Google Chrome browser has three release channels: stable, beta and dev. These channels introduce new features and functionality respectively similar to alpha and beta releases of Firefox versions. The Stable channel has only those features, which have been thoroughly tested and approved in the beta channel. While, dev channel is for developers where they can access and test upcoming features.
Link: How to download stable, beta and dev release channels of Chrome.
It is recommended that you should use stable version of Chrome (and other software!) to avoid any bug causing serious problem or browser crash. By default, if you simply install Chrome from its site – you are on stable channel. But, you can change your release channel at any point.
How to check your current release channel of Google Chrome?
- In Windows XP: go to Start > Run, type regedit and press OK. This will open Windows Registry Editor.
- Move to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Update\ClientState (this location may be different on your machine :( )
- Select key {8A69D345-D564-463C-AFF1-A69D9E530F96}
- On right panel, look for entry ap (type: REG_SZ). If you are using stable channel, its data value should be blank. For beta channel, data value should be 1.1-beta and for dev channel: 2.0-dev.
How to change release channel of Google Chrome?
Before switching to another channel, always backup your user data. If you have created multiple user profiles in Chrome, take backup of all profile folders.
To switch to another release channel, simplest way is to uninstall Chrome from your system and then install desired release channel.
- For stable channel – simply install Chrome from its site.
- For beta channel – http://www.google.com/chrome/eula.html?extra=betachannel
- For dev channel – http://www.google.com/chrome/eula.html?extra=devchannel
Another way (though deprecated) is to change registry entry manually or using a tiny software Google Chrome Channel Changer. (Update: Chrome team has removed this software from the listing page. Still, you can download and use it from the link: chromium.googlecode.com/files/chromechannel-2.0.exe. Use it at your own risk!)
:)
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great post, i found it very helpful!