Google: Chrome 129 is available for download

Google has released version 129 of the market-leading web browser Chrome. According to the manufacturer, the update includes nine newly discovered security vulnerabilities, including in the JavaScript engine V8 and in the user interface. This includes a vulnerability rated as “high” that could potentially allow attackers to crash the program or inject malicious code.

Optimizations for developer tools, stability, performance and compatibility, minor improvements to the user interface, expanded support for web standards and various bug fixes round out the update. Google documents the changes for web developers on this website, and information about other changes is available here and here.

The update to the new version branch 129 (current version is 129.0.6668.59) can be initiated manually using the “About Google Chrome” command in the “Chrome” menu. The complete Chrome installation package is available on this website. The security-relevant changes in Chrome 129 are documented here.

Chrome: Version 129 is available for download.
Image: Google.

Tips for the Mac version: In the settings under “Performance” you can enable the memory saving mode. This frees up memory from inactive (background) tabs. This is especially useful on computers with little RAM, as many open browser tabs can put a lot of strain on the system. On the MacBook Air/Pro there is also a power saving mode in the settings under “Performance”. When this is enabled, Chrome reduces background activity and visual effects for websites with animations and videos to extend the battery life of the device.

The web browser requires at least macOS Catalina 10.15 and is based on Google’s open source project Chromium, which includes the rendering engine Blink and the JavaScript engine V8. A Google account is not required to use Chrome (among other things, it is used to synchronize browser data between multiple installations).

With a global market share of around 65 percent on all supported platforms (notebooks, desktops, smartphones, tablets…), Chrome is the clear number one, followed by Safari with around 18 percent and Microsoft Edge with around five percent.

Chrome for iPhone and iPad (uses Apple’s WebKit engine) is now also available in version 129 with performance and stability improvements. At least iOS/iPadOS 16 is required.