What’s new in Chrome 147
Google has officially rolled out Chrome 147 to the stable channel for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and ChromeOS, with the main update shipping to most users on April 7, 2026. The release brings a mix of visible developer features, UI‑oriented tweaks, and under‑the‑hood performance and security improvements while sticking to Chrome’s usual four‑week cadence.
Key web‑platform additions
For web developers, the headline changes in Chrome 147 include:
element.startViewTransition()for all HTML elements, allowing “nested view transitions” where individual elements can be animated independently while the rest of the page stays interactive.- The CSS
contrast-color()function, which automatically picks black or white text based on the background color to maximize readability without manual color tweaking. - The
border-shapeproperty, enabling freeform, non‑rectangular hit‑areas and shapes for elements, going beyond the limitations of simple boxes.
Security and platform‑level tweaks
Chrome 147 also patches multiple security bugs across the codebase, with some details kept restricted until enough users are updated, as per Google’s security‑disclosure policy. The browser now includes a Rust‑based XML parser, enhanced restrictions on local‑network access from service workers, and minor spec‑alignment fixes around CSS width properties, all of which tighten security and standards‑compliance.
Availability and what’s next
The stable rollout is gradual, with Android seeing version 147.0.7727.49 in the Google Play Store over the next few days, and desktop users on the stable channel catching up in the coming days to weeks. The next major milestone, Chrome 148, is already slated for May 5, 2026, underlining Google’s predictable four‑week release cycle.
