On October 26, 2026, Google began rolling out Chrome 156 (M156), the latest major update to its Chrome browser for Googlebook devices.
Distributed via the Google Play Store, this release delivers a wide array of bug fixes and enhancements, including solutions for extension-related crashes, smoother Alt + Tab switching in full-screen mode, support for large-scale clipboard operations in Google Docs, and refined address bar interactions.
At GbookHub, we have confirmed the update (version 156.0.8078.47) on the Lenovo Googlebook 15 and Dell XPS Googlebook, though some features remain unavailable at this stage of the rollout.
Additionally, the development roadmap touches upon upcoming enhancements, including support for multiple profiles and tab group synchronization.
Extension Crash Fixes and Stability Enhancements
This release resolves several critical crash issues associated with third-party extensions.
Resolves Crashes Triggered by Third-Party Autofill Services Like 1Password
On Googlebook OS, enabling a third-party autofill service (via Settings > Passwords, passkeys, and accounts > Autofill service) previously caused Chrome to crash when users clicked inside input fields or entered a master password within extension popups, such as 1Password. This issue has now been resolved.
Fixes Browser Shutdowns During Extension Uninstallation
Uninstalling extensions like Teleparty that automatically open a survey or goodbye page previously resulted in a complete browser crash, closing all open windows. Following the update, these pages now open reliably in a new foreground tab.
Fixes Crashes When Dragging Tabs Between Windows
A bug that forced Chrome to crash when dragging a tab into a new window and clicking its address bar to leave an active cursor before switching back to the original window has also been addressed.
Web App and Service Experience Improvements
Google has also introduced improvements to full-screen navigation, web app usability, and overall site compatibility.
Alt + Tab Window Switching in Full-Screen Web Apps
Previously, full-screen web apps and cloud gaming services like GeForce NOW that lock keyboard input prevented users from using Alt + Tab to switch windows, forcing them to press and hold Esc to exit full-screen mode first.
With Chrome 156, users can now press Alt + Tab to switch windows seamlessly while remaining in full-screen mode, bringing parity with ChromeOS, Windows, and macOS.
Fixes Unresponsive Close Buttons on Third-Party Sign-In Prompts
A bug causing the close (X) button to be non-responsive on FedCM / Google One Tap sign-in prompts across sites like Reddit, The New York Times, Canva, Stack Overflow, Pinterest, and Booking.com has been fixed.
Expanded Copy Support for Large Datasets and Tables in Google Docs
In Google Docs on the web, copying multi-page tables, large rich-text blocks, or embedded images previously threw a "Failed to copy to clipboard" error. This release resolves the underlying issue, allowing large dataset clipboard operations.
Right-Click Support on Incognito New Tab Page Links
Users can now right-click (or long-press) links like "Details" or "Third-party cookies" on the Incognito New Tab Page to view the context menu, enabling commands like copying link addresses or opening links in a new Incognito tab.
Fixes Endless Buffering on Facebook Live Streams
A video decoding defect that caused Facebook Live streams to stall with endless buffering immediately upon playback start has been eliminated.
Download Experience Enhancements
This release includes refinements to download location settings and file-naming behavior for duplicate files.
System "Save As" Dialog Support
Chrome 156 adds support for a native "Save As" dialog, allowing users to choose download destinations and rename files prior to saving.
Because this download feature is rolling out gradually, users who have not yet received it can enable it manually by navigating to the following flag in the address bar and selecting [Enabled]:
- chrome://flags#enable-download-save-as-system-file-dialog
Address Bar and Keyboard Shortcuts Refinements
Google has fine-tuned address bar (Omnibox) behavior and AI Mode interactions.
Alt + Shift + Enter Shortcut for Opening Background Tabs
Pressing Alt + Shift + Enter after typing a query or URL in the address bar now opens the result in a new background tab at the end of the tab strip while preserving focus on the active page (equivalent to Cmd + Return on macOS).
Smoother Arrow Key Navigation during Multiline Text Editing
When typing multiline text into the address bar or AI Mode prompt window, the auto-complete dropdown now automatically hides.
This change prevents up/down arrow keys from inadvertently triggering search suggestions, enabling smooth cursor movement across lines during text editing.
Fixes Favicon and Google Icon Display Anomalies
A caching issue where clicking into the address bar from a web page or search results page failed to display proper favicons or Google branding has been resolved.
Additionally, pressing Esc to clear input text now properly resets stale site icons back to the default Google icon.
AI Mode Menu Tooltips and UI Polish
The AI Mode menu now displays descriptive tooltips when hovering over menu items and adds an "Add to search" header in the tab/file attachment selector.
The "More options" button has been updated with full dark theme and Incognito mode color support, animations now hold until address bar expansion finishes, and navigating history suggestions via arrow keys no longer overwrites the "Ask anything" placeholder text.
Upcoming Features and Workarounds
Google's Mishaal Rahman shared details regarding upcoming features and workarounds for known issues:
-
Multi-Profile Support Incoming: While Chrome on Googlebook OS currently lacks multiple profile support, implementation is planned for a future update.
-
Tab Group Syncing: Development is active on syncing tab groups across separate windows and secondary devices, with deployment scheduled soon.
-
Google Cast Device Discovery: A fix is underway for an issue where local Google Cast devices fail to populate automatically in Chrome's cast menu.
In the interim, users can resolve Cast discovery issues on Googlebook by going to [Settings] > [Apps] > [Chrome] > [Permissions] > [Nearby devices] and manually enabling local network access permissions.
Release Schedule and Verification
Google maintains a bi-weekly release cycle for Chrome, regularly shipping performance updates and community-requested fixes.
Chrome 156 is deploying progressively via the Google Play Store. Users wishing to update immediately can open the Google Play Store on their Googlebook, search for Chrome, and select [Update].
To verify your active build, right-click the Chrome launcher icon and select [App info], or navigate to chrome://version in the address bar. A build number reading "156.0.8078.47" or higher confirms the update is active.