ChromeOS 126 is rolling out with several new features and updates. Now, the Quick Settings Calendar can show events from multiple calendars, not just your main one. Setting up a Chromebook with your Android phone is easier thanks to Quick Start, which automatically transfers your Wi-Fi and Google Account info. Also, the Camera app has digital zoom, and high-performance Chromebooks get AI-powered Super Resolution.
Better accessibility and simplified parental controls on ChromeOS 126
ChromeOS 126, also Chrome M126, is a major departure from past versions. It now allows you to see events from all calendars in Quick Settings, not just the main one. This means you can see birthdays, holidays, and other events from secondary calendars. Also, there are accessibility improvements, including options to turn off the blinking text cursor and swipe gestures for navigating browsing history.
Google has introduced a Magnifier to compliment the existing Select to Speak feature on Chromebooks. It assists users with low vision and anyone who prefers reading larger text. When you use Select to Speak to read aloud, the screen magnifier zooms in on the text. Activate both features in settings, and adjust zoom levels using Ctrl + Alt + Brightness keys.
Parental controls are more detailed, allowing you to manage permissions for sites, extensions, and apps more precisely for your little ones. If you're supervising or managing accounts with Family Link, you can separately manage permissions for apps and extensions. This update addresses the previous limitation where parents could only block extensions entirely and introduces a more granular approach to managing their children's Chromebook activities.
Quicker Chromebook set up process and more
Among ChromeOS 126's improvements is an easier setup process. Setting up a Chromebook using your Android phone is faster with the finally released Quick Start feature. Google announced it in 2022 during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) event.
Quick Start automatically transfers your Wi-Fi and Google Account login information from the phone to the computer securely, so that you don't need to manually enter your passwords or other login information. This update makes sense considering that Google is adding parts of ChromeOS to Android.
Also, you can now turn off the blinking text cursor when you type as it can be distracting or triggering for some users. Just go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and text input > Text cursor blink rate to disable it. The ChromeOS Camera app even lets you use digital zoom, and if you have a high-performance Chromebook, you'll get AI-powered Super Resolution for clearer images.
Plus, you may disable going back and forward through your browsing history by swiping left or right on your trackpad with two fingers. For example, if you often accidentally swipe and lose your place, turning the feature off can make your browsing experience much smoother. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Cursor and touchpad > Use a swipe gesture to navigate between pages.
Ensure that your Chromebook is updated to ChromeOS 126 to access all these new features. Go to Settings > About Chrome OS > Check for updates and follow the prompts to update if available. If not, be patient. Google typically rolls out software updates gradually. It's possible that your device will receive the update in the coming days or weeks automatically.
