Google will enhance its Chrome release strategy by introducing weekly security updates to the stable channel alongside its regular “milestone” releases every four weeks.
This shift aims to bridge the “patch gap” between Canary/Beta releases and the wider user base, where bad actors could exploit vulnerabilities before stable updates were available.
The Google Security Blog outlines that these new weekly updates, commencing with Chrome 116, will not alter the user experience or update process. The existing rhythm of milestone releases will remain unaffected.
In 2020, Chrome initiated a biweekly release schedule for Stable channel updates, starting with Chrome 77, in order to mitigate the patch gap. Prior to Chrome 77, the average patch gap was approximately 35 days.
Transitioning to a biweekly release cycle brought about a reduction in the patch gap to approximately 15 days.
Now, with the transition to weekly updates, Google gains the capability to expedite the distribution of security fixes, resulting in an even swifter reduction of the patch gap.
This alteration means users will encounter more frequent updates. Google also introduces an updated notification experience, embedding an update status message within the green banner at the upper-right corner of the Chrome window.
Clicking on this message allows users to select “relaunch to update,” assuring that tabs will reopen without disruption. Currently, this feature is undergoing testing with 1% of stable channel users.
