How to Install Chrome OS Flex

Chrome OS has become a viable alternative to Windows and macOS, especially at the lower end of the market. Now, Google is giving all of us an option to install Chrome OS on PC and Mac devices. Called Chrome OS Flex, this operating system allows Windows and Mac users to test-drive or install Chrome OS on their systems. Want to give it a spin?

Read more: What is a Chromebook, and what can it do?

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To install Chrome OS Flex, you will need to install the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension in your Google Chrome browser and follow the steps to create a bootable USB drive. Boot into the bootable drive on your target system to install Chrome OS Flex.

Also read: What is Chrome OS Phone Hub and How Do You Use It?

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What is Chrome OS Flex?

Chrome OS Flex is a new version of Chrome OS. Google acquired Neverware in 2020, which created CloudReady. CloudReady is a Chromium OS-based operating system that lets you turn a regular computer into a Chrome OS device. Chrome OS Flex is essentially the next version of CloudReady, with Google integrating CloudReady into its Chrome OS software suite.

This means that Chrome OS Flex is the easiest way to install Chrome OS on PC or Mac. Google is targeting businesses and schools with this version because it is built for easier mass deployment and management. However, despite this, it is still a great way for many people to get Chrome OS on their existing devices.

MoreWhat is Chrome OS?

On which devices can you install Chrome OS Flex?

Chrome OS Flex runs on Windows, Mac and Linux devices. Google says that most devices launched in the last ten or more years should work just fine. While Google only guarantees the functionality of this operating system on certified models, it is possible to install Chrome OS Flex on other devices. Here are the minimum system requirements for installing Chrome OS Flex from Google.

Intel or AMD x86-64-bit compatible devices
4 GB RAM
16 GB internal storage
bootable from usb drive
BIOS with Full Administrator Access

Google notes that pre-2010 processors and graphics may experience poor performance. Additionally, Intel GMA 500, 600, 3600, and 3650 graphics hardware do not meet Chrome OS Flex performance standards.

You can check out the full list of certified models to see if your device is fully supported, and what problems might be causing it right now.

What you need to know before installing Chrome OS Flex

While Chrome OS Flex is a variant of Chrome OS, it is still quite different from Chrome OS. Since Google cannot control the distribution of this version, some features are missing in Chrome OS Flex. Here are the key features that are not available on Chrome OS Flex.

Verified Boot, due to lack of Google security chip
Automatic BIOS/UEFI Firmware Update
Google Play and Android Apps
Linux desktop environment. However, this varies by model
Parallels Desktop
Additional hardware features such as CD/DVD drives, fingerprint readers, FireWire ports, infrared (IR) and face recognition cameras, proprietary connectors and docks, stylus and active pen inputs, and Thunderbolt.

Additionally, hardware support is only available for certified models. Google also says that encrypted data could be at risk if the system does not have a supported TPM chip. Even a certified model may not work at full capacity, features like automatic screen rotation, Bluetooth, keyboard shortcuts, touchscreen and SD card slot are not guaranteed to work. This also includes older Chromebooks, where the device may be able to run Chrome OS Flex, but Google isn’t making any promises if it’s not officially supported.

Chrome OS Flex is currently in early access testing and is not suitable for production use, warns Google.

To install Chrome OS Flex, you’ll need a USB drive to create a bootable device with a capacity of at least 8GB. Some sandisk drives may not work. To make it bootable, you’ll also need to have Google Chrome installed on a Chrome OS, Windows, or Mac device. follow these steps.