The Tool Desk
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What’s new in ChromeOS 120?
The changes span everyday navigation, input settings, touch controls, file compatibility, and enterprise management. The most noticeable consumer additions are the Virtual Desk Button, expanded input customization, and a pinch gesture for Picture-in-Picture.
| Change | What it does | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Desk Button | Adds a shelf control to view, switch, create, and reorder virtual desks. | People who organize work across multiple desks. |
| Mouse scrolling | Lets users adjust scrolling speed and turn off scroll acceleration. | People who want more predictable mouse input. |
| Keyboard customization | Adds settings for right-click, Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, Insert, and F11/F12 access. | People adapting keyboard behavior to their workflow or device. |
| Picture-in-Picture | Allows touchscreen users to resize a PiP window with a pinch gesture. | Touchscreen users watching a floating video. |
| Emoji/GIF Picker | Receives a dynamic color palette. | Users of the built-in picker. |
| Nearby Share Self Share | Automatically accepts transfers between the user’s Android and ChromeOS devices signed in to the same Google account, even if the receiving device’s screen is off. | People sharing between their own devices. |
| Legacy media formats | Deprecates MPEG4 Part 2 video codec and AVI container support. | People with older local media libraries. |
| Management tools | Adds App Details in App Management and XDR Authentication Events. | Administrators of managed ChromeOS devices. |
How the Virtual Desk Button changes desk switching
ChromeOS 120 adds a shelf button, also called the Bento Button, for users who work with virtual desks. It provides a visual way to view desks, switch between them, create new ones, and change their order. The button is designed to make desk management accessible from the shelf rather than relying only on existing desk controls.
What input settings can you customize?
The update adds more control over how mouse scrolling and keyboard keys behave. Mouse settings let you change scroll speed and disable acceleration, which can help if scrolling feels inconsistent as you move the mouse at different speeds.
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The keyboard-customization page adds controls related to right-click, Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, Insert, and access to F11/F12. These are settings for tailoring input, rather than a change to the physical keyboard layout.
Can you resize Picture-in-Picture by pinching?
Yes. ChromeOS 120 lets touchscreen users resize a Picture-in-Picture window with a pinch gesture. The feature applies to touch input; the release information does not establish a new pinch control for trackpads or mice. The Emoji/GIF Picker also receives a dynamic color palette as part of the interface changes.
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How Nearby Share Self Share works
Nearby Share Self Share is intended for transfers between your own Android and ChromeOS devices when both are logged in to the same Google account. With ChromeOS 120, transfers can be accepted automatically even when the receiving device’s screen is off. That reduces the need to wake the receiving device and manually approve a transfer.
Will ChromeOS 120 still play AVI files?
ChromeOS 120 deprecated the MPEG4 Part 2 video codec and AVI container support. This is a compatibility change for older media, not a general performance change. Google’s ChromeOS.dev release notes say the legacy formats can be temporarily re-enabled at chrome://flags/#cros-legacy-media-formats through ChromeOS 125; support is removed after that point. The flag is a temporary workaround, not a long-term format solution. See the ChromeOS 120 release notes for the stated scope and cutoff.
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What changed for administrators?
For managed environments, ChromeOS 120 adds App Details in App Management and XDR Authentication Events. Google’s LTS release table groups these among management features and also lists ChromeOS Flex end-of-device support alongside the release’s user productivity and media changes. These additions are relevant to device administration; they do not change the consumer-facing desk and input features.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When did ChromeOS 120 arrive, and when will a Chromebook get it?
ChromeOS 120 reached the stable channel on January 3/4, 2024, according to ChromeOS.dev. Google’s support announcement on January 6 said the update was progressively rolling out, so availability could vary by device and timing. The published information does not provide a complete model-by-model feature matrix, so the stable release date alone cannot confirm when a particular Chromebook received the update or which features it supports. Check your device’s system update settings for its current availability. Sources: ChromeOS.dev release notes and Google Chromebook support announcement.
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