Google brings smarter work-life balance to Chrome on iOS
Google’s making it easier for iOS users to keep work and life apart on Chrome with smarter account switching.
Google is rolling out a new set of features to Chrome on iOS that’s aimed at people juggling work and personal life on the same device, especially in workplaces where "Bring Your Own Device" (BYOD) policies are the norm.
Many of us use the same phone for everything. You're checking your work email, jumping on a Zoom call, ordering lunch, or browsing TikTok. Google knows this, and it's now making Chrome on iOS smarter about that reality.
With the update, you can switch between your personal and work accounts more fluidly, while keeping data like history, tabs, and passwords strictly siloed between accounts. So, if you open a bunch of work-related tabs under your company account, they won’t show up when you switch back to your personal account. Google says the improved account switching experience and data separation “better enables businesses to allow employees to use their device of choice.”
Beyond convenience, for businesses, especially those managing devices through Google Workspace, it gives the IT teams more transparency and control. When a user signs in to Chrome with a managed account, they’re greeted with an onboarding screen that explains the separation of data and how their organisation manages their info. Every time they switch to the work account, there’s a visible confirmation; they’re entering a “managed" experience. It’s Google’s way of saying: "You’re on company time now, and your IT department has eyes."
On the backend also, organisations can now enforce policies like URL filtering directly on iOS, something previously limited to desktop and Android. So, if your company doesn’t want you accessing certain categories of sites (say, generative AI platforms that haven't been approved), Chrome on iOS will now block that, too. It’s a way to reduce the risk of ShadowAI, where employees use unauthorized AI tools without oversight.
Meanwhile, Chrome Enterprise’s reporting capabilities are extending to both Android and iOS. It allows security logs from mobile devices to be streamed into the Google Admin console or a SIEM (Security Information and Event Management system), giving security teams a better overview of browsing behaviour across all endpoints, not just the ones sitting on office desks. It’s a continuation of what Chrome Enterprise already offers on other platforms, now extended to iPhones and iPads.
For companies invested in Chrome Enterprise Premium, this update adds another layer of protection, especially when dealing with sensitive data or compliance requirements. Meanwhile, those using the free Chrome Enterprise Core plan can already get started with the reporting features for free, making the barrier to entry low even for smaller businesses.
This is Chrome’s real-life version of the Severance series: two lives, one phone, and a clean line between them.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
