Chrome may get faster updates with no restart required - Ars Technica
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With Chrome, Google pioneered the rapid release model for browser security. Now, Google says updates may need to change in the face of AI security analysis. According to the company, the number of bug fixes in Chrome releases has skyrocketed in recent months because AI is detecting so many flaws. We could be looking at more frequent updates soon, but Google is also working on ways to get those updates rolled out without bothering you as much.
Google has released two major Chrome milestone builds recently—Chrome 149 in early June and Chrome 150 just a few weeks later. These two updates had a total of 1,072 bug fixes, which is more than the previous 23 releases combined. Such is the impact of giant cybersecurity AI models that can probe software for vulnerabilities at light speed. Some of these vulnerabilities were serious, too, with one bug hiding in the Chrome codebase for 13 years. If it had been exploited, an attacker could have bypassed the Chrome sandbox to make the browser access local files.
Number of security bugs fixed in recent Chrome Stable release milestones.
Credit:<br>Google
Number of security bugs fixed in recent Chrome Stable release milestones.
Credit:
With the vastly higher rate of vulnerability identification, Google is worried bad actors will also be able to identify software flaws faster. Its goal is to ensure your Chrome install is always up to date or as close to it as possible. The first step toward that is the two-week update cycle the company announced earlier in 2026, but it’s now piloting a system that would update Chrome twice per week. This would get patches out the door faster, ensuring that browsers are ready for the threat of AI-fueled attacks.
However, not everyone updates Chrome as soon as new versions are available. While Chrome will download and stage updates promptly, it relies on users to restart their browsers to complete installation. Google is looking at several ways to streamline that process.
In Chrome 150, Google implemented a new update mechanism that takes advantage of the way macOS handles applications. Apps typically continue to run in the background even if their foreground windows are closed. If you close Chrome 150 on macOS without quitting, Chrome can take advantage of that state to update the browser install with what Google calls a “zero window restart.” When you next open a Chrome window, you’ll see the update has been taken care of.
The zero window restart on macOS.
Credit:<br>Google
The zero window restart on macOS.
Credit:
Google is also working on a technique it calls “dynamic patching.” The intent is to improve Chrome’s security model to allow for patches to be installed automatically without a browser restart. Google says it’s still “investing” in dynamic patching, but it hopes to have more to share on this in the future.
So, looking ahead, you should see more frequent Chrome updates, and they could be installed more smoothly on macOS. If dynamic patching works out, there will be even more updates you never notice.
Ryan Whitwam
Senior Technology Reporter
Ryan Whitwam
Senior Technology Reporter
Ryan Whitwam is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering the ways Google, AI, and mobile technology continue to change the world. Over his 20-year career, he's written for Android Police, ExtremeTech, Wirecutter, NY Times, and more. He has reviewed more phones than most people will ever own. You can follow him on Bluesky, where you will see photos of his dozens of mechanical keyboards.
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