Chrome may soon let you schedule update restarts for when you’re idle

Google Chrome is testing a new Scheduled Restart feature that could let users decide when the browser should restart to apply a pending update.

Chromium changes spotted by Windows Report show that Google has already merged several parts of the feature under the “queued-restarts” development work. These include restart options, reminder logic, telemetry and visual indicators. It is not yet available in stable Chrome.

Chrome usually requires a restart after downloading an update to finish applying it. Windows Report understands that the new feature could give users more control through the Relaunch Recommended prompt.

Under the current implementation, users can choose to:

• Restart when I’m idle
• Restart now

The idle setting triggers after about five minutes of inactivity. Instead of choosing a specific time, Chrome can restart when the browser is not in use.

Chrome also checks for certain activity before carrying out an idle restart. The current implementation prevents the restart when Chrome has an active file download, is playing audio or video, or is capturing video or the screen. This should prevent an idle restart from interrupting these activities.

Chrome can download an update in the background, but it still needs to restart before the update can be applied. Google recently said it is exploring ways for Chrome to restart at more suitable moments with less disruption. Scheduled Restart appears to build on that approach by letting users choose when the browser should restart.

This may feel familiar to Windows users, as Windows Update can let users schedule a restart instead of restarting immediately. Chrome’s approach is different: its current implementation focuses on conditions such as user inactivity rather than an exact restart time.

Google is also adding clearer visual cues when a restart is scheduled, including a confirmation toast and an indicator in the App Menu. One current Chromium string says “Update Scheduled.”

Chrome’s reminder logic also takes daily quiet periods into account. The prompt appears when users open a New Tab Page, which can avoid interrupting active browsing.

Google has not announced when Scheduled Restart will roll out to everyone, and the feature could still see adjustments before release.