Auto Update policy

Overview

Android tablets for education and Chrome devices receive automatic updates regularly that enhance both the device itself and the software on the device. However, advances in hardware and technology eventually make devices out-of-date; and as time goes by, we cannot indefinitely ensure that older tablets will continue to support device setup or the ability to receive content from Google Play for Education or that older Chrome devices will receive updates to leverage new OS features.

This document provides advanced notice of the Auto Update policy for:

• Specific Google Play for Education approved tablets—Applicable to Android tablets for education customers
• Specific Google approved Chrome devices—Applicable to Chrome devices for business and education customers, Chrome devices for meetings customers, and consumer Chrome device users

  Note that only the Chromebox (or Chrome device) is covered under the Auto Update policy; the peripherals for the Chrome devices for meetings solution are not covered.

General policy

• When a device reaches Auto Update Expiration (AUE), it means that the product model is considered obsolete and automatic software updates from Google are no longer guaranteed.
• Business and education customers using devices that have passed their AUE date will no longer receive full support¹ from the Google Cloud and Google for Education teams.
• Business and education customers using devices that have passed their AUE date may find that they cannot manage their devices as expected using the Google Admin console or leverage new management features released.
• For Android tablets for education, the ability to receive content sent from Google Play for Education and a new user account through device setup is not guaranteed on models which have passed their AUE date.
• Google will provide advanced notice of a model’s AUE Date on this page as soon as it is launched, giving our customers time to make purchase decisions.
• AUE dates may be pushed later than the initial date published, but will never be sooner than listed, which will be at least 3 years from launch of the hardware for Android tablets for education and 6.5 years for Chrome devices from launch of the hardware platform (or in some legacy cases at least 5 years for Chrome devices from launch of the device itself).
• Android tablets for education models that have not reached their AUE date will continue to be able to be set up and receive content pushed from the Google Play for Education site, as well as be managed with the business and education management service.
• Chrome device models that have not reached their AUE date will continue to receive OS updates and function with the business and education management service.
• The End of Sale date is controlled by the OEM (manufacturer) of the device model and has no relation to model’s AUE date. Therefore, the End of Sale date will not be shown in the table.

_{1 See Android tablets for education Technical Support Service Guidelines or Chrome OS Technical Support Service Guidelines.}

_{2 Except where noted, these are unofficial Auto Update Expiration dates. Official AUE for these models will be at this date or later.}

_{3 Officially announced Auto Update Expiration date.}