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Dev Channel Update for ChromeOS / ChromeOS Flex

The Dev channel is being updated to OS version 16552.42.0 (Browser version 148.0.7778.42) for most ChromeOS devices. 


If you find new issues, please let us know one of the following ways

  1. File a bug

  2. Visit our ChromeOS communities

    1. General: Chromebook Help Community

    2. Beta Specific: ChromeOS Beta Help Community

  3. Report an issue or send feedback on Chrome


Interested in switching channels? Find out how.


Andy Wu,
Google ChromeOS

Seamlessly join meetings on Google Meet hardware with “Connect Room”


In December 2025, we introduced Connect room to organizations on the Rapid Release track enrolled in Early Preview Rooms. We’re excited to announce that this feature is now rolling out to all Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware. This feature allows users to start or join meetings from their personal devices without the need to manually type in a meeting code. It is especially useful for impromptu or private meetings.

By using ultrasound proximity detection, your personal device identifies a nearby Google Meet hardware system and prompts you to connect instantly. This launch includes several enhancements to ensure a frictionless experience in modern office environments:

  • Room disambiguation: In areas with multiple nearby conference rooms, users will be prompted to select the specific room they are in, ensuring the meeting starts on the correct hardware.
  • In-room UI instructions: When a user attempts to join a meeting via manual code entry on a touch screen, the device will now display instructions on how to use "Connect room" for a faster, simpler experience. If your organization has “Book now” enabled, there will also be brief instructions there.

Getting started

  • Admins: This feature relies on the proximity detection device setting, which is ON by default. To ensure "Connect room" works across your fleet, verify that Proximity Detection is enabled in the Admin console. In-room booking must also be enabled for "Connect room" to automatically book the room when a user joins a call.
  • End users: This feature is ON by default. To use it, ensure your laptop microphone is active when entering the meeting "greenroom," then click "Connect room" when the prompt appears. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using the Connect room feature.

Rollout pace

Note: This feature has been a part of our EPR program since December 2025. Please note that in preparation for the full launch, early preview users will lose access to this feature temporarily starting on April 8, 2026, until launch is complete.

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices

Resources

A2UI v0.9: The New Standard for Portable, Framework-Agnostic Generative UI

A2UI v0.9 introduces a framework-agnostic standard designed to help AI agents generate real-time, tailored UI widgets using a company’s existing design system. This update simplifies the developer experience with a new Agent SDK for Python, a shared web-core library, and official support for renderers like React, Flutter, and Angular. By decoupling UI intent from specific platforms, the release enables seamless, low-latency streaming of generative interfaces across web and mobile applications. Integrating with broader ecosystems like AG2 and Vercel, A2UI v0.9 aims to move generative UI from experimental demos to production-ready digital products.

Long Term Support Channel Update for ChromeOS

A new LTS-138  version 138.0.7204.310 (Platform Version: 16295.95.0), is being rolled out for most ChromeOS devices. 


This version includes selected security fixes including:



490118036 Medium CVE-2026-5291 Inappropriate implementation in WebGL.

491516670 High CVE-2026-4679 Integer overflow in Fonts. Reported by GF,

487117772 High CVE-2026-4449 Use after free in Blink.

488188166 High CVE-2026-4674 Out of bounds read in CSS.

484751092 High CVE-2026-4442 Heap buffer overflow in CSS.

487768779 High CVE-2026-4451 Insufficient validation of untrusted input in Navigation.

492213293 Medium CVE-2026-5292 Out of bounds read in WebCodecs.

491655161 Medium CVE-2026-5282 Out of bounds read in WebCodecs.

485397139 High CVE-2026-3922 Use after free in MediaStream.

491515787 High CVE-2026-5280 Use after free in WebCodecs.

489619753 High CVE-2026-4458 Use after free in Extensions.

485935314 High CVE-2026-3923 Use after free in WebMIDI.

491080830 Medium CVE-2026-4462 Out of bounds read in Blink.

488585488 High CVE-2026-4454 Use after free in Network.

488270257 High CVE-2026-4675 Heap buffer overflow in WebGL.


And also:

CVE-2025-37752, CVE-2025-37756, CVE-2025-37797, CVE-2025-37890,

CVE-2025-37997, CVE-2025-38000, CVE-2025-38001, CVE-2025-38083,

CVE-2025-38177, CVE-2025-38350, CVE-2025-38477, CVE-2025-38616,

CVE-2025-38617, CVE-2025-38618

Release notes for LTS-138 can be found here 

Want to know more about Long-term Support? Click here

Andy Wu

Google ChromeOS

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – April 17, 2026

Expanded NotebookLM capabilities for Education Plus and Teaching and Learning add-on customers

We’re increasing limits across NotebookLM features for customers with Google Workspace for Education Plus or a Teaching and Learning add-on license at no additional cost. Users will now see a Plus badge next to their profile picture, indicating access to higher usage thresholds. | Learn more about the expanded NotebookLM capabilities for Education Plus and Teaching and Learning add-on customers.

Prepare for the NEET UG with practice tests in Gemini

We recently launched full-length, no-cost practice tests in Gemini, starting with the SAT and JEE Main. Now, we’re expanding practice tests to support the NEET UG. | Learn more about how to prepare for the NEET UG with practice tests in Gemini.

Additional BYOD peripheral switchers certified for Google Meet in ChromeOS touch controller rooms

We have certified additional Lightware peripheral switchers, so that you and your team can bring your own devices (BYOD) to Google Meet on ChromeOS touch controller rooms. The new devices bring improvements for video processing, networking, connectivity and security. | Learn more about the additional BYOD peripheral switchers certified for Google Meet in ChromeOS touch controller rooms.

Gemini in Google Classroom is now available in all Classroom-supported languages

We’re beginning to expand availability to all Classroom-supported languages in which Gemini is also available. This expansion makes Gemini tools in Classroom increasingly accessible to educators and higher education students whose preferred language is now supported. | Learn more about Gemini in Google Classroom is now available in all Classroom-supported languages.

New more expressive AI voiceovers in Google Vids, and 16 additional languages, powered by Gemini 3.1 Flash TTS

With the release of our new Gemini 3.1 Flash Text-To-Speech (TTS) model, AI voiceovers in Google Vids now include 30 new conversational voice options that better capture natural expression and realism. All 30 AI voiceover options are now supported in 24 different languages. | Learn more about the new more expressive AI voiceovers in Google Vids, and 16 additional languages, powered by Gemini 3.1 Flash TTS.

Now available: The Gemini app for Mac

We’re bringing the Gemini app to macOS as a native desktop experience, designed to live right where you work. It’s always just a keyboard shortcut away, allowing you to quickly get the help you need without losing your focus. | Learn more about The Gemini app for Mac now available.

Now in beta: Download client-side encrypted Google Slides

We are pleased to share that export capabilities are now available for client-side encrypted (CSE) Slides files. | Learn more about how to download client-side encrypted Google Slides now in beta.

Improved video quality on high-resolution displays in Google Meet

We’re updating Meet to provide higher quality video for users with high-resolution displays on the web and in rooms. This change will provide sharper and more detailed video, particularly for meetings with three or more participants. | Learn more about the improved video quality on high-resolution displays in Google Meet.

Streamlining admin controls for Gemini Enterprise in the Google Workspace Admin console

Managing generative AI tools that can access your Google Workspace data will be easier than before with dedicated controls to manage Gemini Enterprise access in the Workspace Admin console. These settings will live in a new subsection in the left side menu bar under “Generative AI”. | Learn more about the streamlined admin controls for Gemini Enterprise in the Google Workspace Admin console.

The announcements above were published on the Workspace Updates blog over the last week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.