ChromeOS 125 comes with a lot of new features

It looks like ChromeOS 125 will roll out right on schedule (save a few latecomers still waiting for the latest update), and that means there are tons of new features ready for your Chromebook once you receive the download and reboot your device.

For a change, there’s nothing in this update that should come as a huge surprise after yesterday’s announcements related to 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 with this update. Some features are clearly intended for Chromebook Plus devices, so only users with certified Chromebook Plus devices will see certain things.

What’s new in ChromeOS 125

With no official release notes available yet, we’re wrapping up last week’s Chromebook event and a list of new Explore features. The list is pretty extensive and we cover most of it in our video yesterday so I’ll keep it short.

Chat with Gemini: Chromebook Plus devices now have Gemini right on the shelf for more direct chat access. You can use Gemini to support 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, writing a review, or coming up with 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 them, change the sky, improve lighting, and more. Just open a photo, select the Magic Editor button at the top and you’re good to go. Google has even included some useful keyboard shortcuts to make editing on Chromebook easier.

AI backgrounds and wallpapers: 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 interesting and one of a kind.

Game panel: Game Bar makes it easy to add keyboard input to Android games, record and capture your gameplay, and share your recordings with others. To open the dashboard menu, click on the window panel in the game window (or press SEARCH + G) to see all the options available to you in the game.

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

GIF recorder: I love this little feature. You can switch the record button directly to the screen recording function and now capture a GIF instead of a video. This makes capturing a quick clip from a YouTube video or movie a breeze and will definitely come in handy for WhatsApp chatting.

I’m sure there are other little things hidden in the OS, but this is a lot of new stuff in one update! Fortunately, everything is shipping on time and on schedule to line up with the new hardware we’re already seeing on store shelves. And I’m glad that – for the most part – this launch is a well-coordinated and unpromising feature that’s months away. They are here today, ready to use, and each of them is quite useful in its own respect.