Google ChromeOS 120 makes it easier to share files between your own Chromebooks and Android devices

If you mainly use web applications and are firmly entrenched in the Google world, you have probably already had a look at various Chromebooks or are already using a notebook running ChromeOS. Since the 4th of January this year, ChromeOS 120 has been available to users as a stable version and can be installed via the Chromebook's update function. Version 120 brings a number of new features to improve the user experience on Google's Linux-based operating system.

Virtual desktop button and simplified sharing between your own Google devices

Nearby Share Self Share, which has been available for Android smartphones and tablets since 2022, can now be used between Chromebooks running ChromeOS 120 and Android devices. With this feature, devices connected to the same Google Account will automatically accept requests to share data, even when the screen is turned off.

Another new feature is the ability to switch between virtual desktops using the 'Bento button'. This button displays the current virtual desktop and allows you to switch between them with the mouse by clicking on small arrow buttons. Of course, you can still use touchpad gestures to switch between virtual desktops.

Other features in ChromeOS 120

The latest update to Google's operating system for Chromebooks also adds other features, such as an App Manager that shows whether an app was installed from the Play Store, as a web app or otherwise. There are also new options for customising keyboard shortcuts and mouse buttons, as well as a pinch-to-zoom feature for picture-in-picture windows. The ChromeOS 120 update can be installed from the Settings app under "About ChromeOS" > "Check for Updates".