out in favor of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and web-standard technologies. The deprecation schedule was adjusted to provide enterprises who used Chrome apps additional time to transition to other technologies, and Chrome apps will now stop functioning in Chrome 109 or later on Windows, Mac, and Linux. If you need additional time to adjust, a policy ChromeAppsEnabled will be available to extend the lifetime of Chrome Apps an additional 2 milestones.
Starting in Chrome 105, if you're force-installing any Chrome apps, users are shown a message stating that the app is no longer supported. The installed Chrome Apps are still launchable.
Starting with Chrome 109, Chrome Apps on Windows, Mac and Linux will no longer work. To fix this, remove the extension ID from the force-install extension list, and if necessary, add the corresponding install_url to the web app force install list. For common Google apps, the install_urls are listed below:
Property Extension ID (Chrome App) install_url (PWA / Web App) Gmail pjkljhegncpnkpknbcohdijeoejaedia https://mail.google.com/mail/installwebapp?usp=admin Docs aohghmighlieiainnegkcijnfilokake https://docs.google.com/document/
installwebapp?usp=adminDrive apdfllckaahabafndbhieahigkjlhalf https://drive.google.com/drive/
installwebapp?usp=adminSheets felcaaldnbdncclmgdcncolpebgiejap https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/
installwebapp?usp=adminSlides aapocclcgogkmnckokdopfmhonfmgoek https://docs.google.com/presentation/
installwebapp?usp=adminYoutube blpcfgokakmgnkcojhhkbfbldkacnbeo https://www.youtube.com/s/notifications/
manifest/cr_install.html
- Default to origin-keyed agent clustering in Chrome 109
As early as Chrome 109, websites will be unable to setdocument.domain. Websites will need to use alternative approaches such aspostMessage()or Channel Messaging API to communicate cross-origin. If a website relies on same-origin policy relaxation viadocument.domainto function correctly, it will need to send anOrigin-Agent-Cluster: ?0header along with all documents that require that behavior.
Note:document.domainhas no effect if only one document sets it.
The OriginAgentClusterDefaultEnabled enterprise policy will allow you to extend the current behavior.
- Intent to deprecate and remove: Event.path
To improve web compatibility, we will stop supporting the non-standard APIEvent.pathas early as Chrome 109. Websites should migrate toEvent.composedPath(), which is a standard API that returns the same result. If you need additional time to adjust, a policy EventPathEnabled, available on Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS, Android and WebView will allow you to extend the lifetime ofEvent.pathby an additional 6 milestones.
- Windows 10 as minimum required version in Chrome 110
Microsoft ends support for Windows 7 ESU and Windows 8.1 extended support on January 10, 2023. Chrome 110, tentatively scheduled for release on February 7, is the first version of Chrome which will have a minimum Windows version of Windows 10.
- Web SQL deprecation in non-secure contexts
The non-standard Web SQL API is rarely used and requires frequent security fixes. At this point, only Chromium-based browsers support it. Web developers have been discouraged from using it for years. We are engaging in a careful process to seek out and warn partners who may still be using Web SQL, with the goal of removing it from Chrome entirely in 2023. Meanwhile, we're working on a replacement using WebAssembly.
We've already disabled Web SQL in third-party contexts. The next step is to remove support in non-secure contexts. In Chrome 105, we introduced a deprecation warning in DevTools. In early 2023, we plan to remove support in third-party contexts.
An enterprise policy, WebSQLNonSecureContextEnabled, is available when support ends, to allow Web SQL API to function in non-secure contexts if needed. The policy will expire in alignment with the API’s non-secure context removal schedule, currently planned for Chrome 110.
- Extensions must be updated to leverage Manifest V3
Chrome extensions are transitioning to a new manifest version, Manifest V3. This will bring improved privacy for your users—for example, by moving to a model where extensions modify requests declaratively, without the ability to see individual requests. This also improves extension security, as remotely hosted code will be disallowed on Manifest V3.
All new extensions submitted to the Chrome Web Store already must implement Manifest V3, but existing Manifest V2 extensions can still be updated, and still run in Chrome.
In 2023, extensions using Manifest V2 will cease running in Chrome. If your organization is running extensions that use Manifest V2, you must update them to leverage Manifest V3. If you need additional time to adjust to the Manifest V3 transition, you'll be able to extend Manifest V2 support in Chrome using an enterprise policy until at least June 2023.
You can see which manifest version is being used by all Chrome extensions running on your fleet using the Apps & extensions usage page in Chrome Browser Cloud Management.
For more details, refer to the Manifest V2 support timeline.
Upcoming ChromeOS changes
- ChromeOS Accessibility settings improvements
As early as ChromeOS 107, we will include new improvements to our accessibility settings, including improved search results, easier to understand feature descriptions, and improved layout for better discoverability of accessibility features.
- Photos integrations
As early as Oct 3rd, Chromebook users will get access to enhanced video editing features from Google Photos. The experience is optimized for a larger screen, and will seamlessly integrate with the built-in Gallery app and your Chromebook files—so you can use local images and clips recorded on your Chromebook camera or stored in your Files app to build your movie.
While movie editing typically comes with a steep learning curve, the revamped movie creation tools in Google Photos help you make high-quality movies with just a few taps using your video clips and photos. Starting in Q4 2022, you’ll be able to create beautiful movies from suggested themes, or put yourself in the director's seat and start from scratch, right on your Chromebook.
- Cursive pre-installed for Enterprise and Education accounts
As early as ChromeOS 107, Cursive is a stylus-first notes app for Chromebooks. In an upcoming release, it will be pre-installed for all Enterprise and Education accounts on stylus-enabled Chromebooks.
- Long-press diacritics
In the virtual keyboard, users can hold a key to type an accented version or variant of that letter. Now users with a hardware keyboard can also hold a letter key to choose an accent or a letter variant. For example, hold the e key to see a list of accents, such as è in caffè or é in déjà vu.
- Channel labeling on ChromeOS
Trying out the latest version of ChromeOS? For users on non-stable channels (Beta, Dev, Canary), you will see which channel you are on next to the battery icon in the bottom right. Selecting the time to open quick settings will have a new UI with the device build as well as a button directly to submit feedback.
- Save and recall Desks
Starting in 107, you will be able to save and close an entire virtual desk, including all its app windows and their layout — perfect for when you want to switch gears or focus on a different task. When you’re ready to get back to it, you can open your saved desk and all its windows and tabs with a click.
- Super Resolution Audio for Bluetooth headset microphones
Starting in 107, your ChromeOS device will help you sound more natural in calls and conferences by reconstructing the high-frequency audio components that are not transmitted from Bluetooth headsets.
- Multi-touch virtual keyboard
The virtual keyboard will go through some under-the-hood improvements that better handle multiple fingers simultaneously tapping keys. It will soon be faster to type on, especially for touch typists.
- Fast Pair
Fast Pair makes Bluetooth pairing easier on ChromeOS devices and Android phones. When you turn on your Fast Pair-enabled accessory, it automatically detects and pairs with your ChromeOS device or Android phone in a single tap. Fast Pair also associates your Bluetooth accessory with your Google account, making it incredibly simple to move between devices without missing a beat. This feature will be available as early as ChromeOS 108.
- Passpoint: Seamless, secure connection to Wi-Fi networks
Starting as early as ChromeOS 108, Passpoint will streamline Wi-Fi access and eliminate the need for users to find and authenticate a network each time they visit. Once a user accesses the Wi-Fi network offered at a location, the Passpoint-enabled client device will automatically connect upon subsequent visits.
Previous release notes
|
Chrome version & targeted Stable channel release date |
|
|---|---|
| Chrome 105: Aug 30, 2022 | |
| Chrome 104: Aug 2, 2022 | |
| Chrome 103: June 21, 2022 | |
| Chrome 102: May 26, 2022 | |
| Archived release notes → |
Open all | Close all Chrome 105
The enterprise release notes are available in 9 languages. You can read about Chrome's updates in English, German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Indonesian, and Japanese. Please allow 1 to 2 weeks for translation for some languages.
Chrome browser updates
- Chrome apps no longer supported on Windows, Mac, and Linux: Chrome 105 shows warning message
As previously announced, Chrome apps are being phased out in favor of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and web-standard technologies. The deprecation schedule was adjusted to provide enterprises who used Chrome apps additional time to transition to other technologies, and Chrome apps will now stop functioning in Chrome 109 or later on Windows, Mac, and Linux. If you need additional time to adjust, a policy ChromeAppsEnabled will be available to extend the lifetime of Chrome Apps an additional 2 milestones.
Starting in Chrome 105, if you're force-installing any Chrome apps, users are shown a message stating that the app is no longer supported. The installed Chrome Apps are still launchable.
Starting with Chrome 109, Chrome Apps on Windows, Mac and Linux will no longer work. To fix this, remove the extension ID from the force-install extension list, and if necessary, add the corresponding install_url to the web app force install list. For common Google apps, the install_urls are listed below:
Property Extension ID (Chrome App) install_url (PWA / Web App) Gmail pjkljhegncpnkpknbcohdijeoejaedia https://mail.google.com/mail/
installwebapp?usp=adminDocs aohghmighlieiainnegkcijnfilokake https://docs.google.com/document/
installwebapp?usp=adminDrive apdfllckaahabafndbhieahigkjlhalf https://drive.google.com/drive/
installwebapp?usp=adminSheets felcaaldnbdncclmgdcncolpebgiejap https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/
installwebapp?usp=adminSlides aapocclcgogkmnckokdopfmhonfmgoek https://docs.google.com/presentation/
installwebapp?usp=adminYouTube blpcfgokakmgnkcojhhkbfbldkacnbeo https://www.youtube.com/s/notifications/
manifest/cr_install.html
- Launch Renderer AppContainer
As early as Chrome 105, a further sandbox security mitigation applies to renderer processes. They are placed inside an additional App Container on top of the existing sandbox. This prevents malicious code from having any network privileges by subverting kernel APIs from within the renderer process.
While we do not expect any incompatibilities with this new mitigation, some security products might react adversely to this.
A new policy RendererAppContainerEnabled allows selective disabling of this security mitigation while these issues are resolved. You can set this policy to Disabled to force disable the mitigation, otherwise it is enabled by default.
- Chrome maintains its own default root store
As early as Chrome 105, to improve user security and provide a consistent experience across different platforms, Chrome maintains its own default root store and built-in certificate verifier. Chrome continues to use custom local roots installed to the operating system’s trust store. See our article about the Chrome Root Program for more information.
We do not anticipate any changes to how enterprises currently manage their fleet and trusted enterprise CAs, such as through group policy, macOS Keychain Access, or system management tools like Puppet.
A new policy, called ChromeRootStoreEnabled, allows selective disabling of the Chrome Root Store in favor of the platform root store. You can set this policy to Disabled to force the use of the platform root store, otherwise it is enabled by default. The policy will be available until Chrome 111.
