Chromebooks Have An Expiration Date – Here’s How To Check Yours

Chromebooks are undeniably valuable for business, casual, and even studying. In addition to having a lightweight and portable design, Chromebooks also have software that makes it easy for users to remain up to date. Google is the company that owns the software that Chromebooks and some 2-in-1 laptops use, Chrome OS.

For various Chromebooks, Google agrees with companies like Asus, Samsung, and your other favorite Chromebook manufacturers to support Chromebooks for several years. This period, usually about 8 years or so, is known as Auto Update Expiration (AUE). Once this period is over, your Chromebook model will no longer receive software updates or new features.

Knowing your Chrome OS AUE date is essential, and we’ll cover everything you need to know about the topic so you carry on with your photo editing, gaming, or writing without worrying.

What is Chromebook AUE?

We’ve briefly covered what Auto Update Expiration, AUE, is, but let’s dissect it a little further. The term refers to when your Chromebook model receives software updates from Google, after which you will not receive updates. Updates are essential to maintaining your Chromebook running smoothly and are used to patch out bugs and glitches that your software version may experience.

They’re also an essential part of maintaining proper security for your profiles. If your Chromebook doesn’t have updates, hackers and other safety risks have a much higher chance of accessing your personal and private data.

Another reason you’d want to keep the ability to update your software is that specific applications can’t run without your software being a particular version. Even technical support options may be limited if your Chromebook, its display and its components still need access to automatic software updates. Bug fixes and other software issues cannot be fixed without the opportunity to update.

So when you’re planning to purchase specific Chromebook models, it’s best to practise to enquire or check how like its Google auto-update policy is so you can continue to reap the benefits for years.

If you’re looking to buy a Chromebook model that’s 2020 or newer, then you’ll have AUE data that is set for about 8 years. An older model will have its AUE date set for about 5 or six years, depending on the model and make.

Why does Chromebooks have an Expiration Date?

The fact that Chromebooks have an updated schedule shelf life is a bothersome thought to come to consumers, which is entirely fair. When you purchase a product, you intend to use it until it breaks or you plan on upgrading your devices.

Google states that it only supports its Chromebook devices to a certain point for two main reasons – hardware limitations and security updates. The issue is that as years pass, the software updates become more and more complicated as technology progresses, so much so that the fixed hardware that Chromebooks come with needs to be fixed.

Google commits to only providing software updates for a certain amount of time, which is also why it doesn’t offer security updates after a particular time. It doesn’t make sense for Google to provide security updates on software it no longer services.

If you want to avoid dealing with your laptop having an expiration date, we recommend you purchase another one instead, like an Alienware Aurora 2019.

How to Check Your Chromebook’s Expiration Date

If you’ve purchased a Chromebook and want to see its expiration date, we’ve outlined an easy-to-follow and intuitive guide that lets you do so:

1. Navigate to the Settings of your Chromebook. You can type it into the Search Bar, click on the time, and select Settings.
2. Choose Chrome OS, and then click on the Additional Details option.
3. Within the Update Schedule, you can see where you can expect your Chromebook to stop receiving updates.

Once the Chromebook reaches this update expiration AUE date, don’t worry. It doesn’t mean you’ll be unable to use your Chromebook. Instead, know that after this date passes, you won’t be able to update your Chrome OS software or hardware.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have ChromeOS devices, check out when your automatic updates from Google will stop for them. After which, you can always purchase another laptop or continue using it in its current circumstances.

You may have also had some questions while reading our article. If that’s the case, feel free to look at the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive. We recommend checking out some of our other articles, including removing stickers from your laptop or optimising your Macbook for gaming.

Is it safe to use a Chromebook after AUE expires?

Absolutely! It’s still completely safe to use your Chromebook after its AUE expires; you will be limited to the existing features of the software you had before the AUE date passed. The Chromebook you own will likely still function without any issues for several months to a year before the security issues or bugs make using Chromebooks complex.

Can I still update my Chromebook after the end of AUE?

Unfortunately not. There’s no way to receive Chromebook updates for your operating system after the AUE expiry date. But, your Chromebook is still usable after your AUE expires, although to a lesser degree over time due to the lack of software updates.

We suggest upgrading or improving to a new device after your Chromebook’s AUE expires.

What can I do with my old Chromebook?

There are a variety of ways you can repurpose your old Chromebook after the AUE date, and here are our top picks for what to do with your old Chromebook after your auto-updates stop:

• Purchase a new Chromebook
• Install a different software onto your Chromebook, like Linux.
• Recycle or re-gift it.
• Use it as an external monitor.

Conclusion

That’s all there is to it! Hopefully, this article has given you a better idea of your Chromebook model’s AUE dates and what you can do about it. When purchasing your Chromebook, we recommend checking the settings to see how long your device will last.

Feel free to check out some of our other articles, including how to connect your Nintendo Switch to your laptop or manually charge your laptop battery.