It was only a week ago that Google said it would hit pause on Chrome and Chrome OS releases “due to adjusted work schedules” in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, however, the company announced that it would resume releases — but with an adjusted schedule.
In the age of rapid-release schedules for browsers, the exact details of the new release schedules won’t actually matter all that much in practice. The next stable channel update that rolls out broadly to Chrome users will arrive the week of April 7th, with the release of Chrome 81.
Google canceled its Chrome 82 release, but all the work and features involved will roll into Chrome 83 which “will be released three weeks earlier than previously planned” in roughly mid-May. Google halted work on Chrome to prioritize the stability of Chrome OS and the Chrome browser just as millions started working from home earlier this month.
Google now says it will “continue to closely monitor that Chrome and Chrome OS are stable, secure, and work reliably” during this pandemic period.
Microsoft also followed Google by pausing the release of Edge 81 last week. The software giant is also pausing optional Windows 10 cumulative updates beginning in May, but crucial security updates will still be available for Windows.