- Web SQL deprecation in non-secure contexts
The non-standard Web SQL API is rarely used and requires frequent security fixes. At this point, only Chromium-based browsers support it. Web developers have been discouraged from using it for years. We are engaging in a careful process to seek out and warn partners who may still be using Web SQL, with the goal of removing it from Chrome entirely in 2023. Meanwhile, we're working on a replacement using WebAssembly.
We've already disabled Web SQL in third-party contexts. The next step is to remove support in non-secure contexts. In Chrome 105, we introduce a deprecation warning in DevTools. In early 2023, we plan to remove support in third-party contexts.
An enterprise policy, WebSQLNonSecureContextEnabled, is available when support ends, to allow Web SQL API to function in non-secure contexts if needed. The policy will expire in alignment with the API’s non-secure context removal schedule.
- Chrome sync ends support for Chrome 73 and earlier
As early as Chrome 105, Chrome sync no longer supports Chrome 73 and earlier. You need to upgrade to a more recent version of Chrome if you want to continue using Chrome sync.
- Policies on Mac distinguished between user and machine
Chrome 105 on Mac adheres to the same policy precedence as other platforms. As of 105, machine-level policies, for example, set via Chrome Browser Cloud Management token management, take precedence over user-level policies. Previously, all policies were set as machine-level, regardless of their origin. If this change has any unexpected effects on your users, you can temporarily use the PolicyScopeDetection enterprise policy to revert to the previous behavior.
- Add Set-Cookie as forbidden header name for Fetch
Set-Cookie headers are semantically response headers, so they cannot just be combined and require more complex handling in the Headers object. Starting with Chrome 105, the Set-Cookie header is forbidden as a request header to avoid leaking this complexity into requests, as it is not useful for requests anyway. You can read more about this change on Github.
- Disabling Chrome Variations no longer disables the Chrome Cleanup Tool
Starting in Chrome 105, turning off variations no longer affects whether the Chrome Cleanup Tool runs. This means that enterprises that already have Chrome Variations turned off might notice that the Chrome Cleanup Tool starts running once per week in Chrome 105 on Windows.
To disable it, you can still set the ChromeCleanupEnabled enterprise policy to Disabled.
- Internal certificate viewer for server certificates on Mac and Windows
In Chrome 105 on Mac and Windows, the certificate viewer accessed from the page info bubble switches from using the platform provided viewer to one that is provided by Chrome. The Chrome certificate viewer is already used on Linux and ChromeOS.
- Privacy Sandbox updates on FLEDGE on Android
In Chrome 105, the Privacy Sandbox provides controls for the new Topics & Interest Group APIs on Android. This follows the launch of these APIs on Desktop in Chrome 104. It also introduces a one-time dialog for Android users that explains Privacy Sandbox to users and allows them to manage their preferences. Guest users or managed EDU users do not see this dialog.
Some users may see this opt-in consent dialog:
Other users may see this dialog:
Admins can prevent the dialog from appearing for their managed users by controlling third party cookies explicitly via policy:- To allow third-party cookies and Privacy Sandbox features, set BlockThirdPartyCookies to disabled.
- To disallow third-party cookies and Privacy Sandbox features, set BlockThirdPartyCookies to enabled. This might cause some sites to stop working.
Any of the above settings will prevent the dialog from showing. Privacy Sandbox features are also disabled, and no dialog shown, if DefaultCookiesSetting is set to Do not allow any site to set local data.
- WebAuthn: prompt users for Bluetooth permissions on macOS
When a user attempts to use a phone as a security key on macOS, and Chrome does not have Bluetooth permission, and macOS doesn’t show a permission prompt itself, Chrome now prompts the user to open System Preferences to grant the required permission. This is not enabled for macOS 13 because, as of current macOS betas, it’s not yet possible to have the new System Settings open to the correct location.
- Syntax changes to markup based Client Hints delegation
We’re switching from syntax close to HTTP Permissions-Policy to use syntax closer to the iframe allow attribute at the request of developers.
There is existing HTML syntax to delegate client hints to third-party content which requires client information lost by user agent reduction. This syntax was introduced in Chrome 100 and is being removed in Chrome 105, for example:
<meta name="accept-ch" value="sec-ch-dpr=(https://foo.bar
https://baz.qux), sec-ch-width=(https://foo.bar)">
The replacement for this introduced in Chrome 105 is formatted as follows:
<meta http-equiv="delegate-ch" value="sec-ch-dpr https://foo.bar
https://baz.qux; sec-ch-width https://foo.bar">
- About this page on Android
We are improving the From the web feature in the site info UI. It is now called About this page and opens a website with multiple pieces of information regarding the source and topic of a website.
This feature is only enabled when Make searches and browsing better is enabled in Settings > Sync and Google Services > Other Google services. You can control this setting with the UrlKeyedAnonymizedDataCollectionEnabled policy.
- Enhanced Safe Browsing Google accounts integration on desktop
For Chrome on desktop where the Safe Browsing protection level is not controlled by the SafeBrowsingProtectionLevel policy, users who are signed in and syncing, and have enabled Safe Browsing > Enhanced protection on their Google Account are notified that Enhanced protection is also enabled on their Chrome profile. Similarly, when a user disables Safe Browsing > Enhanced protection on their Google Account, it is disabled for their Chrome profile too.
- ForceBrowserSignIn policy requires EnableExperimentalPolicies on Linux
Starting in Chrome 105, you can only enable ForceBrowserSignIn on Linux if you also set EnableExperimentalPolicies to true.
ForceBrowserSignIn has never been officially supported on Linux, as per its documentation. However, prior to Chrome 105, it was possible to set it on Linux. This update is part of an ongoing effort to reduce Chrome's binary size and to more strictly adhere to Chrome's documented behavior.
A future release of Chrome will add Force users to sign-in to use the browser support to the BrowserSignIn policy on Linux. Once this is complete, ForceBrowserSignIn will not function on Linux, even when EnableExperimentalPolicies is enabled.
- Browser extension telemetry
When you enable Safe Browsing > Enhanced protection, Chrome now collects telemetry information about installed extensions. It also monitors certain activities such as APIs executed and remote hosts contacted. These activities are analyzed on Google servers and further improve the detection of malicious and policy violating extensions. This improvement allows better protection for all Chrome extension users.
- Accurate screen labels for window placement
Chrome 105 now displays a label that meaningfully describes the screen to a user. For example, you can use this label to request permission to open and place windows on a connected screen. This is a feature enhancement for the Multi-Screen Window Placement API, which launched in Chrome 100. You can read more on our Chrome Platform Status page. Enterprise policies are available to control access to the Window Placement API: WindowPlacementAllowedForUrls and WindowPlacementBlockedForUrls.
- New and updated policies in Chrome browser
Policy Description PolicyAtomicGroupsEnabled Enables the concept of policy atomic groups. PolicyListMultipleSourceMergeList Allow merging list policies from different sources (now also available on iOS). PolicyDictionaryMultipleSourceMergeList Allow merging dictionary policies from different sources (now available on Android and iOS). PolicyScopeDetection Allow policy scope detection on macOS. ChromeRootStoreEnabled Determines whether the Chrome Root Store and built-in certificate verifier will be used to verify server certificates. ComponentUpdatesEnabled Enable component updates in Google Chrome (now available on Android and iOS). CloudUserPolicyOverridesCloudMachinePolicy Allow user cloud policies to override Chrome Browser Cloud Management policies (now available on iOS). EventPathEnabled Re-enable the Event.path API (available until Chrome 115). WebSQLNonSecureContextEnabled Force WebSQL in non-secure contexts to be enabled (available until Chrome 110). EnterpriseAuthenticationAppLinkPolicy External authentication app launch URLs (Android Webview). EncryptedClientHelloEnabled Enable TLS Encrypted ClientHello.
ChromeOS updates
- Adaptive charging to extend battery life
Adaptive charging helps to extend your battery’s lifespan by understanding how you use your device and optimizing charging accordingly. This new feature analyzes your device usage patterns and keeps your battery working in the optimal charge range to avoid overcharging thereby delaying battery deterioration.
- Close a desk and its windows in one click
Create a desk for each project or task and when you’re done, close the desk and all its tabs and windows with a single click. Access this feature by hovering over a desk in the deskbar and selecting Close desk and windows.
Admin console updates
- Group-based policy for apps & extensions
Admins can configure app & extension permissions for their organizations using Google groups in addition to organizational units. If you want to install an app for a small number of users–who might belong to different organizational units–you can now add those users to a group instead of moving them into a different organizational unit. Note that apps & extensions policies for groups take precedence over those set for organizational units, so if a user belongs to both a group and an organizational unit where you have a policy set, they follow the permissions set for their group rather than their organizational unit. Also note that you are only able to add users to Google groups at this time. Learn more.
- Configure alerts for extension requests
You can now configure alerts for extension requests by creating reporting or activity Rules. Follow the steps listed in this help center article.
- Browser Details: Installed apps & extensions UX changes
In the Browser Details page, there is an Installed apps & extensions card. When the user clicks on an app, a new page opens up–the App Details page. Previously, an overflow menu allowed admins to take a limited set of actions and now admins can set policy in the App Details page.
Browser Details:
App Details:
- New policies in the Admin console
Policy Name Pages Supported on Category/Field RendererAppContainerEnabled User & Browser Settings Chrome Security > Renderer App Container UnthrottledNestedTimeoutEnabled User & Browser Settings; Managed Guest Session Chrome ChromeOS Android Content > Javascript setTimeout() clamping ChromeAppsEnabled Additional App Settings Chrome Additional application settings > Extend support for Chrome Apps
Coming soon
Note: The items listed below are experimental or planned updates. They might change, be delayed, or canceled before launching to the Stable channel.
Upcoming Chrome browser changes
- Support for Encrypted Client Hello (ECH)
As early as Chrome 106, Chrome will start rolling out support for ECH on sites that opt-in, as a continuation of our network related efforts to improve our users’ privacy and safety on the web, for example, Secure DNS. There is an enterprise policy available to disable ECH, also available in Chrome 105.
If your organization’s infrastructure relies on the ability to inspect SNI, for example, filtering, logging, and so on, you should test it with Chrome 106. If you encounter any incompatibilities, you will be able to use the EncryptedClientHelloEnabled enterprise policy to disable support for ECH.
- Changes to chrome.runtime
Chrome 106 will include a change that causes chrome.runtime to no longer be defined unconditionally on all sites. In contexts where there is no connectable extension, websites should never expect chrome.runtime to be defined.
Over the past couple of months, we have taken steps to remove Chrome's legacy U2F security API. This API was implemented in an internal Chrome extension called CryptoToken, which by design was externally connectable from all URLs. The presence of this extension meant that chrome.runtime was effectively always defined on any web origin, because there was always at least one extension to connect to, even if the user installed no other connectable extensions. As part of the U2F removal process, Chrome 106 stops loading CryptoToken by default, which means that chrome.runtime will now be undefined in contexts where there is no other connectable extension.
