Google Chrome for OS X goes 64-bit

If you were hankering for a 64-bit version of Google Chrome for OS X, it’s finally arrived.

Safari has been 64-bit since OS X 10.6 (August 2009) and Firefox has been 64-bit since version 4 (2011). Incidentally, a 64-bit web browser is required to run Oracle Java on OS X.

Per Google’s Chrome Releases Blog, the Chrome team promoted v.39 to the stable channel for Windows, Mac and Linux. Google Chrome 39.0.2171.65 contains a number of fixes and improvements, including 64-bit support for Mac, a number of new apps/extension APIs, lots of under the hood changes for stability and performance.

Chrome 39 will arrive through an automatic update (if you have that feature enabled). If you don’t, you can download it from Google.

Chrome 39.0.2171.65 requires Mac OS X 10.6 or later.

If you collect Macs, bear in mind that you’ll need a 64-bit processor to user 64-bit software (like Chrome 39). Luckily Apple switched to 64-bit processors in 2006. If you’re on the bubble, you can check this Apple Help Center document to find out if you have a 32-bit or 64-bit Intel-based Mac.

• A full list of changes in Chrome 39 is available on Google Source.
• Chrome 39 includes 42 security fixes which are outline on the Chromium security page.

It’s great to know that the last of the big three web browsers is finally 64-bit native and good to see Google keeping up with the pack. We were getting worried there for a bit.