4 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Chrome

ChromeOS 117 rolls out with a new look, plus better control over charging and camerasChromeOS 117 rolls out with a new look, plus better control over charging and cameras
How to manage camera and mic permissions on your desktopHow to manage camera and mic permissions on your desktop
Chromebooks will soon get 10 years of automatic updatesChromebooks will soon get 10 years of automatic updates
Update everything: Chrome, Firefox, Brave, and Edge just patched a big flawUpdate everything: Chrome, Firefox, Brave, and Edge just patched a big flaw
How to create a QR code using a browserHow to create a QR code using a browser
Barbara Krasnoff
Google’s cookie-replacing Privacy Sandbox reaches major milestoneGoogle’s cookie-replacing Privacy Sandbox reaches major milestone
Chrome is about to look a bit differentChrome is about to look a bit different
How to disable Chrome’s new targeted ad trackingHow to disable Chrome’s new targeted ad tracking
New Chrome feature makes it easier to grab full-resolution frames from videosNew Chrome feature makes it easier to grab full-resolution frames from videos
Monica Chin
Monica Chin
Google quietly removed a click-to-call feature from Chrome.

This tool allowed Chrome users to, by right-clicking a phone number in their browser, initiate a phone call on a linked Android phone. The feature was killed in Chrome 116 with little fanfare.

There’s been some outcry about this decision, as 9to5Google reports, and it appears that Google has taken notice. A member of the Chromium team has reportedly told upset commenters that they will “have a conversation with our product team about whether we can continue to support the feature”.

Chrome removes 'Click to Call' feature that sends calls to your phone – did you use it? [Poll]

[9to5Google]

Microsoft is using malware-like pop-ups in Windows 11 to get people to ditch GoogleMicrosoft is using malware-like pop-ups in Windows 11 to get people to ditch Google
Chrome’s reading mode might read articles out loudChrome’s reading mode might read articles out loud
Two years after Safari, Chrome plans to let you move the address bar to the bottomTwo years after Safari, Chrome plans to let you move the address bar to the bottom
It’s now easier than ever to get Windows apps running on ChromeOSIt’s now easier than ever to get Windows apps running on ChromeOS
Chrome will soon tell you why an extension disappearedChrome will soon tell you why an extension disappeared
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
You might see a new side panel in Chrome soon.

9to5Google reports that the side panel will let you see Google Search results while you’re browsing the web on a main panel. Right now, the side panel lets you access things like your reading list, and it looks like you’ll still be able to get to that, too.

The publication says it’s seeing the side panel on Chrome 116, but a couple of us at The Verge haven’t gotten it yet despite being up to date.

Desktop Chrome adds Google Search side panel for sticky results

[9to5Google]

Google Chrome will summarize entire articles for you with built-in generative AIGoogle Chrome will summarize entire articles for you with built-in generative AI
Google is picking up the pace of Chrome security update releasesGoogle is picking up the pace of Chrome security update releases
$5 billion Google lawsuit over ‘Incognito mode’ tracking moves a step closer to trial$5 billion Google lawsuit over ‘Incognito mode’ tracking moves a step closer to trial
Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
ChromeOS, minus the Chrome.

Some code sleuthing by Kevin C. Tofel suggests that the Chrome browser could soon be decoupled from ChromeOS V116 in favor of the Linux browser Lacros.

Robby Payne over at Chrome Unboxed explains:

Lacros will be the Chrome browser you get on every Chromebook and because it won’t be attached to the core of the OS any longer, it will facilitate quicker browser patches without requiring a full OS update.

ChromeOS 116 may begin the Lacros browser push to Chromebooks

[About Chromebooks]

macOS Sonoma lets Chrome use passwords stored in iCloudmacOS Sonoma lets Chrome use passwords stored in iCloud
Google Chrome on iOS will let you search with just your camera soonGoogle Chrome on iOS will let you search with just your camera soon
How to import your passwords to Chrome and the Google Password ManagerHow to import your passwords to Chrome and the Google Password Manager
If you’re tired of Chrome’s look, there’s a new way to change itIf you’re tired of Chrome’s look, there’s a new way to change it
Google Chrome now detects typos in your URLsGoogle Chrome now detects typos in your URLs
Google’s turning off third-party cookies for 1 percent of Chrome users early next yearGoogle’s turning off third-party cookies for 1 percent of Chrome users early next year
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
“Streaming video quality” becoming less of a oxymoron!

OBS Studio 29 just went live today with support for real-time AV1 — letting the latest Nvidia and possibly AMD and Intel graphics cards stream way higher quality video to YouTube using the same amount of data.

The OBS changelog does note that AV1 streaming is currently only a “beta feature” for YouTube, as it has been since March. Discord has supported AV1 since January. Chrome recently improved video calls with AV1 as well.

Quick fixes: use Google Chrome to link text inside any webpageQuick fixes: use Google Chrome to link text inside any webpage
Bing on Edge barges in on BardBing on Edge barges in on Bard
Umar Shakir
Google ups Chromebook privacy with new camera and mic switchGoogle ups Chromebook privacy with new camera and mic switch
Barbara Krasnoff
Barbara Krasnoff
When a friend calls for tech help, you can try to talk them through it — or you can do it yourself.

Instead of spending an hour on the phone trying to help a tech-phobic person get on a Zoom call, take a screenshot, or deal with some other problem, sometimes it’s easier to just take over their screen and show them what to do. There are several apps out there that let you do that, but if you and that special someone both use the Chrome browser, then Google’s Chrome Remote Desktop is the way to go. Here’s how to get it up and running.

How to take control of another computer using Google Chrome Remote Desktop

Barbara Krasnoff
How to take control of another computer using Google Chrome Remote DesktopHow to take control of another computer using Google Chrome Remote Desktop
Google trashes the Chrome Cleanup ToolGoogle trashes the Chrome Cleanup Tool
Jess Weatherbed
Google’s Chrome browser now squeezes more battery life out of MacBooksGoogle’s Chrome browser now squeezes more battery life out of MacBooks
Google Chrome’s new zoom on mobile blows things up by up to 300 percentGoogle Chrome’s new zoom on mobile blows things up by up to 300 percent
Barbara Krasnoff
Barbara Krasnoff
It can be confusing to manage multiple Google accounts, but there are actually some simple ways to keep track.

If you’ve got more than one Google account — say, one for work, one for home, and one for registering with websites that you know will spam you for the rest of your life — sometimes it’s hard to keep track.

Here’s how to use your browser to track apps from multiple accounts, and how to create profiles to make things even easier.

How to manage multiple Google accounts in your browser

David Nield
How to manage multiple Google accounts in your browserHow to manage multiple Google accounts in your browser
Google Chrome’s latest version includes tools to address its memory hog problemGoogle Chrome’s latest version includes tools to address its memory hog problem
Chrome’s new update is the first version you can’t run on Windows 7Chrome’s new update is the first version you can’t run on Windows 7
Computing 101: how to zip and unzip a fileComputing 101: how to zip and unzip a file
Barbara Krasnoff

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