Setting ChromeOS user or browser policies
To manage your fleet of ChromeOS devices, you must be a Google administrator. You can set user policies to control the user experience when the user signs in with their managed Google account on any device. Step 1: Access the Google Admin Console Sign in to the Google Admin console with your administrator account. Step 2: Navigate to User Settings From the Admin console Home page, go to Menu > Devices > Chrome > Settings > User & browser settings Step 3: Select an Organizational Unit On the left, select the organizational unit you want to apply the settings to. If you want to apply the settings to all devices, select the top-level organizational unit. Step 4: Configure the Policy Scroll to the setting you want to configure. Click on it, make your desired changes, and then click Save. The policies will take effect the next time a user signs in with their managed account on a ChromeOS device. Top 10 practical user policies for enterprise While there isn't an official list of the "top 10 most used" user policies, the following 10 are highly valuable for enterprise customers to manage security, user experience, and device performance. Maximum user session length: This policy is critical for security. You can set an automatic sign-out time (e.g., 60 minutes) to ensure that unattended devices are not left signed in, reducing the risk of unauthorized access. Browser sign-in settings: To prevent data leaks and maintain control over user accounts, you can enforce that users can only sign in to Chrome browser with their managed work account. This prevents them from using personal accounts on company devices. High efficiency mode: This policy improves device performance by automatically discarding inactive background tabs after a few hours. For a large enterprise, this can significantly reduce the memory footprint and CPU usage across the fleet, leading to better device responsiveness. Exceptions to tab discarding: You can set a list of mission-critical web pages (e.g., a CRM dashboard or an internal ticketing system) that will never be automatically discarded. This ensures that essential applications remain active in the background. Wake locks: This policy gives you control over whether applications and websites can prevent a device from sleeping or the screen from turning off. This is particularly useful for devices used as kiosks or for digital signage, ensuring the content is always visible. Idle settings: This policy allows you to define what a device does when it's left idle or a user closes the lid. You can configure devices to automatically lock, sign out, or even shut down, which is essential for both power management and security. Spoken feedback (ChromeVox): Enabling this accessibility feature is crucial for creating an inclusive workplace. It provides spoken feedback for visually impaired users, allowing them to navigate the device and use applications effectively. High contrast: For users with low vision, this policy can be configured to change the font and background color scheme to make web pages easier to read. This is a practical and important accessibility feature for a diverse workforce. Custom wallpaper: This policy allows you to set a company-branded wallpaper on all managed devices. This is useful for building a consistent corporate identity and can be used to display important information like IT support contact details. Custom terms of service: Before a user can sign in for the first time, you can present them with a custom terms of service document. This is useful for ensuring all employees acknowledge and agree to company policies, such as an acceptable use policy. For more detailed explanations of the device policies available, check out this article in our help center: Set Chrome policies for users or browsersSetting ChromeOS device policies
To manage your fleet of ChromeOS devices, you must be a Google Admin Console administrator. You can set policies for all devices in your organization or apply them to specific groups of devices using organizational units. Step 1: Access the Google Admin Console Sign in to the Google Admin console with your administrator account. Step 2: Navigate to Device Settings From the Admin console Home page, go to Menu > Devices > Chrome > Settings > Device settings. Step 3: Select an Organizational Unit On the left, select the organizational unit you want to apply the settings to. If you want to apply the settings to all devices, select the top-level organizational unit. Step 4: Configure the Policy Scroll to the setting you want to configure. Click on it, make your desired changes, and then click Save. Changes typically take effect within a few minutes, but it can sometimes take up to 24 hours. Top 10 practical ChromeOS device policies for enterprise While there isn't an official list of the "top 10 most used" devices policies, here are ten highly recommended and commonly used policies for enterprises, with a focus on security, productivity, and management. Forced Re-enrollment: This policy ensures that if a device is wiped, it automatically re-enrolls in your organization's account without a user's manual input. This is critical for device security and inventory management. Allow Guest Mode: Disabling guest mode prevents users from browsing the web without signing in, which can help ensure all user activity is tied to a specific account and is auditable. Sign-In Restriction: This policy allows you to restrict device sign-ins to only users within your organization's domain. For example, by allowlisting *@yourcompany.com, you prevent non-employees from using company devices. Device State Reporting: Enabling this policy allows administrators to collect and monitor real-time data on devices, such as serial number, model, and last time synced. This is crucial for fleet management and troubleshooting. Disabled Device Return Instructions: For lost or stolen devices, you can set a custom message that appears on the disabled device's screen. This message can include contact information, increasing the chances of the device being returned. Screen Lock: Automatically locking the screen on idle after a short period ensures that unattended devices are not left vulnerable. Safe Browsing: Enforcing Safe Browsing helps protect users from malicious sites by displaying a warning before they can access a potentially dangerous URL. Disallow External Storage Devices: This policy can prevent the use of USB drives and other external storage, which helps mitigate the risk of data exfiltration or malware introduction. Application Allowlisting: By setting the "Allowed Apps and Extensions" policy to "Block all apps and extensions except the ones I allow," you can maintain a high level of security and control over what applications users can run. This is a common and effective security measure. Automatic Updates: This policy ensures that the device's operating system and browser automatically receive and apply security patches and feature updates, keeping the devices secure and up to date without manual intervention. For more detailed explanations of the device policies available, check out this article in our help center: Set ChromeOS device policiesChrome OS Flex AUE in Google Admin
Hey. The admin console has a fantastic feature where you can see the AUE of your devices pr year. It makes it easier to plan budget for replacing devices going out of support and planning execution. https://admin.google.com/ac/chrome/devices/?sf=2&so=2&tab=dashboard However - you can only see Chrome OS devices since the "Automatic updates until" field in Google Admin is not populated as in the example below. Obviously this information is available somewhere to be displayed, but it is currently not. I would really like to avoid exporting inventory to a spreadsheet, use the certified model list (https://support.google.com/chromeosflex/answer/11513094?hl=en) to populate the empty field in the spreadsheet and keep track of it there. How do others plan inventory replacements? Has anyone else tried to reach out to the Chrome OS team pointing out this flaw?Getting started with Chrome Enterprise Upgrade webinar series
We're excited to announce a brand new webinar series designed specifically for our new customers and trialists: "Getting started with Chrome Enterprise Upgrade." This series aims to provide you with the essential knowledge and practical tips to seamlessly onboard and maximize the benefits of Chrome Enterprise Upgrade within your organization. Why you should join Joining this webinar series is your opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Chrome Enterprise Upgrade, directly from our experts. You'll learn how to effectively deploy, manage, and secure your ChromeOS devices, empowering your team with a modern and efficient computing experience. This is a crucial step for anyone looking to streamline their IT operations, enhance security, and unlock the full potential of their ChromeOS investment. Whether you're just starting your trial or recently became a customer, these sessions will provide invaluable insights to help you get up and running quickly and confidently. What to expect We’ll cover key aspects of the platform, including initial setup, device management best practices, security features, and app deployment. We'll walk you through the easy steps for initial setup and configurations for your ChromeOS devices. You'll have the chance to ask questions and interact with our team, ensuring you leave the webinar with a clear understanding of how to leverage Chrome Enterprise Upgrade for your specific needs. Register today! Don't miss out on this opportunity to kickstart your journey with Chrome Enterprise Upgrade. Register today for the first session on September 25th at 3 PM GMT. Secure your spot by clicking on the registration link below. Register for the first session here
