Chrome OS may get support for Ambient Mode

Chrome OS will probably receive support for Ambient Mode in the long run. That’s according to a recent commit in Google’s Chromium project. Ambient Mode allows users to use their device as a smart display.

In July, ChromeStory already discovered indications that Ambient Mode would be introduced in Chrome OS, although at the time it appeared to be a function to show a slideshow on the lock screen of a Chromebook. However, XDA Developers discovered a commit in Chromium Gerrit on Friday that introduces a new Ambient Mode flag. The description of the new flag reads: “Turn on Ambient Mode to show an improved lock screen with more features.” Presumably, the operating system from Google will also receive support for the full Ambient Mode.

Google introduced Ambient Mode at IFA in September 2019. The feature allows users to use their device as a smart display using the Google Assistant. The operation is similar to the Google Home Hub. For example, the feature can be used to display notifications, reminders, weather information, or smart home controls on a device’s lock screen.

The feature was initially only available on a limited number of devices. Earlier this week, however, OnePlus already reported that some of the company’s phones will soon receive support for Ambient Mode. It is still unclear when the feature will appear for Chrome OS. When the commit is committed, users can find the flag under chrome://flags#enable-ambient-mode.