Websites should never assume that chrome.runtime is defined unconditionally. As a temporary workaround, the effects of this change can be reversed by enabling thechrome://flags/#load-cryptotoken-extensionflag or an upcoming enterprise policy named LoadCryptoTokenExtension.
- Persistent quota deprecation launch
In Chrome 106, window.PERSISTENT quota type inwebkitRequestFileSystemwill no longer be supported.webkitRequestFileSystemwill still accept a type parameter and use of the PERSISTENT and TEMPORARY types will create file systems with separate roots, but the PERSISTENT type will no longer grant access to a persistent file system.
- Chrome will show Journeys on the History page on Android
Chrome 96 started clustering local browsing activity on the History page into Journeys to make it easier to find prior activity and continue it with related search suggestions. This feature will also become available on Android as early as Chrome 106. For keywords typed into the Omnibox that match a cluster, an action chip displays for seamless access to the Journeys view. Users can delete clusters and disable Journeys, if desired. Additionally, admins will have the option to disable this feature using the HistoryClustersVisible policy.
- Incognito lock on Android
Chrome 106 will introduce an option for users on Android 11 and later to require authentication when resuming an Incognito session. The feature will be OFF by default. It can be turned ON using the new Lock Incognito tabs when you leave Chrome toggle under Settings > Privacy & Security. This feature will not be available on managed devices where the IncognitoModeAvailability enterprise policy is set to Disabled.
- Incognito downloads prompt on Android
When a user initiates a download while browsing on an Incognito tab, they will see a new informative prompt. Users have the option to dismiss the prompt or tap Download to go ahead and save the file. Files downloaded on Incognito will continue to be accessible through the download manager.
- Network Service on Windows will be sandboxed
As early as Chrome 107, to improve security and reliability, the network service, already running in its own process, will be sandboxed on Windows. As part of this, third-party code that is currently able to tamper with the network service may be prevented from doing so. This might cause interoperability issues with software that injects code into Chrome's process space, such as Data Loss Prevention software. The NetworkServiceSandboxEnabled policy allows you to disable the sandbox if incompatibilities are discovered. You can test the sandbox in your environment using these instructions and report any issues you encounter.
- Removal of window.webkitStorageInfo
As early as Chrome 107, window.webkitStorageInfo API will be removed. This legacy quota API has been deprecated since 2013, and has been replaced by the now standardized StorageManager API.
- Removal of master_preferences
master_preferences and initial_preferences are ways of setting default preferences for a Chrome install. The historical name of the file is master_preferences, but it was renamed to initial_preferences in Chrome 91. To make the transition easy for IT admins, from Chrome 91 to Chrome 106, naming the file either initial_preferences or master_preferences has the same effect. In Chrome 107, if you name the file master_preferences, it will not work by default. You should rename the file initial_preferences.
Alternatively, you will be able to use the CompatibleInitialPreferences enterprise policy to extend support for the master_preferences naming. This policy is not currently available.
- User-Agent reduction Phase 5
As of Chrome 107, some portions of the User-Agent string will be reduced on desktop. As previously detailed in the Chromium blog, we intend to proceed with Phase 5 of the User-Agent reduction plan. The<platform>and<oscpu>tokens, parts of the User-Agent string, are reduced to the relevant<unifiedPlatform>token values, and will no longer be updated. Additionally, the values fornavigator.platformare frozen on desktop platforms (see this Chromium update).
The UserAgentReduction policy will allow for opting out of these changes.
- Automated password changes on Desktop
Chrome 107 will use the Google Assistant to help users change passwords that have been compromised. This reduces friction in updating passwords to help keep users safe. A policy will be available to control the Google Assistant directly, allowing you to enable password leak detection without the Google Assistant assisting in changing passwords.
- Chrome sends Private Network Access preflights for subresources
Chrome 104 started sending a CORS preflight request ahead of any private network requests for subresources, asking for explicit permission from the target server. This request carries a newAccess-Control-Request-Private-Network: trueheader. In this initial phase, this request is sent, but no response is required from network devices. If no response is received, or it does not carry a matchingAccess-Control-Allow-Private-Network: trueheader, a warning is shown in DevTools (more details here).
In Chrome 107 at the earliest, the warnings will turn into errors and affected requests will fail. You can disable Private Network Access checks using the InsecurePrivateNetworkRequestsAllowed and InsecurePrivateNetworkRequestsAllowedForUrls enterprise policies.
If you want to test this feature in advance, you can enable warnings usingchrome://flags/#private-network-access-send-preflights. If you want to test how it behaves once warnings turn into errors, you can enablechrome://flags/#private-network-access-respect-preflight-results.
Chrome is making this change to protect users from cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks targeting routers and other devices on private networks. To learn more about mitigating this change proactively, see details on what to do if your site is affected. Read the whole blog post for a more general discussion and latest updates about Private Network Access preflights.
- Marshmallow deprecation for Chrome on Android
Chrome 106 is the last version that will support Android 6.0 Marshmallow. From Chrome 107 and onwards, the minimum version supported is Android 7.0 Nougat.
Upcoming ChromeOS changes
- ChromeOS Accessibility settings improvements
As early as ChromeOS 106, we will include new improvements to our accessibility settings, including improved search results, easier to understand feature descriptions, and improved layout for better discoverability of accessibility features.
- Photos integrations
As early as ChromeOS 106, Chromebook users will get access to enhanced video editing features from Google Photos. The experience is optimized for a larger screen, and will seamlessly integrate with the built-in Gallery app and your Chromebook files – so you can use local images and clips recorded on your Chromebook camera or stored in your Files app to build your movie. While movie editing typically comes with a steep learning curve, the revamped movie creation tools in Google Photos help you make high-quality movies with just a few taps using your video clips and photos. You’ll be able to create beautiful movies from suggested themes, or put yourself in the director's seat and start from scratch, right on your Chromebook.
- Cursive pre-installed for Enterprise and Education accounts
As early as ChromeOS 106, Cursive is a stylus-first notes app for Chromebooks. In an upcoming release, it will be pre-installed for all Enterprise and Education accounts on stylus-enabled Chromebooks.
- Long-press diacritics
The Essential Inputs team is planning to launch improvements to diacritic typing by including a key press functionality that showcases a new accent menu. This accent menu reveals diacritical marks associated with characters when the user presses and holds a key down on key characters with diacritics. Users will then have the option to select and insert a diacritic character or close the menu without selection. Look out for this upcoming feature in ChromeOS 106.
- Fast Pair
Fast Pair makes Bluetooth pairing easier on ChromeOS devices and Android phones. When you turn on your Fast Pair-enabled accessory, it automatically detects and pairs with your ChromeOS device or Android phone in a single tap. Fast Pair also associates your Bluetooth accessory with your Google account, making it incredibly simple to move between devices without missing a beat. This feature will be available as early as ChromeOS 108.
- Passpoint: Seamless, secure connection to Wi-Fi networks
Starting as early as ChromeOS 108, Passpoint will streamline Wi-Fi access and eliminate the need for users to find and authenticate a network each time they visit. Once a user accesses the Wi-Fi network offered at a location, the Passpoint-enabled client device will automatically connect upon subsequent visits.
The enterprise release notes are available in 8 languages. You can read about Chrome's updates in English, German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, and Japanese. Please allow 1 to 2 weeks for translation for some languages.
Chrome browser updates
- Chrome 104 increases the nesting threshold for setTimeouts and setIntervals
setTimeout(..., 0)is commonly used to break down long Javascript tasks and let other internal tasks run, which prevents the browser from hanging. In Chrome 104, some users might see that setTimeouts and setIntervals with an interval < 4ms are not clamped as aggressively as they were before. We have increased the nesting threshold, from 5 to 100, which determines whensetTimeout(..., <4ms)are clamped. This improves short horizon performance, but websites abusing the API will still eventually have their setTimeouts clamped. A temporary Enterprise policy UnthrottledNestedTimeoutEnabled allows you to control this feature. When the policy is set to Enabled, setTimeouts and setIntervals with an interval smaller than 4ms are not clamped as aggressively.
- Chrome sends Private Network Access preflights for subresources
Chrome 104 sends a CORS preflight request ahead of any private network requests for subresources, asking for explicit permission from the target server. This request carries a newAccess-Control-Request-Private-Network: trueheader. In this initial phase, this request is sent, but no response is required from network devices. If no response is received, or it does not carry a matchingAccess-Control-Allow-Private-Network: trueheader, a warning is shown in DevTools, see here for more details).
In Chrome 107 at the earliest, the warnings will turn into errors and affected requests will fail. You can disable Private Network Access checks using the InsecurePrivateNetworkRequestsAllowed and InsecurePrivateNetworkRequestsAllowedForUrls enterprise policies.
If you want to test this feature in advance, you can enable warnings usingchrome://flags/#private-network-access-send-preflights. If you want to test how it behaves once warnings turn into errors, you can enablechrome://flags/#private-network-access-respect-preflight-results.
To learn more about mitigating this change proactively, see details on what to do if your site is affected. Read the whole blog post for a more general discussion about Private Network Access preflights.
- Privacy Sandbox updates
The Privacy Sandbox release in Chrome 104 provides controls for the new Topics & Interest Group APIs. It also introduces a one-time dialog that explains Privacy Sandbox to users and allows them to manage their preferences. Guest users or managed EDU users do not see this dialog.
Some users may see this opt-in consent dialog:
Other users may see this dialog:
Admins can prevent the dialog from appearing for their managed users by controlling third party cookies explicitly via policy:- To allow third-party cookies and Privacy Sandbox features, set BlockThirdPartyCookies to disabled.
- To disallow third-party cookies and Privacy Sandbox features, set BlockThirdPartyCookies to enabled. This might cause some sites to stop working.
- Improved first run experience on iOS
In Chrome 104, some users might see a new onboarding experience with fewer steps and a more intuitive way to sign into Chrome. Enterprise policies, like BrowserSignin, SyncDisabled, SyncTypesListDisabled and MetricsReportingEnabled, to control whether the user can sign into Chrome and other aspects of the onboarding experience continue to be available as before.
- Chrome 104 no longer supports OS X 10.11 and macOS 10.12
Chrome 104 no longer supports OS X 10.11 and macOS 10.12, which are already outside of their support window with Apple. Users have to update their operating systems in order to continue running Chrome browser. Running on a supported operating system is essential to maintaining security.
- Changes in cookie expiration date limit
Beginning with Chrome 104, any newly set or refreshed cookies have their expiration date limited to no more than 400 days in the future. Cookies which request expiration dates after 400 days in the future can still be set, but their expiration is adjusted down to 400 days. Existing cookies retain their prior expiration date (even if it was more than 400 days in the future), but refreshing them causes the cap to be enforced.
- Intent to remove: Legacy Client Hint mode
In Chrome 104, the Client Hints,dpr,width,viewport-width, anddevice-memory, are no longer delegated to all third party frames and subresources by default on Android. The Android behavior now replicates that of all other platforms, which is to only delegate to the first party frame and subresources by default.
