How To Check Your Chromebook's Expiration Date (And Why It's Important To Know)

Konstantin Savusia/Shutterstock

By Shikhar Mehrotra/March 13, 2023 7:53 pm EST

Are you interested in purchasing a Chromebook but uncertain how long the model will last? Just like smartphones have a tentative lifespan, Chromebooks do too. The key factor in determining that is the Automatic Update Expiry date, or AUE. The AUE is the device's expiration date, after which the machine won't receive any updates. 

Whether it's for browsing the internet or running the latest apps, Chromebooks rely heavily on software updates. These hybrid devices automatically install enhancements that provide new features and protect against security vulnerabilities, if any arise. Per Google's support page, the rollout of these updates depends on the manufacturer. For instance, if you purchase a model from Lenovo or HP, these companies rely on Google for Chrome OS updates. Since Google isn't manufacturing the device itself, it is difficult for the company to keep tabs on every model. And that is why these machines have an expiry date. 

Initially, Chrome OS-powered laptops would only last a few years before hitting their AUE. Recently, the company suggested the devices lasted up to eight years. Here's how you can check your AUE.

Vantage_DS/Shutterstock

There are two ways to check a Chromebook's AUE: on the device and through Google's support page. While the first method would be more suitable if you already have a Chromebook, the second one comes in handy if you're looking for new devices. It is important to know that Google doesn't announce the device's AUE before the manufacturer releases the product.

To check your Chromebook's AUE, follow the steps given below.

1. Click the battery icon at the bottom right corner of the home screen.
2. In the pop-up menu, select the cog-shaped settings icon.
3. Click About Chrome OS at the bottom left side in the following window. If you don't see the option, click on the hamburger menu (top left) to open the navigation panel. Alternately, you can type About Chrome OS in the search bar.
4. Select Additional Details and see what the message reads under Update Schedule.
5. Suppose your device is well within the update expiry date. In that case, you should see a message with the AUE.
6. If your device is past its expiry date, you will see a message that reads, "This device will no longer receive software updates. You can continue using your computer but should consider upgrading."

CC Photo Labs/Shutterstock

If you want to check the update expiry date of a Chromebook you wish to purchase, Google lists the AUE for all models on its Auto Update Policy support page. However, you need the device's model number. Generally, the model number is available in the product's listing on e-commerce platforms.

1. Open Google's Auto Update Policy webpage.
2. Select a manufacturer from the list.
3. Search for the model in the list. You can also press Ctrl + F and enter the model number in the text field to locate it.
4. Next to the model number, you can check its AUE.

It is essential to check a Chromebook's expiration date as it determines how long it will last. While purchasing the device, especially at a discounted price, check the AUE as the model could be nearing its expiration date. If that is the case, you won't be able to get much use out of the device. What happens when a Chromebook passes its AUE? Without any hardware issues, the device keeps functioning like it usually does. However, since the device isn't getting any security updates, it is at considerable risk. Eventually, the Android apps would also stop running on an outdated device. 

Here's the expiration date of some current Chromebook models on the market. 

• Lenovo Flex 5i – Jun. 2030
• Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 – Jun. 2028
• Acer Chromebook Spin 714 – Jun. 2030

Recommended

Here's What Really Happens When You Accept Cookies

stockwerk-fotodesign/Shutterstock

By Keyede Erinfolami/Updated: Sept. 29, 2022 4:44 pm EST

If all the cookies you've accepted online were real, you'd probably be on a weight loss program by now. Almost all the websites you visit welcome you by asking you to accept cookies. If you're like the average internet user, you do so without thinking twice, just so you can get to what you came for.

In compliance with a GDPR transparency mandate, these sites would typically display a consent banner that contains a link to their cookie policy (which no one ever reads), and they may tell you the cookies are there to enhance your experience. But as we've learned from real life, it's probably best to only accept desserts from people you know and trust. Also, these "cookies" aren't merely nuggets of virtual hospitality — they have real implications on your online (and subsequently, real life) security and privacy, so it's important to be sure just what you're accepting.

So, to help you do that, we'll unpack what website cookies are, and what really happens when you accept them.

bangoland/Shutterstock

Website cookies (or HTTP cookies) are small text files sent by the website you're visiting to the device you're using. When (or if) you accept them, these cookies are stored on the web browser of your device, and can subsequently track and gather data from your browser, and send that data back to the website owner (via GDPR). This data is labeled with a session ID unique to you and your computer. Subsequently, the website server reads the ID and uses the saved data to determine what information to specifically serve you.

