How to Update Your Browser (and Check Which Version You Have)

Most browsers update themselves, but an update often waits until you restart. The About page shows your version and installs anything pending.

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Browser updates matter mainly for security. Each new version fixes flaws that attackers can use against you just by getting you to open a web page, and vendors often ship those fixes within days of finding a problem. An outdated browser is also the usual reason a site warns that your browser "isn't supported".

The good news: every browser below updates automatically by default. On a computer, it downloads the update in the background and applies it the next time you close and reopen the browser. If you leave it open for weeks, the update just sits there. On phones, the App Store or Google Play handles updates like any other app.

One caveat: an update can only reach you if your device is still supported. If your computer or phone is too old, the steps below will tell you you're "up to date" when you're not. The last section covers that.

Google Chrome

On a computer (Windows, Mac, Linux)

1. Click the More menu (three dots) at the top right.
2. Choose Help > About Google Chrome. Shortcut: type chrome://settings/help in the address bar.
3. Your version number is shown under the "Google Chrome" heading. Chrome checks for updates while this page is open.
4. If an update is ready, click Relaunch. If there's no Relaunch button, you're on the latest version.

Chrome reopens your tabs and windows after relaunching, but not Incognito windows. On a Mac, the same page offers Automatically update Chrome for all users if Chrome is in your Applications folder. On Linux, update Chrome through your package manager. On a Chromebook, Chrome updates with ChromeOS.

On Android

1. Open the Play Store, tap your profile icon, then Manage apps & device.
2. Under Updates available, find Chrome and tap Update.

To see your version, open Chrome and tap More > Settings > About Chrome.

On iPhone and iPad

1. Open the App Store and tap your profile picture at the top right.
2. Find Chrome under the available updates and tap Update.

To see your version, open Chrome and tap More > Settings > Google Chrome. More on the browser in our Chrome review.

Microsoft Edge

On a computer (Windows, Mac, Linux)

1. Select Settings and more (three dots) at the top right.
2. Choose Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge. Shortcut: edge://settings/help.
3. Edge shows your version, checks for updates and installs them.
4. If asked, select Restart to finish.

On Windows, Edge updates can also arrive through Windows Update (Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates). Microsoft notes that your favorites, passwords and settings are kept when Edge updates.

On Android, iPhone and iPad

Update Edge from Google Play or the App Store, the same way as Chrome above. To see your version, open the Edge menu, tap Settings and look for the About entry near the bottom. More in our Edge review.

Apple Safari

Safari has no update button of its own. It's part of the operating system, so you update Safari by updating macOS, iOS or iPadOS.

On a Mac

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings.
2. Click General in the sidebar, then Software Update.
3. If an update is available, click the button to update or restart now, and enter your Mac's password when asked.

To see which Safari version you have, open Safari and choose Safari > About Safari in the menu bar. Automatic update options are in the same Software Update settings.

On iPhone and iPad

1. Open Settings > General > Software Update. Your current iOS or iPadOS version is shown here.
2. If an update is available, tap Download and Install.

To have this happen on its own, tap Automatic Updates on the same screen. Safari's version follows your iOS version, so there is nothing separate to check.

Safari for Windows stopped at version 5.1.7 in 2010. Apple calls it outdated; don't use it.

Mozilla Firefox

On a computer (Windows, Mac, Linux)

1. Click the menu button (three lines) at the right of the toolbar.
2. Choose Help and Report > About Firefox. On a Mac you can also choose Firefox > About Firefox in the menu bar.
3. Firefox shows your version, checks for updates and downloads any it finds.
4. Click Restart to update Firefox.

The menu was called just Help before Firefox 155 (September 2026). Firefox's update settings are under Settings > General > Firefox updates (about:preferences#general), where you can choose whether it installs updates automatically. If you installed Firefox from the Microsoft Store or your Linux distribution's packages, it updates through those instead.

On Android, iPhone and iPad

Update Firefox from Google Play or the App Store. To see your version on Android, tap the menu, then Settings > About Firefox. On iPhone and iPad, the version is in the About section at the bottom of Firefox's Settings. More in our Firefox review.

Brave

On a computer (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Brave downloads updates in the background. When one is waiting, an Update label appears on the main menu button; click it, and a relaunch option appears at the top of the menu.

To check by hand:

1. Open the main menu and choose Help > About Brave. Shortcut: brave://settings/help.
2. Brave shows your version and starts downloading any update.
3. Click Relaunch to apply it.

Occasionally a second update is waiting after the first; open the About page again after relaunching to be sure.

On Android, iPhone and iPad

Update Brave from Google Play or the App Store. More in our Brave review.

Opera

On a computer (Windows, Mac, Linux)

1. Open the Opera menu (the O button on Windows and Linux, or Opera in the menu bar on a Mac).
2. Click Update & Recovery. Shortcut: opera://update. Your version number is at the top of the page; opera://about shows it too.
3. Click Check for update.
4. When the download finishes, click the button to update, then relaunch Opera when asked.

On Android, iPhone and iPad

Update Opera from Google Play or the App Store. More in our Opera review.

Good to know

• Turn on automatic app updates on your phone. On iPhone and iPad: Settings > Apps > App Store > App Updates. On Android: Play Store > profile picture > Settings > Network preferences > Auto-update apps.
• "Up to date" can mean "as new as this device gets". Chrome now needs Windows 10 or later, macOS 13 Ventura or later, Android 10 or later, and iOS 18 or later. Firefox needs Windows 10 or macOS 10.15 or later. On an older device, updates stop arriving even though nothing looks wrong, and the fix is updating the operating system if you can, or replacing the device.
• Updating doesn't touch your data. Bookmarks, passwords, history and open tabs stay where they are.
• Update stuck? Restart the whole computer and open the About page again. On a work or school device, IT may control updates.
• Be wary of pop-ups saying your browser is outdated. A real update comes from the browser itself, the vendor's website or your app store, never from a random site asking you to download a file.