Back in May, we published an update on our User-Agent string reduction plans with a promise to publish further details on timing. Now that we have an origin trial ready for testing the Reduced User-Agent header (and associated JS interfaces) we have estimated timelines to share. What follows is repeated from the original blog post, but contains estimated Chrome versions where these Phases will begin to help you prepare.
The Chromium schedule dashboard will be useful for understanding dates associated with each Chrome version and its progression from Canary into Beta and Stable Release.
Note: The usual disclaimers about estimating engineering deadlines apply—unforeseen circumstances may dictate delays. But in the case that we encounter delays, we do not intend to accelerate timelines between Phases.
We plan to roll out these changes slowly and incrementally in 7 Phases—pending origin trial feedback.
Phase 1: Since Chrome 92 (July 20, 2021)
Call to Action (CTA): Audit your site usage to understand where migration may be necessary.
Warn about accessing navigator.userAgent, navigator.appVersion, and navigator.platform in DevTools, beginning in M92.
Phase 2: Chrome 95 to Chrome 100
CTA: Enroll in the origin trial for your site, and provide feedback until Chrome 101 is released.
Launch an origin trial for sites to opt into the final reduced UA string for testing and feedback, for at least 6 months.
We will evaluate feedback from origin trial partners and the community, and based on this feedback proceed to Phases 3 through 7 of our plan, giving the ecosystem adequate time to adapt in between them. Otherwise, depending on feedback we will reconsider the best course of action.
Phase 3: Chrome 100
CTA: Enroll in the deprecation trial or Enterprise policy for your site, when needed.
Launch deprecation trial and Enterprise policy, for instances where a site may need more time for migration.
Phase 4: Chrome 101
CTA: Ensure your site is compatible with the reduced Chrome version number, and migrate to UA Client Hints if not.
Ship reduced Chrome MINOR.BUILD.PATCH version numbers (“0.0.0”). Once rolled-out, the reduced UA string would apply to all page loads on desktop and mobile operating systems for sites that do not opt into the deprecation trial.
Phase 5: Chrome 107
CTA: Ensure your site is compatible with the reduced Desktop UA string and related JS APIs, and migrate to UA Client Hints if not.
Begin roll-out of reduced Desktop UA string and related JS APIs (navigator.userAgent, navigator.appVersion, navigator.platform). Once rolled-out, the reduced UA string would apply to all page loads on desktop operating systems for sites that do not opt into the deprecation trial.
Phase 6: Chrome 110
CTA: Ensure your site is compatible with the reduced Mobile UA string and related JS APIs, and migrate to UA Client Hints if not.
Begin roll-out of reduced Android Mobile (and Tablet) UA string and related JS APIs. Once rolled-out, the reduced UA string would apply to all page loads on Android that do not opt into the deprecation trial.
Phase 7: Chrome 113
Deprecation trial ends and all page loads receive the reduced UA string and related JS APIs.
See the companion Reduced User Agent string updates page for more details and example User Agent strings at each of these phases. We will note any significant delays or changes on this page as well.