- U2F API no longer supported
The U2F API for interacting with USB security keys has been disabled by default since Chrome 98. Websites are advised to migrate to the Web Authentication API. Chrome 104 removes the U2fSecurityKeyApiEnabled enterprise policy for temporarily re-enabling this API. The U2FSecurityKeyAPI origin trial, which lets websites re-enable U2F, will end July 26, 2022. We are offering existing trial participants that have not yet fully migrated to WebAuthn an extension of the trial until September 20, 2022. If you are an existing origin trial participant and would like to extend your trial tokens beyond the July 26 deadline, please get in touch with our team. The U2F API will be fully removed in Chrome 106.
- Improved first run experience changes on Windows
In Chrome 104 on Windows, some users might see a different sequence of onboarding steps in the chrome://welcome tab that is opened when Chrome is launched for the first time. Admins can use existing Enterprise policies such as BrowserSignin, PromotionalTabsEnabled, SyncDisabled to control the onboarding process.
- Calendar integration on iOS
Long pressing a date on a page now presents a menu that allows users to add the event to their calendar without switching apps.
- HTTPS-First mode for iOS
Beginning with Chrome 104, HTTPS-First mode is available on iOS. This feature allows users to opt-in to a fully default HTTPS experience, via Chrome Settings. In this mode, Chrome attempts to upgrade all navigations to HTTPS. Sites that only support HTTP display an interstitial.
The HttpsOnlyMode policy will be available in Chrome 105. This policy will allow enterprises to disable the HTTPS-First mode feature.
- Block iframe contexts navigating to filesystem: URLs
Beginning in Chrome 104, as part of the Storage Partitioning effort, iframes are no longer allowed to navigate to afilesystem://URL. This matches the existing behavior of forbidding top-level frame navigation tofilesystem://.
As a possible workaround for sites relying on this pattern, a blob: URL can be created from afilesystem://URL. For example:
let url = 'filesystem:example_resource';
window.webkitResolveLocalFileSystemURL(url, fileEntry => {
fileEntry.file(file => {
let blob_url = URL.createObjectURL(file);
iframe.src = blob_url;
});
});
- Preconnecting on downpressed links
To increase page loading performance, for some users, Chrome 104 preconnects to the target of a link as soon as the user presses on the link without waiting for the user to lift their finger up or for JavaScript to execute. You can disable this behavior using the NetworkPredictionOptions policy.
- New and updated policies in Chrome browser
Policy
Description
Extend support for Chrome Apps on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Control the nesting threshold before which Javascript
setTimeout()function start being clamped.Enable Renderer App container.
Chrome OS updates
- Forced reboot in user session
Extending the ability to schedule automated device reboots on user devices, irrespective of whether a user is in session or not. During a scheduled reboot, the user in session will be notified one hour in advance.
- Smart Lock UX update
Starting in Chrome 104, Smart Lock, which allows users to unlock their Chromebook using their connected Android phone, is faster than ever, with greater performance, reliability, and an overhauled design. To get started, navigate to Chrome OS Settings>Connected devices, select your Android phone, and enable Smart Lock.
- Monthly Calendar view
Monthly Calendar View is accessible from the date in the status area or within quick settings. This feature provides quick access to a monthly calendar view and enables users to view events from Google Calendar.
- Close Desk and Windows
Create a desk for each project or task and when you’re done, close the desk and all its tabs and windows with a single click. Access this feature by hovering over a desk in the deskbar and selecting Close desk and windows.
- Notifications UI revamp
In addition to a fresh new look, notifications from multiple senders are now grouped together.
- PDF annotating support on Gallery app
The Gallery app, a built-in media app on Chromebook, now supports PDF annotating. Besides viewing a PDF, you can highlight text, fill out forms, add text or freeform annotation in the app. And with free hand annotation, you can add your signature to a document, then easily share the PDF through the app.
- Play Store results in Launcher Search
Starting in 104, ChromeOS displays relevant Play Store app suggestions in Launcher Search.
- Kiosk and Signage solution preview
We're excited to announce the preview of the new end-to-end solution focused on ChromeOS for kiosks and digital signage. This solution includes a kiosk specific enrollment flow, license management, and user experience. This solution is offered with a new license, Kiosk and Signage Upgrade, for $25 annually.
- Screen saver photo frame
We are excited to announce a new screen saver feature within personalization settings that allows users to view their personal photos and curated images when their devices are idle. You can choose albums from Google Photos or curated artwork to display on your screen when screen saver is enabled.
- Multiple display support for Chrome Remote Desktop
Chrome Remote Desktop now supports switching between multiple displays for remote devices that have more than one display attached.
- CSV Export option for Versions and Apps and extensions usage reports
Starting in Chrome 104, Chrome introduces a new CSV download option for the Apps and extensions usage and the Versions reports.
- New Chrome Guides in the Admin console
Chrome 104 introduces the new Chrome Guides which help IT administrators discover and set common management features for Chrome browser and ChromeOS. For example, the feature provides a series of guides to enroll browsers and devices, set policies and view reports.
- New App Details page
Chrome 104 introduces a new App Details page that gives admins more information when they click on an app in the Apps and extension usage report. Learn more in the help center.
Coming soon
Note: The items listed below are experimental or planned updates. They might change, be delayed, or canceled before launching to the Stable channel.
Upcoming Chrome browser changes
- Launch Renderer AppContainer
As early as Chrome 105, a further sandbox security mitigation will be applied to renderer processes. They will be additionally placed inside an App Container on top of the existing sandbox. This prevents malicious code from having any network privileges by subverting kernel APIs from within the renderer process.
While we do not expect any incompatibilities with this new mitigation, some security products might react adversely to this. A new policy RendererAppContainerEnabled has been added to allow selective disabling of this security mitigation for a limited time while these issues are resolved. This policy can be set to Disabled to force disable the mitigation, otherwise it will be enabled by default.
- Chrome will maintain its own default root store
As early as Chrome 105, to improve user security, and provide a consistent experience across different platforms, Chrome intends to maintain its own default root store and built-in certificate verifier. Chrome will continue to use custom local roots installed to the operating system’s trust store. We do not anticipate any changes will be required for how enterprises currently manage their fleet and trusted enterprise CAs, such as through group policy, macOS Keychain Access, or system management tools like Puppet. See our article about the Chrome Root Program for more information. A new policy ChromeRootStoreEnabled will allow selective disabling of the Chrome Root Store in favor of the platform root store for a limited time. This policy can be set to Disabled to force the use of the platform root store, otherwise it will be enabled by default.
- Support for Encrypted Client Hello (ECH)
As early as Chrome 105, Chrome will start rolling out ECH as a continuation of our network related efforts, for example, Secure DNS, to improve our users’ privacy and safety on the web. While the feature is under development, there will be an enterprise policy available to disable the feature, also available in Chrome 105.
If your organization’s infrastructure relies on the ability to inspect SNI, for example, filtering, logging, and so on, you should test it with Chrome 105. If you encounter any incompatibilities, you will be able to use the EncryptedClientHelloEnabled enterprise policy to revert to the previous behavior.
- Chrome will show Journeys on the History page on Android
Chrome 96 started clustering local browsing activity on the History page into Journeys to make it easier to find prior activity and continue it with related search suggestions. This feature will also become available on Android as early as Chrome 105. For keywords typed into the Omnibox that match a cluster, an action chip displays for seamless access to the Journeys view. Users can delete clusters and disable Journeys, if desired. Additionally, admins will have the option to disable this feature using the HistoryClustersVisible policy.
- Web SQL deprecation in non-secure contexts
Starting Chrome 105, Web SQL API will be deprecated for non-secure contexts with the aim to fully deprecate and remove the API from Chrome in the future. For non-secure contexts, the API is planned to be disabled in Chrome 107.
An enterprise policy, WebSQLNonSecureContextEnabled, will be available between Chrome 105 and Chrome 110 to allow Web SQL API to function in non-secure contexts if needed.
- Network Service on Windows will be sandboxed
As early as Chrome 105, to improve security and reliability, the network service, already running in its own process, will be sandboxed on Windows. As part of this, third-party code that is currently able to tamper with the network service may be prevented from doing so. This might cause interoperability issues with software that injects code into Chrome's process space, such as Data Loss Prevention software. The NetworkServiceSandboxEnabled policy allows you to disable the sandbox if incompatibilities are discovered. You can test the sandbox in your environment using these instructions and report any issues you encounter.
- Chrome sync ends support for Chrome 73 and earlier
As early as Chrome 105, Chrome sync will no longer support Chrome 73 and earlier. You will need to upgrade to a more recent version of Chrome if you want to continue using Chrome sync.
- Policies on Mac distinguished between user and machine
Chrome 105 on Mac adheres to the same policy precedence as other platforms. As of 105, machine-level policies,for example, set via CBCM token management, will take precedence over user-level policies. Previously, all policies were set as machine-level, regardless of their origin. If this change has any unexpected effects on your users, you can temporarily use the PolicyScopeDetection enterprise policy to revert to the previous behavior.
- Change to forbidden header names for Fetch
Set-Cookie headers are semantically response headers, so they cannot just be combined and require more complex handling in the Headers object. Starting with Chrome 105, the Set-Cookie header will be forbidden as a request header to avoid leaking this complexity into requests, as it is not useful for requests anyway. You can read more about this change here.
- Disabling Chrome Variations will no longer disable the Chrome Cleanup Tool
Starting in Chrome 105, turning off variations will no longer affect whether the Chrome Cleanup Tool runs. This means that enterprises that already have Chrome Variations turned off may notice that the Chrome Cleanup Tool starts running once per week in Chrome 105 on Windows.
You can still disable it by setting the Enterprise policy ChromeCleanupEnabled to Disabled.
- Use internal certificate viewer for server certificates on desktop
In Chrome 105 on Mac and Windows, the certificate viewer accessed from the page info bubble will switch from using the platform provided viewer to one that is provided by Chrome. The Chrome certificate viewer is already used on Linux and ChromeOS.
- Case-matching on CORS preflight requests
Currently Chrome uppercases request methods when matching with Access-Control-Allow-Methods response headers in CORS preflight. Chrome 106 will not uppercase request methods, except forDELETE,GET,HEAD,OPTIONS,POST, andPUT(all case-insensitive). So, Chrome 104 will require exact case-sensitive matching. An enterprise policy will be available to maintain temporary compatibility with existing non-compliant solutions.
Previously accepted, but rejected in Chrome 106:
Request:fetch(url, {method: 'Foo'})
Response Header:Access-Control-Allow-Methods: FOO
Previously rejected, but accepted in Chrome 106:
Request: fetch(url, {method: 'Foo'})
Response Header:Access-Control-Allow-Methods: Foo
Note:postandputare not affected because they are in https://fetch.spec.whatwg.org/#concept-method-normalize, whilepatchis affected.
- MetricsReportingEnabled policy will be available on Android in Chrome
As early as Chrome 106, Chrome-on-Android will slightly modify the first run experience to support the MetricsReportingEnabled policy. If the admin disables metrics reporting, there will be no change to the first run experience. If the admin enables metrics, users will still be able to change the setting in Chrome settings. When enabled, the MetricsReportingEnabled policy allows anonymous reporting of usage and crash-related data about Chrome to Google.
