Chrome OS devices, by design, receive operating system updates for up to 10 years after their platform's initial release. However, certain devices require administrators to opt-in to extended updates to receive the full 10 years of support. These devices are marked with an asterisk (*) on the Auto Update policy support page.
The Extended auto-updates setting is crucial as it allows administrators to manage whether devices in their domain will automatically receive these extended updates or not. By default, users must opt-in individually, which could lead to unintended consequences, such as losing access to Android apps and the Google Play Store. Therefore, the setting empowers administrators to take control and make these decisions on behalf of the users, particularly for district/university-owned devices.
Warning: If an administrator wants to ensure that all eligible devices receive extended updates, they can configure the setting to allow these updates at the domain level. However, they should be aware that once a device opts-in, the action cannot be reversed, and access to Android apps and the Google Play Store will be permanently disabled for the device.
Recommendation
For best practices, we recommend setting the Extended auto-updates option to Disallow updates during the auto-update period at the domain level. The default configuration for this setting is Disallow. Configuring this way prevents end users from opting-in and disabling key functionalities. If specific devices need extended support, it's advisable to place them in a separate organizational unit (OU) and apply the setting only to that OU. This approach ensures that only the necessary devices are opted-n, maintaining the functionality of other devices.
Admin Console Setting - Device System Log Upload
Navigation Path:
Devices > Chrome > Settings ~ Device update settings ~ Extended auto-updates
Lets verify how you have this setting configured.
- Go to the Chrome settings, Device settings page.
- In the list of settings, go to the Device update settings section and click on Extended auto-updates.
- Be sure the configuration is Disallow during extended auto-update period at the domain level.
- Click Save.
Resources
Chrome Enterprise Policy page
Extended updates support page
AUP support page
| Document Version | Date | Description of Change |
| 1.0 | 8/12/2024 | Original publish |
| 1.1 | 10/7/2024 | Un-promoted |