Google is beginning a fresh rollout for ChromeOS devices on its Long Term Support Candidate (LTC) channel, giving schools and businesses an early step toward the next long-term release. According to Google’s late-March update, the new ChromeOS Long Term Support Candidate build arriving for most devices on the LTC channel is version 144.0.7559.247, paired with platform version 16503.79.0.
If you’re expecting a widespread ChromeOS update across every Chromebook, this isn’t that kind of release. This is a channel-specific push aimed at organizations that rely on ChromeOS long-term support tracks, where stability and predictable change matter more than getting the newest features immediately.
ChromeOS LTS remains on version 138 until April 21, 2026
Alongside the LTC news, Google confirmed that the regular ChromeOS Long Term Support (LTS) channel is still staying on LTS 138 for now. The planned switch to LTS 144 isn’t scheduled until April 21, 2026. In other words, Google is advancing the candidate track ahead of the full LTS migration, giving administrators time to validate updates before the long-term channel makes the jump.
This matches how ChromeOS long-term support is designed to work. Compared with the normal Stable channel cadence, ChromeOS LTS moves more slowly. Devices still receive security fixes, but feature updates are bundled and delivered on a longer schedule, typically every six months, to reduce disruption in managed environments like education and enterprise deployments.
Why this LTC 144 rollout matters for IT admins
For IT teams managing fleets of Chromebooks, the key takeaway is straightforward: Google is now pushing the ChromeOS 144 candidate build to a wider range of LTC devices, while the main LTS population continues on 138 until the April 2026 cutoff.
Google’s rollout note itself is brief and doesn’t spell out every fix or change in the update announcement. Instead, Google points administrators toward the dedicated LTC 144 release notes and the official ChromeOS long-term support documentation for deeper technical details.
What ChromeOS 144 is expected to include
Even though the rollout post doesn’t provide a full changelog, Google’s LTS 144 feature summary gives a clearer idea of what’s bundled across the broader 139-to-144 set of updates.
On the ChromeOS side, Google highlights additions such as Class Tools wireless Screen Share and Screen Annotations designed for teachers, improvements like multi-app support for protocol handlers, and Gemini in Chrome rolling out to Chromebook Plus devices. On the browser and enterprise side tied to the 144 cycle, the summary mentions items like a simplified New Tab page, Happy Eyeballs V3, and new Chrome browser policies for administrators.
For now, the confirmed facts tied to this late-March ChromeOS update are the new LTC build number (144.0.7559.247), the platform version (16503.79.0), the broad reach across “most ChromeOS devices” on the LTC channel, and the timeline that keeps the primary ChromeOS LTS channel on 138 until April 21, 2026.
If you manage ChromeOS devices and rely on long-term support for stability, this rollout is an important signal: the transition to ChromeOS 144 is moving forward, but it’s arriving in stages—candidate first, full LTS later.