- Chrome apps no longer supported on Windows, Mac, and Linux
As previously announced, Chrome apps are being phased out in favor of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and web-standard technologies. The deprecation schedule was adjusted to provide enterprises who used Chrome apps additional time to transition to other technologies, and Chrome apps will now stop functioning in Chrome 109 or later on Windows, Mac, and Linux. If you need additional time to adjust, a policy ChromeAppsEnabled will be available to extend the lifetime of Chrome Apps an additional 2 milestones.
If you're force-installing any Chrome apps, starting Chrome 105, users will be shown a message stating that the app is no longer supported. The installed Chrome Apps will still be launchable.
As early as Chrome 109, Chrome Apps on Windows, Mac and Linux will no longer work. To fix this, remove the extension ID from the force-install extension list, and if necessary they can add the corresponding install_url to the web app force install list. For common Google apps, the install_urls are listed below:
Property Extension ID (Chrome App) install_url (PWA / Web App) Gmail pjkljhegncpnkpknbcohdijeoejaedia https://mail.google.com/mail/
installwebapp?usp=adminDocs aohghmighlieiainnegkcijnfilokake https://docs.google.com/document/
installwebapp?usp=adminDrive apdfllckaahabafndbhieahigkjlhalf https://drive.google.com/drive/
installwebapp?usp=adminSheets felcaaldnbdncclmgdcncolpebgiejap https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/
installwebapp?usp=adminSlides aapocclcgogkmnckokdopfmhonfmgoek https://docs.google.com/presentation/
installwebapp?usp=adminYouTube blpcfgokakmgnkcojhhkbfbldkacnbeo https://www.youtube.com/s/notifications/
manifest/cr_install.html
Upcoming Chrome OS changes
- Adaptive charging to extend battery life
As early as Chrome 105, adaptive charging will help to extend your battery’s lifespan by understanding how you use your device and optimizing charging accordingly. This new feature will analyze your device usage patterns and keep your battery working in the optimal charge range to avoid overcharging thereby delaying battery deterioration.
- Chrome OS Accessibility settings improvements
Chrome 105 will include new improvements to our accessibility settings, including improved search results, easier to understand feature descriptions, and improved layout for better discoverability of accessibility features.
- Passpoint: Seamless, secure connection to Wi-Fi networks
Starting with Chrome 106, Passpoint will streamline Wi-Fi access and eliminate the need for users to find and authenticate a network each time they visit. Once a user accesses the Wi-Fi network offered at a location, the Passpoint-enabled client device will automatically connect upon subsequent visits.
- Photos integrations
As early as Chrome 106, Chromebook users will get access to enhanced video editing features from Google Photos. The experience is optimized for a larger screen, and will seamlessly integrate with the built-in Gallery app and your Chromebook files – so you can use local images and clips recorded on your Chromebook camera or stored in your Files app to build your movie. While movie editing typically comes with a steep learning curve, Google Photos’ revamped movie creation tools help you make high-quality movies with just a few taps using your video clips and photos. You’ll be able to create beautiful movies from suggested themes, or put yourself in the director's seat and start from scratch, right on your Chromebook.
- Cursive pre-installed for Enterprise and Education accounts
As early as Chrome 106, Cursive will be pre-installed for all Enterprise and Education accounts on stylus-enabled Chromebooks. Cursive is a stylus-first notes app for Chromebooks.
- Long-press diacritics
The Essential Inputs team is planning to launch improvements to diacritic typing by including a key press functionality that showcases a new accent menu. This accent menu reveals diacritical marks associated with characters when the user presses and holds a key down on key characters with diacritics. Users will then have the option to select and insert a diacritic character or close the menu without selection. Look out for this upcoming feature in Chrome 106.
Chrome browser updates
- Private extensions using Manifest V2 no longer accepted in the Chrome Web Store in June 2022
As part of the gradual deprecation of Manifest V2, the Chrome Web Store stopped accepting submissions of new Public or Unlisted Manifest V2 extensions after January 17, 2022. On June 29, 2022, Chrome also applies this restriction to new extensions with Private visibility, which may have a more significant impact on Enterprise extension workflows. Extensions which are already submitted may continue to be updated until January 2023.
For more details, refer to the Manifest V2 support timeline.
- Chrome on Windows uses Chrome's built-in DNS client by default
The built-in DNS client is enabled by default on macOS, Android and Chrome OS. Chrome on Windows now also uses the built-in DNS client by default. Enterprises can opt out by setting BuiltInDnsClientEnabled policy to Disabled.
- Release of Speculation Rules API for prerender on Android
Expanding our prerender efforts released in Chrome 101, we now ship the Speculations Rules API for Android in Chrome 103. This API allows web authors to suggest to Chrome which pages that the user is very likely to navigate to next. This influences Chrome during the decision to prerender a particular URL before the user navigates to it, aiming to offer an instant navigation. An enterprise policy, NetworkPredictionOptions, is available to block the usage of all prerendering activities which results in Chrome ignoring the hints provided using this API. See our article on speculative prerendering for more information.
- Local Fonts Access API
Users of design applications often want to use fonts present on their local device. The Local Fonts Access API gives web applications the ability to enumerate local fonts and some metadata about each. This API also gives web applications access to the font data as a binary blob, allowing those fonts to be rendered within their applications using custom text stacks. The enterprise policies applicable to this feature are DefaultLocalFontsSetting, LocalFontsAllowedForUrls and LocalFontsBlockedForUrls.
- Unified password manager on Android
For Chrome on Android users who are syncing, they now see a new password management experience, which is the same user journey used to manage passwords when logging in to Android apps.
- Chrome Actions on iOS
Chrome Actions help users get things done fast, directly from the address bar. We first released Chrome Actions on desktop a couple of years ago, with Actions like Clear browsing data. In Chrome 103, we bring some of them to Chrome on iOS, like:
- Manage Passwords
- Open Incognito Tab
- Clear Browsing Data
- And more!
Chrome on iOS allows users to take actions directly from the address bar, like clearing browsing data, using a button that appears among auto-complete suggestions. This feature is already available on desktop platforms. For more details about Chrome Actions, see this article in the Help Center.
- Improved credit and debit card Autofill
Over the course of Chrome 103, credit and debit card Autofill will start supporting cloud-based upload via Google Pay, enabling Autofill for your cards across all your Chrome devices. You can control credit card autofill with the AutofillCreditCardEnabled enterprise policy.
- Removing LockIconInAddressBarEnabled policy
Chrome 94 launched an experiment to replace the lock icon as the connection security indicator. The LockIconInAddressBarEnabled policy was added to allow organizations to continue to show the lock icon during the experiment. The experiment is no longer active, so the policy is no longer available in Chrome 103.
- Enhanced Safe Browsing on iOS
To match Safe Browsing functionality from other platforms, we now add functionality so that a user on iOS can choose what type of Safe Browsing protection they would like. Where an enterprise controls this setting, the enterprise is allowed to set the level of Safe Browsing protection, and users under the enterprise are not allowed to change the preference. An enterprise policy SafeBrowsingProtectionLevel is available to control Safe Browsing and the mode it operates in.
- Reporting Connector
For Security Insights and Reporting, Chrome browser reporting integrations afford IT teams added visibility into security events across Google Workspace and Cloud products and leading partner solutions. For example, the Splunk Cloud Platform integration (New) gives IT teams actionable insights into potentially risky events like navigating to a malicious site, downloading malware, and reusing corporate passwords. Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike integrations will be available through our Chrome Enterprise Trusted Tester Program soon.
- Profile Separation Dialog rolled back
The previous release of Chrome introduced a dialog to users when they signed in to a managed account from an unmanaged profile. By default, Chrome would create a new profile for the managed account. This change was surprising to some users and their admins, and it has been removed by default in Chrome 103. If you want to keep it, you can still configure Chrome to show the dialog using the Managed Accounts Sign Restriction enterprise policy.
The goal of this feature is to improve data separation between personal and enterprise data. Chrome intends to continue making changes to achieve this goal. Future changes will be communicated in the release notes with enterprise controls.
- Thank With Google Android integration
Thank With Google (Android only) allows en-US users to contribute free or paid digital stickers to sites where the creator has opted in. This appears in the App Menu and in the Follow Feed for enabled sites.
- HTTPS Key Pinning enforcement enabled on Android
For a small set of opt-in domains, including Google properties, Chrome enforces that the HTTPS certificate is issued by the expected CA. This process is known as key pinning. The set of expected issuer keys is the pin set. Key pinning has been enabled on desktop since 2014 and earlier, and is now enabled on Android. Key pinning is bypassed when the HTTPS connection to a pinned site verifies through a locally installed root certificate, such as those used by DLP and TLS interception products. This behavior already exists on desktop, and is being extended to Android. Enterprises that proxy traffic through a private root should see no change in behavior.
- New and updated policies in Chrome browser
Policy
Description
Setting the policy to “2” blocks sites from using the clipboard site permission. Setting the policy to “3” or leaving it unset lets the user change the setting and decide if the clipboard APIs are available when a site wants to use one.
Setting the policy lets you set a list of URL patterns that specify sites that can use the clipboard site permission.
Setting the policy lets you set a list of URL patterns that specify sites that can't use the clipboard site permission.
This policy specifies how long (in seconds) a cast device that was previously selected via an access code or QR code can be seen within the Google Cast menu of cast devices.
Setting the policy to BlockLocalFonts (value 2) automatically denies the local fonts permission to sites by default. This will limit the ability of sites to see information about local fonts.
Sets a list of site URL patterns that specify sites which will automatically grant the local fonts permission. This will extend the ability of sites to see information about local fonts.
Sets a list of site URL patterns that specify sites which will automatically deny the local fonts permission. This will limit the ability of sites to see information about local fonts.
Chrome OS updates
- New built-in Screencast app for Chrome OS
Screencast is a new app built into Chrome OS to record, share, and watch engaging demos and lessons. It uses speech-to-text tools built into your Chromebook to automatically transcribe your narration into text to navigate and search the video, translate, and trim your recordings - no editing/rendering required. You can even draw or write on your screen as you record using a mouse, touchscreen, or stylus to diagram or highlight key concepts. With Screencast, anyone can create their own library of recorded screencasts, automatically uploaded to Google Drive. Learn more. See Screencast in action.
- Fast Pair makes Bluetooth pairing easier
Fast Pair makes Bluetooth pairing easier on Chrome OS devices and Android phones. When you turn on your Fast Pair-enabled accessory (like Pixel Buds), it automatically detects and pairs with your Chrome OS device in a single tap. Fast Pair also associates your Bluetooth accessory with your Google account, making it incredibly simple to move between your Chrome OS and Android devices.
