Quick Answer
AUE stands for Auto Update Expiration — the date after which a specific Chromebook model stops receiving ChromeOS and security updates from Google. Check yours at Settings > About ChromeOS > Additional details, which shows the exact month and year your update support ends. Newer Chromebooks (2021 and later) generally get 8-10 years of updates from release; older models often get far less.
Why the AUE Date Matters
Once a Chromebook passes its AUE date, it stops receiving security patches, browser updates, and new ChromeOS features — permanently. The device keeps working, but it becomes progressively less safe to use for banking, email, or anything sensitive, since known vulnerabilities never get patched. It’s the single most important spec to check before buying a Chromebook, new or used, and it’s often left off the box entirely.
How to Check Your AUE Date
- Open Settings.
- Click About ChromeOS in the left sidebar.
- Click Additional details.
- Look for Update information — it lists the exact month your device’s automatic updates will end.
If you’re shopping for a new or used Chromebook and can’t check the device directly, search “[model name] + AUE date” or check Google’s official Auto Update Policy page, which lists every Chromebook model and its expiration date.
Buying With AUE in Mind
New Chromebooks
Since 2020, Google extended AUE support to 8 years from a platform’s release (not the individual unit’s purchase date), and models launched in 2024 onward get 10 years. Still, check the specific model — a Chromebook that’s been on shelves for two years already has two years less runway than a brand-new release. See our budget picks and student picks for currently-selling models with long update windows remaining.
Used Chromebooks
This is the single biggest risk with buying used — a great deal on a 5-year-old Chromebook can mean you’re only getting a year or two of updates left. Always check the AUE date before purchasing secondhand, never after.
What to Do Once You Hit AUE
The Chromebook doesn’t stop working, but it stops being safe for anything sensitive. Your realistic options: keep using it for low-risk tasks (media, offline work), install ChromeOS Flex to get a supported alternative OS on the same hardware, or replace the device. We cover all three in detail in our guide to what to do when your Chromebook is past its AUE date, including how ChromeOS Flex compares to just replacing the machine.
FAQ
Can I extend a Chromebook’s AUE date?
No. The AUE date is fixed by Google for each hardware model and can’t be extended through settings or software. Installing ChromeOS Flex is the only way to keep getting OS updates on the same hardware past its official AUE date.
Does a Chromebook stop working after its AUE date?
No, it keeps functioning normally. It just stops receiving security patches and new features, which gradually makes it riskier to use for anything involving passwords or personal data.
Where can I find the AUE date before buying?
Search the model name plus “Auto Update Expiration” or check Google’s official ChromeOS update policy page, which lists every supported model and its end date.
