Notify users of Chrome Browser updates

Applies to managed Chrome Browsers (Windows) and Chrome devices.

If Chrome Browser or a Chrome OS device is running while a Chrome Browser update is applied, the old version keeps running until the user relaunches Chrome Browser or restarts the device. As a Chrome Enterprise administrator, you can set policies so that users get the latest update.

Step 1: Review policies

You can set one or more of the following policies:

Policy Description and settings

RelaunchNotification
(applies only to Chrome Browser)

Tells users to relaunch Chrome Browser to get the latest update. You have 3 options:

Relaunch recommended—Users can close the notification and keep using the old version of Chrome Browser until they choose to relaunch. Users are notified until Chrome Browser is relaunched.

Relaunch required—Users can close the notification but will see a recurring message that Chrome Browser will automatically relaunch after a certain time. You set the relaunch time with the RelaunchNotificationPeriod policy.

Unset—If the policy is not configured, the color of the More icon More on the toolbar changes to indicate an update is available. But users aren't forced to relaunch.
RelaunchNotificationPeriod Sets the time period in milliseconds (ms) that a user is repeatedly notified that Chrome Browser must be relaunched or that a device running Chrome OS must be restarted to apply an update.

The default setting when the policy is Not Configured are:

  • Chrome OS devices - 345600000 ms (4 days)
  • Chrome Browser - 604,800,000 ms (7 days)

Step 2: Set the policies

Windows

Applies to Windows users who sign in to a managed account on Chrome Browser.

Using Group Policy

In Group Policy Editor, go to Computer or User Configurationand thenPoliciesand thenAdministrative Templates and thenGoogleand then Google Chrome for both policies below. 

Enable relaunch notifications

  1. Locate and enable Notify a user that a browser relaunch is recommended or required.
    Tip: If you don’t see this policy, download the latest policy template.

  2. Select an option:
    • Show a recurring prompt to the user indicating that a relaunch is required.
    • Show a recurring prompt to the user indicating that a relaunch is recommended.

      Leaving this policy Not Configured uses the Unset behavior described above.

  1. Deploy the update to your users.

Set the notification period

  1. On the right, open Set the period for update relaunch notification.
    Tip: If you don’t see the policy, download the latest policy template.
  2. Select Enabled.
  3. Click Set the period for update relaunch notification.
  4. Enter the number of milliseconds for the notification period and click Apply.
  5. Deploy the update to your users.
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