- Receive Wi-Fi credentials with Nearby Share
Nearby Share on Chrome OS now supports receiving Wi-Fi credentials from Android devices. To get started, navigate to the Wi-Fi detail page on Android, tap the share icon, then Nearby Share - here, any Chromebook or Android phone discovered nearby that you select is offered the Wi-Fi network credentials, and automatically joins that network thereafter.
- Phone Hub camera roll
Phone Hub now provides access to your phone's most recent photos, right from the Chrome OS desktop. To use this feature, look for the phone icon in your system tray - if you need to grant any permissions, you will be prompted to do so, after which your most recent photos will automatically appear in Phone Hub, ready for use in docs, emails, and so on.
- Split sync settings on Chrome OS into Browser and OS categories
OS sync preferences are now distinct from browser sync preferences, so browser-specific sync data types (like Bookmarks) are no longer shown in the OS settings, while OS-specific data types like Apps and Wallpaper are moved to the OS settings. Also, browser-specific toggles have been removed from the Sync and Google services page in OS settings.
- Launcher (Search) redesign: Open Tab and Shortcut search
Users can now search through their open tabs and device shortcuts using the new Launcher. Launcher is accessible via the Search button on the keyboard or by clicking the dot on the bottom left of the screen. Stay tuned as we will continue to add new capabilities to Launcher search.
- Block accounts becoming secondary accounts
SecondaryGoogleAccountUsage is a new policy that enables administrators to prevent managed accounts becoming secondary accounts, even if multiple user sign-ins are allowed.
Admin console updates
- Customize icon and name of managed websites
This feature allows IT Admins to customize the appearance of the URLs that they force install in User and Managed Guest Sessions. You can define the name and icon that is presented to end-users.
- Pin Chrome app updates in Kiosk
As a Chrome Enterprise admin, you can pin the latest version of a Chrome app to control when they are updated to a newer version. Multi-platform zip files are currently not supported.
- Updates to the Chrome Management Telemetry API
We have enriched the Chrome Management Telemetry API (documentation) with additional fields. These include additional audio telemetry information, for example, microphone mute status, volume level status, device name for connected input/output devices. It also includes network information, for example, transmission/receiving bit rates, MEID/IMEI/ICCID/MDM info for cellular devices. In addition, for devices with 12th Generation Intel vPro processors the Chrome Management Telemetry API can now report Total Memory Encryption state, Key Locker configuration status and Thunderbolt security info.
- Remote eSIM provisioning and management
Admins now have the ability to remotely activate an eSIM cellular connection and manage it at scale. Previously, admins had to manually setup an eSIM profile on each individual device with a QR code. In addition to scaled activation of cellular connections, admins can force the use of only managed cellular profiles and remotely clear eSIM profiles on compatible LTE devices.
- New policies in the Admin console
Policy Name Pages Supported on Category/Field PolicyListMultipleSourceMergeList User & Browser Settings Chrome
Android
Setting sources > PolicyMergelist > PolicyDictionaryMultipleSourceMergeList User & Browser Settings Chrome Android Setting sources > PolicyMergelist CloudReportingUploadFrequency User & Browser Settings Chrome
ChromeOS
Android
IOS
User reporting > Frequency of browser status reporting User & Browser Settings ChromeOS Power and shutdown > Adaptive charging model SystemTerminalSshAllowed User & Browser Settings ChromeOS Virtual machines (VMs) and developers > SSH in terminal system app DownloadBubbleEnabled User & Browser Settings;
Managed Guest Session
Chrome
ChromeOS
User experience > Download bubble
User & Browser Settings;
Managed Guest Session
Chrome
ChromeOS
Android
User experience > URL parameter filtering
User & Browser Settings
ChromeOS
Sign-in settings -> Add restriction on a managed account's usage as a secondary account on Chrome OS
Coming soon
Note: The items listed below are experimental or planned updates. They might change, be delayed, or canceled before launching to the Stable channel.
Upcoming Chrome browser changes
- Increase the nesting threshold before which setTimeout(..., <4ms) start being clamped, from 5 to 100.
setTimeout(..., 0)is commonly used to break down long Javascript tasks and let other internal tasks run, which prevents the browser from hanging. setTimeouts and setIntervals with an interval < 4ms are not clamped as aggressively as they were before. This improves short horizon performance, but websites abusing the API will still eventually have their setTimeouts clamped. A temporary Enterprise policy UnthrottledNestedTimeoutEnabled will be available to control this feature. When the policy is set to Enabled, setTimeouts and setIntervals with an interval smaller than 4ms are not clamped as aggressively.
- Chrome will send Private Network Access preflights for subresources
In Chrome 104 at the earliest, Chrome will send a CORS preflight request ahead of any private network requests for subresources, asking for explicit permission from the target server. This request carries a new `Access-Control-Request-Private-Network: true` header. In this initial phase, this request is sent, but no response is required from network devices. If no response is received, or it does not carry a matching
`Access-Control-Allow-Private-Network: true` header, a warning is shown in DevTools (more details here).
In Chrome 107 at the earliest, the warnings will turn into errors and affected requests will fail. You can disable Private Network Access checks using the InsecurePrivateNetworkRequestsAllowed and InsecurePrivateNetworkRequestsAllowedForUrls enterprise policies.
If you want to test this feature in advance, you can enable warnings using chrome://flags/#private-network-access-send-preflights. If you want to test how it behaves once warnings turn into errors, you can enable chrome://flags/#private-network-access-respect-preflight-results.
To learn more about mitigating this change proactively, see details on what to do if your site is affected. Read the whole blog post for a more general discussion about Private Network Access preflights.
- Privacy Sandbox updates
The Privacy Sandbox release in Chrome 104 will provide controls for the new Topics & Interest Group APIs. It will also introduce a one-time dialog that explains Privacy Sandbox to users and allows them to manage their preferences. This dialog is not shown for Guest users or managed EDU users.
Admins can prevent the dialog from appearing for their managed users by controlling third party cookies explicitly via policy:- To allow third-party cookies and Privacy Sandbox features, set BlockThirdPartyCookies to disabled
- To disallow third-party cookies and Privacy Sandbox features, set BlockThirdPartyCookies to enabled. This might cause some sites to stop working.
-
Case-matching on CORS preflight requests
Currently Chrome uppercases request methods when matching with Access-Control-Allow-Methods response headers in CORS preflight. Chrome 104 will not uppercase request methods, except forDELETE,GET,HEAD,OPTIONS,POST, andPUT(all case-insensitive). So, Chrome 104 will require exact case-sensitive matching.
Previously accepted, but rejected in Chrome 104:
Request:fetch(url, {method: 'Foo'})
ResponseHeader: Access-Control-Allow-Methods: FOO
Previously rejected, but accepted in Chrome 104:
Request:fetch(url, {method: 'Foo'})
Response Header:Access-Control-Allow-Methods: Foo
Note:postandputare not affected because they are in https://fetch.spec.whatwg.org/#concept-method-normalize, whilepatchis affected.
- Improved first run experience on iOS
In Chrome 104, some users might see a new onboarding experience with fewer steps and a more intuitive way to sign into Chrome. Enterprise policies, like BrowserSignin, SyncDisabled, SyncTypesListDisabled and MetricsReportingEnabled, to control whether the user can sign into Chrome and other aspects of the onboarding experience will continue to be available as before.
- Extended support for Legacy Same Site Cookie Behavior policy
Support for LegacySameSiteCookieBehaviorEnabledForDomainList policy has been extended up to Chrome 115 and is now scheduled for removal late June 2023.
- Chrome 104 will no longer support OS X 10.11 and macOS 10.12
Chrome 104 will no longer support OS X 10.11 and macOS 10.12, which are already outside of their support window with Apple. Users will have to update their operating systems in order to continue running Chrome browser. Running on a supported operating system is essential to maintaining security.
- Changes in cookie expiration date limit
Beginning with Chrome 104, any newly set or refreshed cookies will have their expiration date limited to no more than 400 days in the future. Cookies which request expiration dates after 400 days in the future will still be set, but their expiration will be adjusted down to 400 days. Existing cookies will retain their prior expiration date (even if it was more than 400 days in the future), but refreshing them will cause the cap to be enforced.
- Chrome will show Journeys on the History page on Android
Chrome 96 started clustering local browsing activity on the History page into Journeys to make it easier to find prior activity and continue it with related search suggestions. This feature will also become available on Android as early as Chrome 104. For keywords typed into the Omnibox that match a cluster, an action chip displays for seamless access to the Journeys view. Users can delete clusters and disable Journeys, if desired. Additionally, admins will have the option to disable this feature using the HistoryClustersVisible policy.
- Network Service on Windows will be sandboxed
As early as Chrome 105, to improve security and reliability, the network service, already running in its own process, will be sandboxed on Windows. As part of this, third-party code that is currently able to tamper with the network service may be prevented from doing so. This might cause interoperability issues with software that injects code into Chrome's process space, such as Data Loss Prevention software. The NetworkServiceSandboxEnabled policy allows you to disable the sandbox if incompatibilities are discovered. You can test the sandbox in your environment using these instructions and report any issues you encounter.
- U2F API no longer supported as early as Chrome 104
The U2F API for interacting with USB security keys has been disabled by default since Chrome 98. Websites are advised to migrate to the Web Authentication API. Chrome 104 will remove the U2fSecurityKeyApiEnabled enterprise policy for temporarily re-enabling this API. The U2FSecurityKeyAPI origin trial, which lets websites re-enable U2F, is going to end July 26, 2022. We are offering existing trial participants that have not yet fully migrated to WebAuthn an extension of the trial until September 20, 2022. If you are an existing origin trial participant and would like to extend your trial tokens beyond the July 26 deadline, please get in touch with our team. The U2F API will be fully removed in Chrome 106.
- Chrome apps no longer supported on Windows, Mac, and Linux as early as Chrome 106
As previously announced, Chrome apps are being phased out in favor of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and web-standard technologies. The deprecation schedule was adjusted to provide enterprises who used Chrome apps additional time to transition to other technologies, and Chrome apps will now stop functioning in Chrome 106 or later on Windows, Mac, and Linux. If you need additional time to adjust, a policy ChromeAppsEnabled will be available to extend the lifetime of Chrome Apps an additional 2 milestones.
If you're force-installing any Chrome apps, starting Chrome 104, users will be shown a message stating that the app is no longer supported. The installed Chrome Apps will still be launchable.
Starting with Chrome 106, Chrome Apps on WIndows, Mac and Linux will no longer work. To fix this, remove the extension ID from the force-install extension list, and if necessary they can add the corresponding install_url to the web app force install list. For common Google apps, the install_urls are listed below:
Property Extension ID (Chrome App) install_url (PWA / Web App) Gmail pjkljhegncpnkpknbcohdijeoejaedia https://mail.google.com/mail/
installwebapp?usp=adminDocs aohghmighlieiainnegkcijnfilokake https://docs.google.com/document/
installwebapp?usp=adminDrive apdfllckaahabafndbhieahigkjlhalf https://drive.google.com/drive/
installwebapp?usp=adminSheets felcaaldnbdncclmgdcncolpebgiejap https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/
installwebapp?usp=adminSlides aapocclcgogkmnckokdopfmhonfmgoek https://docs.google.com/presentation/
installwebapp?usp=adminYouTube blpcfgokakmgnkcojhhkbfbldkacnbeo https://www.youtube.com/s/notifications/
manifest/cr_install.html
- Launch Renderer AppContainer
In Chrome 104, a further sandbox security mitigation will be applied to renderer processes. They will be additionally placed inside an App Container on top of the existing sandbox. This prevents malicious code from having any network privileges by subverting kernel APIs from within the renderer process.
