Update Chrome: Google Patches CVE-2026-85046, Exploited in the Wild

Google released a Chrome update with 12 security fixes on September 3. It addresses CVE-2026-85046 in V8, rated High; Google confirms an exploit exists in the wild. Check your browser and complete any pending restart. Google’s official release notice provides the security details.

The checks below cover computers and Android. They help distinguish a patched browser already running, an update waiting to finish, and an installation blocked by an error. The disclosure itself does not establish that your device has been compromised.

Which version to check

Platform	Patched release announced on September 3
Windows / macOS	152.0.7977.82 or 152.0.7977.83
Linux	152.0.7977.82
Android	152.0.7977.82

Google lists these numbers in its Android release announcement, which says Android receives the security fixes from the corresponding desktop release unless otherwise noted. The Android build becomes available through Google Play gradually.

The table identifies the specific patched release. If the official updater offers a newer stable release, install that one. There is no need to find an older installer just to match these numbers. A version from another browser channel or another product is not a direct substitute for this check.

Four steps for Windows and macOS

The practical point in Google’s update guidance is to finish installation. If Chrome has remained open for a long time, a downloaded update may still be waiting for a restart.

1. Save unfinished forms, drafts and work in web applications.
2. Open the three-dot menu → Help → About Google Chrome. Check the version number and update status.
3. If an update is ready, select Relaunch and wait for the browser to reopen.
4. Return to About Google Chrome and check the version again. Note it down if you need to contact support.

On Linux, Google recommends updating Chrome through your package manager. Close and reopen the browser after installation. Also remember that Incognito windows do not reopen after a restart. Save anything you need beforehand instead of relying only on tab restoration.

How to update Chrome on Android

Open Google Play → your profile icon → Manage apps & device. Find Chrome among available updates and select Update. To check the installed version, open Chrome’s menu → Settings → About Chrome. These steps follow Google’s Android instructions.

If you use Chrome on both a laptop and a phone, check each device separately. Updating one does not complete the check on the other. iPhone, iPad and Chromebook have their own releases and update mechanisms; the desktop numbers in the table are not a universal test for those devices.

What to do if the update fails

An error message is a different result from a successful check for updates. Google’s troubleshooting guidance suggests restarting the computer and trying again. Record the exact error. If your operating system no longer supports current Chrome releases, repeatedly selecting Update is no substitute for moving to a supported configuration.

A work or school browser may be managed by an organization. Chrome indicates this in its menu; you can also check chrome://management. If an administrator blocks updates, send them the version, error and patch announcement. Avoid removing workplace policies without guidance.

Use the browser’s updater or the official store

This check does not require a “special patch” from an advertisement, a new extension or a command that a website asks you to paste into Terminal or PowerShell. Open Chrome’s menu yourself. If you have already run a suspicious command, that needs separate attention: our ClickFix response guide covers the next steps. Simply restarting Chrome does not establish that such a command caused no harm.