Google is developing a way to apply Chrome updates without requiring a full browser restart, according to reports. The feature, sometimes referred to as 'dynamic patching,' would replace background child processes with updated binaries on the fly, leveraging Chrome's multi-process architecture. While some sources describe this as 'dynamic patching,' others refer to the concept as 'dynamic matching,' and there is ongoing disagreement among experts regarding the feasibility and implementation of these methods.
The Chrome team is still researching and developing this feature, and is working on ensuring seamless session restore by saving state locally. Google has described the initiative as an effort to 'shift the burden away from users regarding updates.'
In addition to the restart-free update work, Google is switching Chrome to a two-week release cycle. Some sources specify September as the start, while others say 'later this year.' The company is also considering introducing two weekly security updates to counter fast-moving AI-powered attacks.
Google launched automatic restart in Chrome 150 on macOS when no windows are open and an update is pending, a step toward reducing downtime. The company notes that on macOS, applications typically continue running in the background after windows are closed, making the automatic restart particularly useful.
Google has also been using large language models (LLMs) to find bugs since 2023, aiming to find vulnerabilities across the broader Chrome codebase with lower false positives. One notable finding was a bug that had been in the codebase for 13 years. The company now uses a multi-agent workflow where LLMs generate candidate fixes for most vulnerabilities.
Google states that it takes the team 1-2 days to triage, fix, test, and release a patch. The company's goal is to keep the browser 'always up-to-date, continuously and dynamically patched,' leveraging opportune moments to restart automatically for seamless session restore.