While we do not expect any incompatibilities with this new mitigation, some security products might react adversely to this. A new policy RendererAppContainerEnabled will be added in Chrome 104 to allow selective disabling of this security mitigation for a limited time while these issues are resolved. This policy can be set to Disabled to force disable the mitigation, otherwise it will be enabled by default.
- Intent to remove: Legacy Client Hint mode
In Chrome 104, the Client Hints, `dpr`, `width`, `viewport-width`, and `device-memory`, will no longer be delegated to all third party frames and subresources by default on Android. The Android behavior will now replicate that of all other platforms, which is to only delegate to the first party frame and subresources by default.
- Chrome sync ends support for Chrome 73 and earlier
As early as Chrome 105, Chrome sync will no longer support Chrome 73 and earlier. You will need to upgrade to a more recent version of Chrome if you want to continue using Chrome sync.
- MetricsReportingEnabled policy will be available on Android in Chrome
As early as Chrome 106, Chrome-on-Android will slightly modify the first run experience to support the MetricsReportingEnabled policy. If the admin disables metrics reporting, there will be no change to the first run experience. If the admin enables metrics, users will still be able to change the setting in Chrome settings. When enabled, the MetricsReportingEnabled policy allows anonymous reporting of usage and crash-related data about Chrome to Google.
Upcoming Chrome OS changes
- Forced reboot in user session
We recently released the ability to schedule forced reboots for kiosk devices. As early as Chrome 104, we will be extending this functionality on user devices, allowing scheduled forced reboots irrespective of whether the user is in session or not.
- PDF annotating support on Gallery app
As early as Chrome 104, the Gallery app – Chromebook’s built in media app– will support PDF annotating. Besides viewing a PDF, you will be able to highlight text, fill out forms, add text or freeform annotation in the app. And with free hand annotation you can add your signature to a document, then easily share the PDF right through the app.
- Smart Lock UX update
Starting in Chrome 104, Smart Lock, which allows users to unlock their Chromebook using their connected Android phone, will be faster than ever, with greater performance, reliability, and an overhauled design. To get started, navigate to Chrome OS Settings>Connected devices, select your Android phone, and enable Smart Lock.
Upcoming Admin console changes
- New CSV export for some Chrome Admin console reports in Chrome 104
As early as Chrome 104, Chrome will introduce a new CSV download option for the Apps & extensions usage report data and the Versions report data.
- New App Details page in Chrome 104
As early as Chrome 104, Chrome will introduce a new App Details page that will give admins more information when they click on an app in the Apps & Extension Usage report.
The enterprise release notes are available in 8 languages. You can read about Chrome's updates in English, German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, and Japanese. Please allow 1 to 2 weeks for translation for some languages.
Chrome browser updates
- Chrome sends Private Network Access preflights for subresources
In Chrome 102, Chrome sends a CORS preflight request ahead of any private network requests for subresources, asking for explicit permission from the target server. This request carries a new`Access-Control-Request-Private-Network: true`header. In this initial phase, this request is sent, but no response is required from network devices. If no response is received, or it does not carry a matching `Access-Control-Allow-Private-Network: true` header, a warning is shown in DevTools (more details here).
In Chrome 105 at the earliest, the warnings will turn into errors and affected requests will fail. You can disable Private Network Access checks using the InsecurePrivateNetworkRequestsAllowed and InsecurePrivateNetworkRequestsAllowedForUrls enterprise policies.
If you want to test this feature prior to Chrome 106, the Chrome team has created the `--enable-features=PrivateNetworkAccessRespectPreflightResults` command-line flag (also available as chrome://flags/#private-network-access-respect-preflight-results).
To learn more about mitigating this change proactively, see details on what to do if your site is affected. Read the whole blog post for a more general discussion about Private Network Access preflights.
- Chrome leverages MiraclePtr to improve security
MiraclePtr is a technology that reduces the risk of security vulnerabilities relating to memory safety. In the past months, Chrome has been testing the impacts of MiraclePtr for some users. A full release is happening in Chrome 102.
- Virtual card numbers in Autofill
To make checking out with autofill more secure, virtual cards for participating US banks are available in Chrome 102. Virtual cards let users pay with unique virtual card numbers so they don’t need to share their real card numbers with merchants. When autofill is enabled, virtual card numbers are automatically generated at checkout for opted-in users. You can control Chrome's credit card autofill behavior with the AutofillCreditCardEnabled enterprise policy.
- Changes to URL parameters
Chrome 102 might remove some URL parameters when a user selects Open link in incognito window from the context menu. You can control this behavior with the UrlParamFilterEnabled enterprise policy.
- A redesign for browser downloads
With Chrome 102, some users see a redesigned user experience for browser downloads. We are replacing the existing downloads shelf with a dedicated downloads bubble in Chrome browser’s top bar. You can control this with the DownloadBubbleEnabled enterprise policy.
- Chrome releases on Windows and Android include multiple versions
To better compare the behavior of a new release of Chrome against the existing one, Chrome now makes multiple new versions available during a rollout. This is an internal change to our update strategy, which has no effect on enterprises. Admins do not need to adjust their update policies and strategy. However, in the interest of transparency, we're sharing this update so that those responsible for Chrome releases understand why they're seeing extra versions of Chrome available during rollouts.
- Chrome New Profile Separation Dialog
Chrome 102 brings better separation between personal and enterprise-managed data. When the user signs into a managed account, they will have the option to either keep existing browsing data separate, or merge it with the managed account. By default, the data is kept separate, so a new profile will be created. Or, if they choose, they can merge the existing profile into the managed account. This prevents inadvertent sharing of personal data with work accounts. The ManagedAccountsSigninRestriction policy can be used to hide the checkbox altogether, allowing admins to force users to create a separate work profile.
- New and updated policies in Chrome browser
Policy
Description
When enabled or not set, the URL parameter filter might remove some parameters when a user selects Open link in incognito window from the context menu. When disabled, no filtering is performed.
This policy allows an admin to specify settings for installed web apps.
This policy controls whether a user will be presented with an option, within the Google Cast menu, which allows them to cast to devices that do not appear in the Google Cast menu. If enabled, users can cast to the device using either the access code or QR code displayed on the cast device's screen.
Controls Warn Before Quitting (⌘Q) dialog when the user is attempting to quit the browser (Mac only).
This policy allows adding restrictions on managed accounts. Two new options are available in Chrome 102: primary_account_keep_existing_data and
primary_account_strict_keep_existing_data.
Chrome OS updates
- Long-term support (LTS)
With the release of Chrome 102, devices that are on the Long-term support candidate (LTC) channel automatically upgrade from version LTC-96 to version LTC-102. This is our first major LTC update.
Devices that are on the LTS channel will remain on LTS-96 until LTS-102 releases in September.
Note: This is a good time to check your organization’s release configuration and verify if your devices are on the LTS or the LTC channel.
As a best practice, most of your devices should be on the LTS channel. We recommend that you keep some devices on the LTC channel in order to preview features in the upcoming LTS release in advance, and have time to plan and execute any necessary change management before the new LTS is released.
Admins can switch between LTS and other channels if desired. For more details about LTS, see this article in the Help Center.
- USB Type-C cable notifications
USB-C cable notifications have been added to Chrome OS. When a user connects a device to their Chromebook, and the features or performance of their device are affected by the cable, they now receive a warning to let them know that there is an issue with the cable.
- Camera settings improvements
Chrome 102 adds improvements for the Chrome OS Camera app, to make it simpler and easier to use. On the left-side tool, it is easier to access the different options and users can now clearly see what feature is currently turned on or off. Under the Settings tab, we’ve made all Camera options more readable and easier to find.
- Launcher redesign includes Open Tab search
Chrome 102 adds Open Tab search integration into the redesigned Launcher. This updated version allows users to open the Launcher, and search for a browser tab that is currently open.
As a category, open tabs are ranked just like any other category; the order is based on how often the user tends to click on that type of result.
- A match is done on both the URL and the tab name.
- A user can select the tab and go to it within the browser.
Tabs playing active audio are returned as top search values, as well as tabs that have been recently used or other tabs with the same name.
- File manager ZIP extraction
One click extraction for ZIP archives comes to Chrome OS. Users can right click ZIP archives, choose Extract All and the content inside the ZIP archive is extracted.
- Built-in IKEv2 VPN support on Chrome OS
Chrome OS now supports IKEv2 VPN as a built-in VPN client. It is configurable through system settings and policies, similar to L2TP/IPsec VPN, and OpenVPN.
IKEv2 VPN is one of the modern and most widely used VPN protocols. This feature allows users to connect to IKEv2 VPNs directly through Chrome OS system settings, without the need to install third-party apps.
Admin console updates
- New look for the Device list and Browser list pages
The Device list and Browser list pages now have a new look, more consistent with many other pages in the Admin console, designed with better accessibility and responsiveness to different screen sizes.
- New security events for the Chrome Audit Log
The Chrome Audit Log now has three new categories of security events, which include events for when users login and logout of devices, for when user accounts are added or removed from a device, and for when a managed device changes boot mode to developer or verified mode. For more information, go to the Chrome Workspace Admin Help Center.
- New policies in the Admin console
Policy Name
Pages
Supported on
Category/Field
User & Browser Settings;
Managed Guest Session
Chrome OS
User Experience > Fullscreen after unlock
User & Browser Settings
Chrome
Chrome OS
User Experience > Middle slot announcement on the New Tab Page
Device Settings
Chrome OS
Other settings > Android apps for unaffiliated users
Coming soon
Note: The items listed below are experimental or planned updates. They might change, be delayed, or canceled before launching to the Stable channel.
Upcoming Chrome browser changes
- Privacy Sandbox updates
The Privacy Sandbox release in Chrome 103 will provide controls for the new Topics & Interest Group APIs. It will also introduce a one-time dialog that explains Privacy Sandbox to users and allows them to manage their preferences. This dialog is not shown for Guest users or managed EDU users.
Admins can prevent the dialog from appearing for their managed users by controlling third party cookies explicitly via policy:- To allow third-party cookies and Privacy Sandbox features, set BlockThirdPartyCookies to disabled
- To disallow third-party cookies and Privacy Sandbox features, set BlockThirdPartyCookies to enabled. This might cause some sites to stop working.
