ChromeOS 125 is rolling out with many new Chromebook features

Right on schedule, ChromeOS 125 looks set to roll out across the board (save a few people still waiting for the latest update), and that means a ton of new features are on the way for your Chromebook once you get the download and restart your device.

For a change, there’s nothing in this update that should come as a massive surprise after yesterday’s announcements about Google’s latest Chromebook event. We have an entire post dedicated to the new features Google promised in NYC, and from what we can tell so far, almost all of them are here and ready to try out of the box with this update. Some features are clearly meant for Chromebook Plus devices, so there will be some things that only users with certified Chromebook Plus devices will see.

What’s new in ChromeOS 125

Since there aren’t any official release notes yet, we’ll go off the Chromebook event from last week and the list of new features in the Explore app. The list is pretty extensive and we cover most of these things in our video yesterday so I’ll keep it short.

Talk to Gemini: Chromebook Plus devices now have Gemini on the shelf for more direct access to chat. You can use Gemini to spark your ideas and get help with brainstorming, planning, learning and more.

Help me write: The long-awaited Help Me Write tool is here to help you write and/or rewrite using Chromebook Plus. Whether you’re writing a blog post, composing an essay, or creating catchy social media headlines, you can get writing help right where you need it: just a right-click away.

Magic Editor: In the Google Photos app for ChromeOS, you can now use the Magic Editor to move objects, resize things, change the sky, improve lighting, and more. Just open a photo, select the Magic Editor button above and away you go. Google has even included some handy keyboard shortcuts to make editing on a Chromebook easier.

AI wallpapers and backgrounds: Another long-awaited AI capability is now here for ChromeOS with AI-generated wallpapers and backgrounds. Whether you’re looking for a unique background for your device or setting the right mood for a video chat, these backgrounds are cool and special.

Game panel: Game Dashboard makes it easy to add keyboard data to Android games, record and capture your gameplay, and share your recordings with others. To access the dashboard menu, tap the Window Bar in your game window (or hit SEARCH + G) to see all the options available to you when you’re in a game.

Google Tasks in quick settings: You can now access and add to Google Tasks from your Chromebook’s shelf, right above the Quick Calendar. Tasks added from Gmail on your phone will sync to your Chromebook. Just tap the date to see your calendar and Google Tasks checklist, and you can switch between your to-do lists by tapping the down arrow to switch between them. For what it’s worth, this is the only new feature I’m still not seeing on my devices yet, but it could also be a server-side issue.

GIF Recorder: I love this little feature. Built right into the screen recording feature, you can change the record button to block GIFs instead of videos now. This makes capturing a quick clip from a YouTube video or movie an absolute no-brainer and will come in handy for WhatsApp chats.

I’m sure there is other data lurking throughout the operating system, but that’s a lot of new stuff in a single update! Thankfully, everything is being delivered on time and on schedule to match the new hardware we’re already seeing on store shelves. And I’m glad that – for the most part – this launch is well-coordinated and doesn’t promise features that are months away. They are here today, they are ready to use and each of them is quite useful in its own way.