Keeping Your Browser Up To Date
Thorium Update Checker is a lightweight browser extension that automatically monitors for new versions of Thorium Browser. It runs silently in the background, checking GitHub for the latest releases so you don’t have to.
✨ Features
🔄 Automatic Update Checking
Checks for updates when browser starts and once daily
🔔 Instant Notifications
Receive alerts when new versions are available
📊 Version Comparison
Easily see your current version vs. the latest release
🛡️ Minimal Permissions
Only accesses what it needs – no privacy concerns!
📝 Installation Guide
Method 1: Manual Installation (Recommended)
-
Download the Extension
- Download the
thorium-update-checker.zipfile - Extract the ZIP file to a folder on your computer
- Download the
-
Install in Thorium
- Open Thorium Browser
- Type
chrome://extensions/in the address bar and press Enter - Enable “Developer mode” using the toggle in the top-right corner
- Click the “Load unpacked” button
- Select the folder where you extracted the extension files
-
Pin to Toolbar
- Click the puzzle piece icon in your browser toolbar
- Find “Thorium Update Checker” in the list
- Click the pin icon next to it to keep it visible
Method 2: Chrome Web Store (Coming Soon)
We’re working on making the extension available through the Chrome Web Store for easier installation. Stay tuned for updates!
🧠 How to Use
Setting Your Current Version
- Click the Thorium Update Checker icon in your toolbar
- Enter your current Thorium version in the input field (e.g., 130.0.6723.174)
- Click the “Save” button
- The extension will now compare this version with the latest release
Tip: You can find your version by visiting chrome://about or chrome://version/
Checking for Updates
- The extension automatically checks for updates daily and on browser startup
- To check manually, click the “Check Now” button
- When an update is available:
- The status will change to “Update Available!”
- A download button will appear
- A red badge will show on the extension icon
- You’ll receive a notification (first time only)
Downloading Updates
- Click the “Download Update” button to visit the official Thorium releases page
- Download and install the latest version from GitHub
🔧 Troubleshooting
- Extension not showing updates? Try clicking “Check Now” or restart your browser
- Version not saving? Make sure to enter the full version (e.g., 130.0.6723.174)
- No notifications? Check your browser notification settings
Download Now
Get the latest version of Thorium Update Checker
🔒 Privacy First
Your Privacy Matters
This extension was built with privacy as the top priority. Here’s exactly what it does and doesn’t do:
What it DOES:
- ✓ Makes API calls only to GitHub’s public API (
api.github.com) - ✓ Checks the Thorium browser repository for the latest release version
- ✓ Stores your current version locally in your browser’s storage
- ✓ Shows notifications when updates are available
What it DOES NOT do:
- ✗ Collect your browsing history
- ✗ Track your activity
- ✗ Send data to any third-party servers
- ✗ Access any personal information
- ✗ Use analytics or tracking
- ✗ Monetize your data in any way
The extension uses the minimum permissions required to function:
- storage: To remember your current version locally
- alarms: To check for updates periodically
- notifications: To notify you when updates are available
- host permission (GitHub only): To fetch release information
You can verify this yourself! The code is open source and deliberately kept simple and readable so you can inspect it.
💡 Why I Created This Extension
A Personal Project Shared With The Community
As a regular Thorium Browser user, I found myself manually checking GitHub for new releases every few days. This became tedious, and I thought, “There must be a better way!”
I searched for an update checker but couldn’t find one specifically for Thorium Browser. That’s when I decided to create my own solution — a simple, lightweight extension that would handle this task automatically.
The development process was straightforward but rewarding. I focused on:
- Minimal design with essential functionality
- Strong privacy protection (no tracking, data collection, etc.)
- Reliability and low resource usage
After using it personally for a while and finding it genuinely useful, I decided to share it with the broader Thorium community. The extension has made my browsing experience better, and I hope it does the same for you!
💻 Development Tips & Resources
Creating Your Own Browser Extensions
Interested in creating your own browser extensions? Here are some resources that helped me:
Learning Resources:
- Chrome Extension Developer Guide – Comprehensive documentation
- Mozilla Extension Workshop – Cross-browser extension development
- Google’s Extension Examples – Sample code to learn from
Helpful Tools:
- Visual Studio Code – Excellent free code editor
- Figma – Design UI elements for your extension
- Icons8 – Free icons for your extension
Tips From My Experience:
- Start simple – Build the core functionality first, then expand
- Test thoroughly – Extensions can break with browser updates
- Respect privacy – Only request permissions you absolutely need
- Document your code – You’ll thank yourself later
- Use version control – GitHub or similar services keep your code safe
The most rewarding aspect of creating this extension was solving my own problem and then being able to share that solution with others. If you’re considering creating a browser extension, I encourage you to start with a problem you personally face!
📚 Useful Links
Thorium Browser Resources
- Thorium Browser GitHub Repository – Source of truth for all Thorium updates
- Thorium Releases Page – Where you can download the latest versions
- Thorium Browser Official Website – General information and documentation
- Thorium Discord Community – Get help and connect with other users
- Thorium Features Documentation – Learn about what makes Thorium special