ChromeOS 150 Adds Gemini in Class Tools, Local PIN Authentication, and Ends Chrome Apps in Kiosk Mode

Дата публикации: 21-07-2026 08:44:23

Google is rolling out ChromeOS 150 to compatible Chromebooks, introducing new Gemini-based classroom management tools and two enterprise policies for local PIN
Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post ChromeOS 150 Adds Gemini in Class Tools, Local PIN Authentication, and Ends Chrome Apps in Kiosk Mode appeared first on gHacks.

Основное содержимое страницы с новостью.

Google is rolling out ChromeOS 150 to compatible Chromebooks, introducing new Gemini-based classroom management tools and two enterprise policies for local PIN and password authentication.

This update also marks the final release before Chrome Apps cease functioning in Kiosk mode, according to Google's official release notes and coverage from Chrome Unboxed.

The update is mainly aimed at managed education and enterprise settings and includes a scheduled deprecation plan for legacy Chrome Apps and older Chromebook Flex hardware.

The release notes additionally detail upcoming changes for ChromeOS 151 and 154 that will impact update eligibility and version numbering.

Gemini in Class Tools and New Local Sign?In Policies in ChromeOS 150

The latest major update to ChromeOS 150 introduces Gemini in Class Tools, a new set of classroom management features integrated with Google Classroom.

Teachers now have the ability to restrict student devices to Gemini's Guided Learning mode during class, which limits interactions with the assistant to a focused learning experience rather than open-ended queries.

Google explains that this integration works across all Google Classroom features. Educators can lock student screens to Gemini Notebook, formerly known as NotebookLM, for research assignments, restrict device usage during test preparation, or prevent students from navigating beyond Google Search. These controls are accessed through the existing Class Tools interface within Google Classroom.

ChromeOS 150 also adds two new enterprise policies that allow local PIN and password authentication on managed Chromebooks. Administrators can customize the complexity requirements to meet their organization's security standards. Both policies are configured through the Google Admin console.

Additionally, Google is automatically migrating a small group of managed Enterprise and Education users who added accounts and set up local PINs in late June 2026.

Affected users will be reverted to standard online password authentication when signing in to ChromeOS 150. Google states that these users will see a one-time informational screen at sign-in, and no local files or profile data will be affected during the migration.

Chrome Apps Exit Kiosk Mode and Isolated Web Apps Arrive

ChromeOS 150 is the final release to support legacy Chrome Apps in Kiosk sessions. Starting with ChromeOS 151, Chrome Apps will no longer function in Kiosk mode at all.

Organizations that depend on Kiosk mode should plan to migrate affected workflows to Progressive Web Apps before the rollout of ChromeOS 151. Force-installed Chrome Apps in Managed Guest Sessions and standard user sessions will continue to work as before. This deprecation only impacts Kiosk sessions.

Administrators now have the option to allow users to manually install Isolated Web Apps on managed devices. This feature is controlled by the new IsolatedWebAppUserInstallationEnabled policy, which is managed through the Google Admin console under Devices, then Chrome, then Apps & Extensions, and finally User app settings. The policy is disabled by default and needs to be enabled by an administrator before users can install Isolated Web Apps outside of the force-install list.

Google has also improved how ChromeOS verifies and retrieves token handles stored against user accounts. The update aims to reduce unexpected re-authentication prompts on the login screen.

Admin Checklist for Deploying ChromeOS 150 in Schools and Enterprises

IT administrators managing ChromeOS fleets in education or enterprise settings should check the following before deploying updates to their devices: Review all Kiosk sessions for Chrome Apps that should be replaced with Progressive Web Apps before ChromeOS 151 is released.

Examine the new local authentication policies in the Google Admin console to decide whether to enable local PIN or password authentication, and set the appropriate complexity requirements:

1. Notify managed Enterprise and Education users who set up local PINs in late June 2026 that their authentication method will revert to online passwords and that they will see a one-time informational message at first sign-in.
2. Decide whether to enable the IsolatedWebAppUserInstallationEnabled policy, which controls user-initiated installations of Isolated Web Apps.
3. Confirm that documentation exists for deploying Managed Guest Sessions and standard user session Chrome Apps, as these workflows remain supported but are potential candidates for future deprecation.

Teachers using Class Tools should verify that the Gemini restriction options appear in Google Classroom after devices update, since their availability depends on the ChromeOS version installed on each student device.

ChromeOS 151/154: Flex Hardware Limits and Version Number Changes Ahead

Google's release notes also mention upcoming features planned for future versions. Accessibility will include an option for an inverted color mouse cursor that allows users to see content underneath an enlarged pointer. The notes referenced by Chrome Unboxed did not specify a target version for this accessibility update.

Starting with ChromeOS 151, updates will be blocked on non-certified Chromebook Flex devices that use legacy graphics hardware. This includes Intel and AMD graphics from 2010 and earlier, as well as Nvidia graphics from 2014 and earlier. Devices affected by this change will stay on their current ChromeOS version and will not receive further updates.

From ChromeOS 154 onward, version numbers will increase by two every four weeks. This change aligns more closely with the Chrome browser update schedule. Administrators should consider this faster version cycle when planning to track compatibility milestones for testing purposes.

Google has not announced specific release dates for ChromeOS 151 and 154. The rollout of ChromeOS 150 is happening gradually, so not all eligible Chromebooks will receive the update immediately.

Схожие новости

#	Наименование новости	Тональность	Информативность	Дата публикации
1	Book Writers Sue Google Over Alleged Use of Copyrighted Books to Train Gemini	0	5.34	21-07-2026
2	Waze Adds Five Gemini AI Features, but Only Three Are Live for US Drivers	0	6.66	24-07-2026
3	Gemini Intelligence, Googlebook and Android 17 take center stage at Google’s Android show 2026	5	7	13-05-2026
4	Mozilla Releases Firefox 153 ESR With Profile Management, Split View, and On-Device AI Features for Enterprise	0	10.61	24-07-2026
5	Adobe Patches Acrobat Chrome Extension Flaw That Exposed WhatsApp Web Chats to Any Website	0	3.93	23-07-2026
6	Chrome 150 arrive avec un énorme correctif de sécurité, des centaines de failles éliminées	-1	6	04-07-2026
7	Google allarga l’accesso a Gemini Spark ma l’Italia è ancora esclusa	0	8.19	25-07-2026
8	Google I/O 2026: Google Enters Its 'Agentic Gemini Era'	8	9	19-05-2026
9	Android System WebView Dev 150.0.7863.2 by Google LLC	0	2	29-05-2026

Классификация: Пресс-релизы. Схожих патентов: 0. Схожих новостей: 9. Тональность: 0. Информативность: 7.89. Источник: www.ghacks.net.