ChromeOS Update Channels

ChromeOS has several update channels available to allow advanced users and developers to test their projects on different versions of ChromeOS. By default, all ChromeOS devices are shipped in the "Stable" channel. It is recommended that you keep your device on the "Stable" channel if you are using it for production workloads.

It is important to note that if you wish to revert to the stable channel after moving to the Beta, Developer or Canary Channel, you will need to do a powerwash of your device. Furthermore, you should ensure that you keep regular backups of your device if you choose to switch to a non-stable channel.

Stable Channel

The ChromeOS Stable Channel is the default channel that ChromeOS devices are shipped with. Stable builds undergo a significant amount of testing for both stability and security issues before they are pushed out to devices. You should always use Stable Channel if you are using your device in a high-security environment or you need reliablily.

If you are using a ChromeOS device that belongs to a school or employer, it is possible that the administrator can force your device to remain on the stable channel at all times.

Beta Channel

The ChromeOS Beta Channel allows users to test their projects against the next release of ChromeOS. Beta builds are largely complete and are generally considered stable however stability is not guaranteed as software bugs are sometimes discovered in the testing of beta builds of ChromeOS. If you are using a beta build of ChromeOS, it is recommended that you maintain regular backups of your device in the unlikely event that you have to switch to a stable channel in the future.

Development Channel

The ChromeOS Development Channel allows advanced users to test their projects against a future experimental release of ChromeOS. The Development Channel often has several features that are in development that are not present in stable releases of ChromeOS. This is excellent for users who wish to experiment with these unreleased features. Development builds are generally considered stable and may be prone to unexpected crashes and occasionally security issues. If you are using a development build of ChromeOS, it is recommended that you maintain regular backups of your device in the likely event that you have to switch to a stable channel in the future.

Canary Channel

The ChromeOS Canary Channel is a bleeding-edge version of ChromeOS that essentially operates as a rolling release of ChromeOS. Canary builds are often released multiple times a week and, as such, only undergo minimal automated testing before released. Canary builds of ChromeOS will ship features that are in early development, and some features may be removed/cut at any point before it reaches production. Due to the unstable nature of ChromeOS Canary builds, general users and developers are not advised to use it on their primary devices but instead a device specific to testing. If you choose to run a Canary build of ChromeOS on a device, it is strongly advised that you create a factory recovery image and keep it nearby if a faulty update corrupts your ChromeOS instance, it is also advised to minimize the amount of data that is stored on a device and rely more on cloud or network storage. 

If you wish to switch your device to a ChromeOS Canary Build, the instructions are a bit different, as the ChromeOS Update Channel Settings Page will not list Canary as a possible update option. You will need to place your device into Developer Mode and then follow the instructions in this tutorial to place your device into the Canary Channel. Please back up all content on your device before doing so, as this will involve clearing all local data stored on your device.