- Case-matching on CORS preflight requests
Chrome 102 and below uppercase request methods when matching withAccess-Control-Allow-Methodsresponse headers in CORS preflight. Chrome 103 will not uppercase request methods, except for DELETE, GET, HEAD, OPTIONS, POST, and PUT (all case-insensitive). So, Chrome 103 will require exact case-sensitive matching.
Previously accepted, but rejected in Chrome 103:- Request:
fetch(url, {method: 'Foo'}) - Response Header:
Access-Control-Allow-Methods: FOO
Previously rejected, but accepted in Chrome 103:- Request:
fetch(url, {method: 'Foo'}) - Response Header:
Access-Control-Allow-Methods: Foo
Note:postandputare not affected because they are in https://fetch.spec.whatwg.org/#concept-method-normalize, whilepatchis affected. - Request:
- Local Fonts Access API
Users of design applications often want to use fonts present on their local device. The Local Fonts Access API will give web applications the ability to enumerate local fonts and some metadata about each. This API will also give web applications access to the font data as a binary blob, allowing those fonts to be rendered within their applications using custom text stacks. The enterprise policies applicable to this feature are DefaultLocalFontsSetting, LocalFontsAllowedForUrls and LocalFontsBlockedForUrls. The API will be available as early as Chrome 103.
- Unified password manager on Android
For Chrome on Android users who are syncing, they will see a new password management experience, which is the same surface used to manage passwords when logging in to Android apps.
- Chrome Actions on iOS
Chrome Actions help users get things done fast, directly from the address bar. We first released Chrome Actions on desktop a couple of years ago, with Actions like Clear browsing data. In Chrome 103, we’ll be bringing some of them to Chrome on iOS, like:
- Manage passwords
- Open Incognito tab
- Clear browsing data
- And more!
Chrome on iOS allows users to take actions directly from the address bar, like clearing browsing data, using a button that appears among auto-complete suggestions. This feature is already available on desktop platforms.
- Improved credit and debit card Autofill
Over the course of Chrome 103, credit and debit card Autofill will start supporting cloud-based upload via Google Pay, enabling Autofill for your cards across all your Chrome devices. You can control credit card autofill with the AutofillCreditCardEnabled enterprise policy.
- Removing LockIconInAddressBarEnabled policy
Chrome 94 launched an experiment to replace the lock icon as the connection security indicator. The LockIconInAddressBarEnabled policy was added to allow organizations to continue to show the lock icon during the experiment. The experiment is no longer active, so the policy will no longer be available starting with Chrome 103.
- Improved first run experience on iOS
In Chrome 103, some users might see a new onboarding experience with fewer steps and a more intuitive way to sign into Chrome. Enterprise policies, like BrowserSignin, SyncDisabled, SyncTypesListDisabled and MetricsReportingEnabled, to control whether the user can sign into Chrome and other aspects of the onboarding experience will continue to be available as before.
- Chrome on Windows will use Chrome's built-in DNS client by default
The built-in DNS client is enabled by default on macOS, Android and Chrome OS. Chrome on Windows will also use the built-in DNS client by default as early as Chrome 103. Enterprises can opt out by setting BuiltInDnsClientEnabled policy to Disabled.
- Release of Speculation Rules API for prerender in Android
Expanding our prerender efforts released on Chrome 101, we will ship the Speculations Rules API for Android in Chrome 103. This API will allow web authors to suggest to Chrome which pages that the user is very likely to navigate to next. This will influence Chrome during the decision to prerender a particular URL before the user navigates to it, aiming to offer an instant navigation. An enterprise policy, NetworkPredictionOptions, is available to block the usage of all prerendering activities which will result in Chrome ignoring the hints provided using this API. See our article on speculative prerendering for more information.
- Enhanced Safe Browsing on iOS
To match Safe Browsing functionality from other platforms, we will add functionality so that a user on iOS can choose what type of Safe Browsing protection they would like. Where an enterprise controls this setting, the enterprise will be allowed to set the level of Safe Browsing protection, and users under the enterprise will not be allowed to change the preference. An enterprise policy SafeBrowsingProtectionLevel is available to control Safe Browsing and the mode it operates in.
- MetricsReportingEnabled policy will be available on Android in Chrome 103
Chrome-on-Android will slightly modify the first run experience to support the MetricsReportingEnabled policy. If the admin disables metrics reporting, there will be no change. If the admin enables metrics, users will still be able to change the setting in Chrome settings. When enabled, the MetricsReportingEnabled policy allows anonymous reporting of usage and crash-related data about Chrome to Google.
- Chrome 104 will no longer support OS X 10.11 and macOS 10.12
Chrome 104 will no longer support macOS versions 10.11 and 10.12, which are already outside of their support window with Apple. Users will have to update their operating systems in order to continue running Chrome browser. Running on a supported operating system is essential to maintaining security.
- Changes in cookie expiration date limit
Beginning with Chrome 104, any newly set or refreshed cookies will have their expiration date limited to no more than 400 days in the future. Cookies which request expiration dates after 400 days in the future will still be set, but their expiration will be adjusted down to 400 days. Existing cookies will retain their prior expiration date (even if it was more than 400 days in the future), but refreshing them will cause the cap to be enforced.
- Chrome will show Journeys on the History page on Android
Chrome 96 started clustering local browsing activity on the History page into Journeys to make it easier to find prior activity and continue it with related search suggestions. These Journeys will become available on Android in Chrome 104. For keywords typed into the Omnibox that match a cluster, an action chip displays for seamless access to the Journeys view. Users can delete clusters and disable Journeys, if desired. Additionally, admins will have the option to disable this feature using the HistoryClustersVisible policy.
- Network Service on Windows will be sandboxed
As early as Chrome 104, to improve security and reliability, the network service, already running in its own process, will be sandboxed on Windows. As part of this, third-party code that is currently able to tamper with the network service may be prevented from doing so. This might cause interoperability issues with software that injects code into Chrome's process space, such as Data Loss Prevention software. The NetworkServiceSandboxEnabled policy allows you to disable the sandbox if incompatibilities are discovered. You can test the sandbox in your environment using these instructions and report any issues you encounter.
- Chrome 104 will remove U2F API
The U2F API for interacting with USB security keys has been disabled by default since Chrome 98. Chrome is currently running an Origin Trial that lets websites temporarily re-enable the U2F API. This Origin Trial will end on July 26, 2022 and the U2F API will be fully removed in Chrome 104.
If you run a website that still uses this API, please refer to the deprecation announcement and blog post for more details.
- Private extensions using Manifest V2 no longer accepted in the Chrome Web Store in June 2022
As part of the gradual deprecation of Manifest V2, the Chrome Web Store stopped accepting submissions of new Public or Unlisted Manifest V2 extensions after January 17, 2022. In June 2022, Chrome expands this restriction to new extensions with Private visibility, which may have a more significant impact on Enterprise extension workflows. Extensions which are already submitted may continue to be updated until January 2023.
For more details, refer to the Manifest V2 support timeline.
- Chrome apps no longer supported on Windows, Mac, and Linux as early as Chrome 106
As previously announced, Chrome apps are being phased out in favor of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and web-standard technologies. The deprecation schedule was adjusted to provide enterprises who used Chrome apps additional time to transition to other technologies, and Chrome apps will now stop functioning in Chrome 106 or later on Windows, Mac, and Linux. If you need additional time to adjust, a policy ChromeAppsEnabled will be available to extend the lifetime of Chrome Apps an additional 2 milestones.
If you're force-installing any Chrome apps, starting Chrome 104, users will be shown a message stating that the app is no longer supported. The installed Chrome Apps will still be launchable.
Starting with Chrome 106, Chrome Apps on WIndows, Mac and Linux will no longer work. To fix this, remove the extension ID from the force-install extension list, and if necessary they can add the corresponding install_url to the web app force install list. For common Google apps, the install_urls are listed below:
Property Extension ID (Chrome App) install_url (PWA / Web App) Gmail pjkljhegncpnkpknbcohdijeoejaedia https://mail.google.com/mail/
installwebapp?usp=adminDocs aohghmighlieiainnegkcijnfilokake https://docs.google.com/document/
installwebapp?usp=adminDrive apdfllckaahabafndbhieahigkjlhalf https://drive.google.com/drive/
installwebapp?usp=adminSheets felcaaldnbdncclmgdcncolpebgiejap https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/
installwebapp?usp=adminSlides aapocclcgogkmnckokdopfmhonfmgoek https://docs.google.com/presentation/
installwebapp?usp=adminYouTube blpcfgokakmgnkcojhhkbfbldkacnbeo https://www.youtube.com/s/notifications/
manifest/cr_install.html
- Default to origin-keyed agent clustering in Chrome 106
As early as Chrome 106, websites will be unable to setdocument.domain. Websites will need to use alternative approaches such aspostMessage()or Channel Messaging API to communicate cross-origin. If a website relies on same-origin policy relaxation viadocument.domainto function correctly, it will need to send anOrigin-Agent-Cluster: ?0header along with all documents that require that behavior.
Note:document.domainhas no effect if only one document sets it.
An enterprise policy will be available to extend the current behavior.
Upcoming Chrome OS changes
- Fast Pair on Chrome OS
Starting in Chrome 103, Fast Pair will make Bluetooth pairing easier on Chrome OS devices and Android phones. When you turn on your Fast Pair-enabled accessory (like Pixel Buds), it will automatically detect and pair with your Chrome OS device in a single tap. Fast Pair will also associate your Bluetooth accessory with your Google account, making it incredibly simple to move between your Chrome OS and Android devices.
- Forced reboot in user session
We recently released the ability to schedule forced reboots for kiosk devices. As early as Chrome 104, we will be extending this functionality on user devices, allowing scheduled forced reboots irrespective of whether the user is in session or not.
- Backlight PDF support with text annotation
As early as Chrome 104, the Gallery app will support PDF viewing and annotating. You will be able to fill out forms, add text or freeform annotation, or highlight text in the app.
- Smart Lock UX update
Starting in Chrome 104, Smart Lock, which allows users to unlock their Chromebook using their connected Android phone, will be faster than ever, with greater performance, reliability, and an overhauled design.
Upcoming Admin console changes
- New CSV export for some Chrome Admin console reports in Chrome 104
As early as Chrome 104, Chrome will introduce a new CSV download option for the Apps & Extensions Usage report data and the Versions report data.
Additional resources
- For emails about future releases, sign up here.
- To try out new features before they're released, sign up for the trusted tester program.
- Connect with other Chrome Enterprise IT admins through the Chrome Enterprise Customer Forum.
- How Chrome releases work—Chrome Release Cycle
- Chrome Browser downloads and Chrome Enterprise product overviews—Chrome Browser for enterprise
- Chrome version status and timelines—Chrome Platform Status | Google Update Server Viewer
- Announcements: Chrome Releases Blog | Chromium Blog
- Developers: Learn about changes to the web platform
Still need help?
- Google Workspace, Cloud Identity customers (authorized access only)—Contact support
- Chrome Browser Enterprise Support—Sign up to contact a specialist
- Chrome Administrators Forum
- Chrome Enterprise and Education Help Center
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