Another month brings another Chrome update to keep things flowing smoothly. Chrome 112 is now here and aims to improve many different aspects of the Chrome browser, such as security, pertinent bugs, and other relevant issues. It’s not one of those highly feature-filled updates to Google Chrome, but it’s still as important as ever to maintain stability.
Just to get you up to speed, though, Chrome 111 brought smoother transitions, additional custom keyboard shortcuts, and the relatively advanced CSS Color Level 4. The April release of the new Google Chrome update marks the arrival of Chrome 112 and, with it, multiple back-end improvements.
Let’s dive straight into the write-up.
How to update Google Chrome
Before we explore the top new features that have been introduced in Chrome 112, it’s worth addressing the fact that you need to know how to update your Chrome browser for things to continue. Thankfully, Google Chrome downloads updates in the background, so you don’t have to handle any of that on your own.
With that being said, the installation of any new update only occurs when your device has the opportunity to restart. If a reboot does not occur after an update downloads, you will never essentially get your software to the latest stable release. This is why it’s important to check for updates manually sometimes and ascertain whether you’re up to date.
To do that, simply click on the “Customize and control Google Chrome” button in the top-right section of the Chrome browser’s interface and then choose “Settings” to proceed to the next step. You should then be able to select “About Chrome” from the side panel on the left.
That will take you to the update-relevant area on your end. Here, you’ll either see a progress tracker guiding you through the download of your update or a prompt that’ll tell you to relaunch your Chrome browser to apply the update. In any case, you should be able to proceed smoothly from here on out.
Google Chrome downloading the latest updates
Keeping Google Chrome up to date at all times is the way to go if you’re looking for the optimal Chrome user experience. The developers keep the internet surfer regularly updated to ensure there are no security discrepancies, and the performance of the program remains up to the mark.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that since Chrome 112 has been released only recently, it may take some time for the new patch to become available for your specific device. The update roll-out process spans a multitude of days, so we advise being patient if your browser is still on an older version.
Best new features in Chrome 112
This section highlights some of the best new features that have arrived with Chrome 112. As mentioned earlier, there isn’t much to discuss this time around since the newest Chrome release primarily focuses on bug fixes and security patches.
Nesting rule support by CSS
The Chrome Developers handle on the web reports that CSS-centric rules on Chrome will now extend to support other types of rules. This significant addition to the Chrome browser isn’t particularly exciting for regular users but is a welcome feature for developers.
According to Google, “Nesting helps developers by reducing the need to repeat selectors while also co-locating style rules for related elements. It can also help styles match the HTML they target.” Some of the main use cases of nesting CSS rules revolve around better organization and reducing file sizes.
A plethora of new security patches
Although Chrome 112 hasn’t brought a significant number of novel new features, it has come packed with a myriad of security patches for the web surfer on all platforms. These security-centric fixes streamline the working capacity of Google Chrome even more, facilitating users and steering clear of pertinent dangers on the vast internet.
That said, security improvements are not noticeable on the front end, so don’t expect your Chrome browser to look all shiny. If you’d like to explore all the latest improvements on the safety note, head over to the official Chrome Releases page, where the developers have laid out all the relevant details.
Chrome Apps are on their way out the door
Google Chrome Apps are windowed versions of common programs or web applications that have remained the norm and standard in the industry for far too long now. In favor of making Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) more widespread across the world, which are essentially the next upgrade in line, Chrome Apps are slowly starting to be phased out.
Chromebooks, however, will still support this web app standard until 2025, but for Chrome users on Windows, the functionality is going out the door. Business customers who still have urgent matters to address via Chrome Apps can rely on a certain Chrome flag to make these programs work for two new Chrome updates. After that, it’s game over.
Google gears up for a new coat of paint for Chrome
Although not directly related to Chrome 112, it’s still worth mentioning that the developers are planning to visually overhaul Google Chrome in the near future. It has been reported recently that the Material You theme currently used by Android and ChromeOS operating systems is soon to arrive at the forefront of the Chrome browser.
This intuitive type of theme makes the whole operating system adapt to the color of your wallpaper, automatically personalizing the major facets of the software without requiring any extra effort. At the moment, the functionality works on platforms other than the Chrome browser, but Google is looking to change that soon in 2023.
Conclusion
Google Chrome is one of the fastest internet browsers in the world, among other top-tier options. The reputation that this web browser enjoys today has manifested after years of constant user feedback and the proper implementation of new features by the developer.
In this manner, Chrome receives a major update every month that aims to improve the core browsing experience in one way or another. Chrome 112 mainly emphasizes the security side of things this time around, but there’s always the prospect that Google is preparing for other Chrome features to follow in the next update.
Let us know in the comments section whether Chrome 112 has already rolled out for your device or not. As always, Chrome Ready wishes you good luck!
