Money expert Clark Howard loves Chromebooks. He says popular laptops that run Google’s Chrome OS are extremely fast and safe to use for online banking and other financial activities.

But there is something you need to know if you are looking to buy a used or refurbished one.

Every Chromebook has an Automatic Update Expiration Date (AUE), which means there will come a time when it can’t receive new software updates. The good news is that your Chromebook tells you the exact date so you can plan ahead.

In this article, I’ll show you how to tell when your Chromebook is approaching its WUA and how to fix it.

Before Buying a Used Chromebook, Read This

On the Google Chromebook Support Page, here’s what it says about WUA dates:

“Every device has an automatic update expiration date (AUE). We encourage you to check the AUE dates of the devices before your purchase. Before the WUA date, devices will receive new software updates from Google. From the WUA date and after, devices will not receive software updates from Google. “

If you’re buying a used Chromebook, be sure to check the AUE date. If that date is coming soon, find yourself another Chromebook to purchase.

Without the current updates, your device’s performance may suffer and it may become more vulnerable to viruses, malware, and similar issues.

How do I know if my Chromebook is approaching the automatic update expiration date?

Google says a Chromebook that is near its WUA date will receive a “Final software update” notification.

After WUA, your Chromebook will no longer receive the following updates:

• Security Updates
• Bug fixes
• New features
• Support for some apps and extensions

Google also says that once it stops sending updates, it is possible that at some point, certain features of the Chromebook will stop working.

How to check the AUE date on your Chromebook

If you have a Chromebook, you might be wondering how to find the AUE date. Here are the steps, according to Google:

1. In the lower right corner of the screen, select the time.
2. Select “Settings ”(the gearbox icon).
3. At the bottom of the left panel, select “About Chrome OS.”
4. To select “Additional details.”
5. In the “Update schedule” section, you’ll see a phrase that tells you when your Chromebook will receive its last update.

Final thoughts

As long as you check the AUE date on your Chromebook, you can be sure that the device you buy – whether new or renewed – will last for a while.

If the Chromebook you already own is facing its AUE date and you want to move on, here are a few options:

• Use it as a media player: Old laptops are great for playing videos or listening to music, which I did with one of my devices.
• Recycle it: You can choose to recycle your old device in your local Best buy or other electric bike place. Of course, before you take this step, you’ll want to save the files you need to the cloud or to an external drive. After that erase and / or reset the device, which will remove all files.

As I mentioned earlier, Clark is a huge fan of the Chromebook.

“Initially, Chromebooks were lame, but now they’re fantastic,” he says. “They have decent battery life, you can access the Internet quickly, and they’re easy to use.”

Looking to buy electronics? Visit ClarkDeals.com to find the latest deals on Chromebooks and other devices.

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