Keeping Your Web Browser Updated

Overview

Updating your browser enhances web functionality and security by patching vulnerabilities and supporting the latest technologies. Your commitment to these updates helps protect the University against emerging cyberthreats.

Checking for Browser Updates

Updating your browser ensures you have the latest features, performance improvements, and security updates.

For Google Chrome:

  1. Open Chrome
  2. Click on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner to open the menu
  3. Click Help > About Google Chrome
  4. The browser will automatically check for updates and display the current version. If an update is available, it will start installing automatically.
  5. Once the update is done, click Relaunch to restart Chrome with the new version

For Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Firefox
  2. Click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner
  3. Select Help > About Firefox
  4. Firefox will check for updates and download them automatically
  5. Click Restart to update Firefox if prompted

For Microsoft Edge:

  1. Open Edge
  2. Click the three dots in the top right corner to open the menu
  3. Go to Settings
  4. Click About Microsoft Edge
  5. Edge will automatically check for updates and install any available ones
  6. Click Relaunch if prompted

For Safari (Mac):

  1. Open the App Store on your Mac
  2. Click on the Updates tab in the sidebar
  3. If there are updates for Safari, click Update next to the Safari listing
  4. If you don't see an update for Safari, then you are using the latest version supported by your macOS

Enabling Automatic Updates

Automatic updates allow your web browser to stay current without having to manually check for and install updates.

For Google Chrome:

Chrome usually updates automatically, but to ensure this feature is enabled:

  1. Open Chrome
  2. Click on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner to open the menu
  3. Go to Settings
  4. Scroll down and click on About Chrome
  5. Chrome will check for updates. Updates will be applied automatically if this feature is enabled, and no choice will be given to opt-out.
  6. Close your browser regularly to apply updates

For Mozilla Firefox:

Firefox updates automatically by default, but to ensure this feature is enabled:

  1. Open Firefox
  2. Click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner
  3. Select General
  4. Scroll down to the Firefox Updates section
  5. Ensure that Automatically install updates is selected

For Microsoft Edge:

Edge manages updates through the Windows Update feature:

  1. Open Edge
  2. Click the three dots in the upper right corner to open the menu.
  3. Go to Settings.
  4. Click About Microsoft Edge.
  5. Edge will automatically check for updates. Updates will be applied automatically if this feature is enabled, and no choice will be given to opt-out.
  6. Close your browser regularly to apply updates

For Safari (Mac):

Safari updates are managed through the system software updates:

  1. Open the App Store on your Mac
  2. Click on App Store in the menu bar
  3. Select Settings from the dropdown menu
  4. Select Automatic Updates. This setting will automatically update all apps, including Safari.

Reopen Tabs After Restarting Browser

Resume browsing after restarting a web browser by opting-in through settings.

For Google Chrome:

  1. Open Chrome
  2. Click on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner to open the menu
  3. Go to Settings
  4. On the left side panel, click on On startup
  5. Select Continue where you left off

For Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Firefox
  2. Click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner
  3. Select General
  4. In the Startup section, choose Open previous windows and tabs

For Microsoft Edge:

  1. Open Edge
  2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner to open the menu
  3. Go to Settings
  4. Go to Start, Home, and New Tabs
  5. Select Open tabs from the previous session

For Safari (Mac):

Safari on macOS automatically restores your last session tabs by default when reopening the browser. However, if you want to ensure this setting is enabled:

  1. Open Safari.
  2. Click on Safari in the menu bar
  3. Select Settings… from the dropdown menu
  4. Go to the General tab
  5. Next to 'Safari opens with:', make sure All windows from last session is selected
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