They're like unique little stickers that websites tag on each user who visits, so that the next time you stop by, the server identifies you as a returning visitor and saves you the hassle of re-introducing yourself. This identification allows websites to "remember" your preferences and provide you with a more personalized experience — for example, if you chose dark mode when you first visited a website, the feature will be automatically enabled on your next visit if you accept cookies on that website. Similarly, cookies help websites remember when you're logged in, so you don't have to enter your credentials every time you visit.

fotogestoeber/Shutterstock

Cookies are a fundamental part of browsing online — without them, you'd have to rebuild your shopping cart every time you log in to an eCommerce site, or start sessions afresh every time you open your browsers. Also, some websites simply won't grant you access to their domain unless you accept cookies.

Still, not all cookies are necessary. According to the GDPR, there are two broad kinds of cookies, especially as it pertains to what kind of information they collect about you and to whom that is sent:

• First-party cookies: These are also called session cookies and are directly placed by the website you're using. They collect data about a user's session on a website, including language or appearance settings, analytics data, cart activity, or other such functions that contribute to a good user experience; and they only use this data within the single, original domain you're visiting. As long as you can verify the authenticity of a website (an easy way is to check for a lock symbol in the address bar), first-party cookies are mostly harmless.

• Third-party cookies: Also known as persistent cookies, these are created by someone other than the website owner and collect/send data to that third party. In today's online landscape, this "third party" is usually an advertiser — the cookies track your activity across different websites, then collect and send information that the advertiser can use to tailor ads to your needs or interests. Because third-party cookies aren't only tied to one website, this means you can continue to see super-specific ad popups, even after you leave the original site you visited. And that's how ads "follow" you around the internet.

Datenschutz-Stockfoto/Shutterstock

When you accept cookies online, you consent to your information being collected and stored by the website owner, or advertising company (if they're third-party cookies).

The data a cookie might collect about you will vary depending on the website, but here are some of the most common inclusions, according to AllAboutCookies:

• Website name and unique session ID

• Browsing history

• Preferences and permissions

• Number of visits

• Session duration

• Links clicked

• Login credentials, including your username and password

• Geo-tags, like location and IP address

• Personal data, like phone number and zip code

• Shopping cart activity

Website owners (or ad companies) can then use this information to provide a streamlined experience for you. Most people don't mind cookies — it'd be a hassle to start over every time you revisit a website on which you've had previous sessions. Even third-party cookies have their upsides — it can be helpful to find an ad for a website that sells something you've been searching for.

Polarpx/Shutterstock

But, of course, personal data has become a hot commodity online, and cookies present a significant risk of being hacked online. So, if you're looking to be more intentional about what info you share, you can restrict websites from sharing cookies, or choose to block all third-party cookies. Since they're stored on your computer, you could also manually remove cookies you've previously accepted.

We have clear guides to clearing cookies on Firefox, how to remove cookies on Google Chrome, and how to remove cookies on Safari. In most of the other browsers, it's as simple as opening Settings > Privacy section (or sometimes Tools, Internet Options, or Advanced) and then following the prompts to manage or remove cookies. You should know, that this action will not only wipe all the cookies from your phone or computer, but it'll also log you out of most websites, and make some web pages look a little different than they usually do.

fotogestoeber/Shutterstock

For the most part, cookies are fine, but it's great to know that you can refuse them if you want to. 

As the demand for user privacy online increases, most platforms and browsers are already phasing out the most easily-compromised kind of cookies: third-party cookies. Google announced the phaseout from Chrome in 2020 and is working on removing them from the browser by the end of 2024, according to Cookiebot. Firefox is taking a similar approach by implementing what they call "total cookie control," a measure that will minimize cookie tracking on other sites.

Also, Apple added a feature to iOS that requires that app developers ask for your consent before tracking your activities across applications or websites. You've probably seen the pop-up as you use apps, asking if you want to allow the app to track your activity. If you decline, the app you're using will not be able to access your device's advertising identifier, effectively preventing you from targeted ads, although there's talk about Chinese adtech bypassing Apple's tracking control.

When all is said and done, online cookies and real-life cookies should have one thing in common: You should know exactly what's in them before you bite, and you should definitely be able to say no to them.

Recommended