Google has released Chrome version 90 for everyone to download and use. You can update your existing Chrome version using the guide given in the article, or download Google Chrome 90 from the given links.
The new version of Chrome now supports the AV1 codec which improves the video streaming capabilities of the browser. Although this feature is already supported by Mozilla Firefox, Google is now also hopping onto the bandwagon. Moreover, Chrome now also allows its users to name the browser’s window. This is especially helpful in identifying different windows in case many are open simultaneously.
Installing this version will upgrade your Google Chrome build to 90.0.4430.72.
A total of 19 vulnerabilities have been addressed with Chrome 90, out of which 6 are deemed to be of high priority. Now, let us continue to discuss how you can download or upgrade your web browser to Chrome v90, and then we shall continue on to discuss its new features and fixes.
Table of contents
There are a few different methods that can be used to update your Chrome browser to the latest version, including:
- Update using Google update
- Use the downloaded Chrome installer
- Using Ninite
- Download Chrome without using a browser
All these methods have been discussed on a separate page here:
All methods to download and run the latest Google Chrome
Upgrade to Chrome 90
If you already have Google Chrome on your PC, then updating it would be easy. Please follow the guide below to update your existing Chrome browser to version 90.
Open Google Chrome and click on the ellipses (3 dots) in the top-right corner of the browser. Then, expand Help, and click About Google Chrome.
As soon as the About page opens, the browser will start searching for an update and then automatically download it. Once it is ready to install, you will be presented with a relaunch button. Note that the browser closes when you click Relaunch and then reopens, restoring all closed tabs.
When the browser reopens, you can navigate to the About Google Chrome page and confirm that it has indeed been updated to version 90.
Download the browser from the links listed below if you do not already have it.
Download Google Chrome 90
Click on the links below to download Chrome 90:
Download: Google Chrome web installer
Download: Google Chrome offline installer
Download: Google Chrome MSI Installer [Enterprise Edition]
Download: Google Chrome for macOS
Download: Google Chrome Offline Installer for Linux
Download: Google Chrome for Android
Download: Google Chrome for iOS
Download: Google Chrome Portable
Install Google Chrome 90
Installing the Chrome browser on a Windows PC is as easy as downloading them. The process may vary for different platforms.
Once you have downloaded the file from the links above, double-click it to run it. The rest of the process is pretty much automatic. The setup will download the required files (if the web installer was downloaded), install it for you and the browser will launch itself as soon as it is installed successfully.
The process is the same for all Windows computers.
What’s new in Chrome 90
Support for AV1 Codec
A codec is a part of the software that encodes (compresses) a file and then decodes (decompresses) it to make it playable again. AOMedia Video 1, or AV1, is an open-source video codec that improves video streaming quality while reducing the size of the actual media file.
While this AV1 support in Google Chrome significantly improves video quality, it has also reduced data usage as the file is now available in a smaller size. This is especially useful for those on mobile or tablets, or if you have a slow internet connection.
The advantages of AV1 do not end there. Potentially, this added support could result in better compression efficiency when sharing screens with other users over the internet, such as through Microsoft Teams, Skype, etc.
Name individual windows
Chrome 90 now gives the option to manually name each window that is open on your device. If you have several windows open at once, this will assist you in identifying them. Additionally, Chrome 90 makes sure that the name of the window is remembered when the window is re-opened the next time.
To name a window, simply right-click on the title bar at the top of the window and click Name window.
Now all you need to do is enter a name for the window in the text field in the pop-up dialog box. Alternatively, you can also name a window by clicking on the ellipses (3 dots) in the top-right corner, expand More tools, and then click Name window.
If that seems like too much, you can also name them directly from the Taskbar by hovering over the Chrome icon to expand the open windows, right-click the window that you want to name, and then click Name window from the context menu.
Use of HTTPS by default
Once the Chrome version 90 is installed, going forward HTTPS will become the default protocol, with HTTP being the optional protocol. This is a much safer way of browsing online, as the user’s privacy will be protected.
Previously, when a user manually typed in a URL in the address bar without a prefix (HTTP:// or HTTPS://), Chrome would automatically choose HTTP:// as its default protocol, which isn’t secure. Chrome will now prefix the URL with HTTPS:// by default.
HTTPS protects the user’s information by encrypting it before transmitting it over unsecured internet lines so that hackers in the middle cannot detect the traffic which was previously available in plain text.
To learn more about this feature in Chrome 90, visit Google’s blog post.
New features in Dev tools
The developer tools in Chrome 90 have massively been changed and improved. New features have been integrated for the developers from which they can benefit from. Here are some insights:
- Prevent overflow: Developers can now use overflow-clip and overflow-clip-margin to prevent scrolling and expand the clip border, respectively.
- Renaming Feature Policy API: The Feature Policy API, which is used to selectively enable, disable, and modify the behavior of some APIs, is now being renamed to Permissions Policy.
- Declarative Shadow DOM: Developers can now create shadow roots using only HTML, which was only possible using JavaScript previously.
To learn more about what’s new in developer tools in Chrome 90, refer to Google’s guide post.
Release summary
- Complete release build: 90.0.4430.72
- Release date: Wednesday, April 15th, 2021
- Compatibility: Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7 (32-bit and 64-bit), Linux, Mac, iOS, and Android.
- Previous build: Chrome 89
- Bug fixes: 19. More information about security fixes can be found here.
Final verdict
Chrome 90 brings along several salient features that are useful to both a standard user as well as the developers. Not only that, improved overall security by using HTTPS by default raises the bar for every web browser out there. Google Chrome may just be leading the browser market as it is the most convenient to use, and one of the fastest.
Google Chrome release dates for 2021
- Chrome 91 – 25th May 2021
- Chrome 92 – 20th July 2021
- Chrome 93 – 31st August 2021
- Chrome 94 – 12th October 2021
- Chrome 95 – 30th November 2021
