Google’s incredibly fast browser release cadence continues with Chrome 122, which is currently slowly rolling out as a stable release to all supported platforms. After Google announced a few new AI features withChrome 121, the newChrome releaseis concerned with tying some loose ends on that front. There are also further improvements to cross-platform syncing. Read on to learn everything you need to know.
Chrome 122 is rolling out Help Me Write AI
Google already announced thatit was bringing its Help Me Write AI to Chrome, along with introducing an AI-powered tab organizer and an AI theming tool. In contrast to these two, Help Me Write needs a little more time in the oven and is entering extensive testing in Chrome 122, slated to be launched in stable this month. Like in Gmail and Google Docs, Help Me Write for Chrome serves as a tool to refine or draft text for you, accessible via a right-click on highlighted text or in an empty text field on a website.
In Chrome 122, Google is starting to roll out Help Me Write to “a limited set of signed-in users in the US.” It will initially not be available for managed Chrome instances for businesses or schools, and it will likely take some time until it rolls out for everyone.
Google was spotted testing Read Aloud by app expert AssembleDebug andthe folks over at 9to5Google, and it looks like it won’t take long until the feature becomes available for everyone. Google shared that Read Aloud will roll out with Chrome 122 on Android, making it possible to get a read version of whatever text you’re looking at (including this one right here). The option will sit in the overflow menu, but if you don’t want to wait all that long, you can already enable it in Chrome 121 and newer using thechrome://flags#read-aloudflag.
Chrome 122 experiments with a redesigned tab overview on Android
Google Chrome’s interface hasn’t changed much since its inception, neither on Android nor on desktop. It doesn’t look like it’s about to get a full overhaul anytime soon, but Google is working on arevamped tab switcher interface on its mobile platform. The new design moves the “New tab” option that currently lives in the top left corner to the bottom right in the form of a floating action button. This makes the button easier to reach, but given that you still have to move your thumb all the way up your screen to open the tab switcher in the first place, the question remains how useful the design change is.
Chrome 122 makes extra clear how incognito mode works
There has long been confusion about what exactly incognito mode achieves in Chrome. While the browser doesn’t store any data on your device with incognito mode turned on, websites and advertisers can still use information about your device to build an all-encompassing profile, including Google.
The company even ended up being sued because of its unclear language surrounding its private browsing mode. It’s likely that this is the reason why Googleupdated the incognito mode explainer with Chrome 122, which now makes clearer that your data may still be tracked by websites.
Chrome 122 could make it easier to pick up where you left off
Google is working on making its browser work even better across different devices, and the latest enhancement might come as part of Chrome 122. As spotted by Chrome expert @Leopeva64, Googlecould add a newTabs from other devicessection in Chrome 122, making it easy to jump from device to device with your open tabs right in view. you’re able to already access tabs from other devices using the history section in the overflow menu, but putting this section right on the new tab page makes it significantly easier to find them.
Chrome 122 tests one-time permissions for websites
Google has long offered one-time permissions on Android, allowing you to grant apps access to sensitive options like your camera, microphone, and location for a limited time only. With Chrome 122, thissame option is coming to the company’s browser, but for websites. The option to turn on one-time permissions is currently still hidden behind a flag, but once it’s activated, you can already use it. The flag enables a new dialog split between “Allow this time,” “Allow on every visit,” and “Don’t allow.”
Chrome 122 experiments with app-specific history on Android
When you visit a website via an app on Android, it often shows up in a custom tab provided by your default browser. This has the benefit of syncing to your browser’s history and leave you signed in on websites you’ve already visited. With Chrome 122, Google wants to help you understand which websites you’ve visited via which app more easily. By enabling a flag, you can turn on anew design for the history pagethat separates out your main browsing history in Chrome from the websites you’ve visited via other apps.
Chrome 122 lays the foundation for an internal PDF reader on Android
On Android, you usually need a dedicated PDF app to view PDF files. This might change with Android 15, with Mishaal Rahman spotting Google working on a new Jetpack library that would add native PDF viewing capabilities to apps. It looks like Chrome might be one of the first apps to take advantage of this. A few new flagsallow you to open PDF files directly after downloadingthem andshowing them right in-line on Chrome 122.
Chrome 122 could get boarding pass detection on Android
Not everyone wants to use an airline’s dedicated app, so sometimes, you get your boarding passes in your browser. Google recognizes this and is working ona way for Chrome to detect boarding passeson Android. The feature is sitting behind the aptly namedchrome://flags#boarding-pass-detectorflag. The feature works via a list of airline URLs that Google provides, with a local tool checking whether airline barcodes are displayed on these. It’s possible that the feature extends to more passes in the future, too, like for busses and trains.
Chrome 122 makes it easier to install PWAs on Android
Web apps have become incredibly powerful over the past few years — in fact, many desktop apps are built with web tools these days, like Slack or Spotify. On Android, installing web apps to live right alongside native apps on your home screen is simple, but sometimes confusing. Chrome’s context menu makes you choose between installing and adding to your home screen, with the latter simply serving as a shortcut to the website within the browser on your home screen. Google wants to simplify the process. As spotted by@Leopeva64andWindowsReport, a new flag moves both options into the same menu entry, along with explaining the difference.
Chrome 122 adds icons to web app notifications on desktops
In other PWA news, Chrome 122 plans to make it more obviouswhich of your installed web apps sends you a notificationon your desktop computer. Rather than showing the generic Chrome icon on those notifications, you may soon see the favicon of the web app in question. This is another step in making web apps feel more native on Windows and macOS.
Chrome 122 is rolling out in early stable right now. This means that it’s only coming to a small percentage of Chrome users in the beginning to spot any issues that may not have been caught in the beta release. You may have to wait a little until it becomes available to you, so be sure to check back on the Play Store on your phone or in Chrome’s About section on your desktop.
Correction:Clarified Google will roll out Help me write this month (February), not next month (04:05 ET, Jun 24, 2025).
