flip an outdated laptop computer right into a Chromebook free of charge

In case you have an getting older laptop or MacBook and have observed it is change into exceedingly sluggish and struggles to run easily, there is a free, easy option to give it a brand new lease of life and keep away from losing cash on a brand new mannequin. Ditch Windows or macOS and set up Google’s ChromeOS Flex. Even a decade-old laptop computer can really feel such as you purchased it final week. ChromeOS Flex has extraordinarily modest system necessities, which means even a price range laptop computer purchased years in the past will really feel snappy and responsive.

Putting in ChromeOS Flex is straightforward. You’ll be able to even maintain your authentic Home windows or Mac installations, applications and recordsdata if you wish to strive it first. If you happen to do not prefer it, you possibly can merely swap again to Home windows precisely as you left it in just a few seconds. After all, for those who’re completely offered on the brand new OS, then you may also take away Home windows to liberate house, creating your personal private Chromebook utilizing your outdated laptop computer.

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On this information we’ll current you with methods to set up ChromeOS Flex whereas preserving your current working system put in, or putting in ChromeOS Flex as your new working system. It is fully free, works on most laptops that had been made after 2010 and all you want is an 8GB or bigger USB flash drive.

What’s ChromeOS Flex?

A minimal working system

Earlier than we begin, it is necessary to know what Chrome OS Flex is. ChromeOS Flex is a browser-based working system, just like what you will discover on any normal Chromebook, which suggests you usually want entry to the Web and browser-based purposes. If you happen to’re joyful to stay to on-line providers resembling Gmail and Google Docs or Outlook and Microsoft’s 365 plus video and audio streaming providers, then Chrome OS Flex might be for you.

What you possibly can’t do is set up apps onto your laptop computer itself. There is not any official Google Play Retailer help as the entire level about ChromeOS Flex is for it to be easy and straightforward to run. Simply because it is browser-based does not imply your laptop computer can be unusable for those who’re not on-line, although, as most browser-based extensions for utilizing the likes of Google Docs do have offline modes. It is value checking along with your particular apps, although, as some cannot work offline, resembling Microsoft 365.

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set up ChromeOS Flex in your laptop computer

It isn’t exhausting, however does take a while

To start out with, you will have to create a USB installer utilizing an 8GB or bigger USB flash drive — comply with these steps:

1. In your pc, use Google’s Chrome browser to access the Chrome Web Store by clicking on the extensions icon to the correct of the handle bar on the prime.
2. Set up the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension.
3. Join your USB flash drive after which run the extension by clicking on the extensions icon once more and deciding on the extension within the dropdown checklist.
4. As soon as you’ve got opened the Chrome Restoration Utility, choose ChromeOS Flex in each dropdown menus. That is the model it is advisable to set up on a laptop computer. Now’s the time to again up any information you want in your USB flash drive too, as this course of will wipe it.
5. It is necessary to test for those who’re putting in ChromeOS Flex to the proper drive. This system reveals the make, mannequin and capability of the drive, so ensure that it matches your USB flash drive. (For instance, in case you have a 16GB Samsung USB flash drive, make it possible for’s what you choose to flash ChromeOS Flex to, in any other case you would wipe your pc’s exhausting drive.)
6. After deciding on your drive, the utility will start to flash the required recordsdata to it. The method will take just a few moments after it begins.
7. As soon as it is full, depart your USB flash drive related and restart your PC.

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Inform your laptop computer besides into ChromeOS Flex

This subsequent step will allow you to take a look at, or go all-in

Along with your USB installer made, now it is time to put it to make use of. To take action, you will want to inform your laptop computer or pc to make use of the USB set up besides off of utilizing the boot menu, which requires hitting the correct key, or mixture of keys, as your pc restarts. The boot menu secret’s totally different relying on the laptop computer producer, however yow will discover an inventory of them here. For Mac customers, it relies on in case you have an Intel Mac or an Apple Silicon Mac. You’ll find the proper directions here.

No matter platform, as quickly because the display goes black after clicking restart, faucet the boot menu key or the correct key mixture each second until the boot menu display seems. Widespread examples are F12 for Dell and Lenovo or Esc for HP. Your guide or a Google search will reveal the important thing to your laptop computer if it isn’t within the checklist. As soon as within the boot menu, choose your USB flash drive from the checklist and your laptop computer ought to boot into ChromeOS Flex.

Alternatively, you possibly can change the boot system in your laptop computer’s BIOS. Once more there is a particular key you will want to do that, often F2, F10 or Del. Not like the boot menu key choices, the BIOS choice is not going to reset on the subsequent restart and can proceed besides into ChromeOS Flex until you alter it again.

Attempt ChromeOS Flex first

Trial on USB drive to provide you peace of thoughts

The wonderful thing about ChromeOS Flex is that you just’re in a position to run it from the USB flash drive first earlier than putting in it in your laptop computer. This implies for those who do not prefer it, you possibly can simply unplug your USB flash drive and go straight again to your earlier working system resembling Home windows. Nonetheless, for those who do intend to make use of it long run, it is value putting in it to your laptop computer immediately as you will see higher efficiency. You’ll be able to nonetheless strive it first, although, as you possibly can totally set up it utilizing the USB installer at any time.

If you wish to strive it for just a few days and intend to restart your PC throughout that point, you would possibly need to change your default boot system in your laptop computer’s BIOS as defined within the earlier step, in any other case every time you restart you will have to enter the boot menu.

Use ChromeOS Flex as your primary working system

If you happen to do not need to maintain any of your applications or information or your earlier working system need to use ChromeOS Flex as a substitute, you possibly can choose Set up ChromeOS Flex from the primary set up display or by clicking on Set up ChromeOS Flex on the backside of your display whenever you subsequent boot out of your USB installer.

Putting in ChromeOS Flex onto your laptop computer’s exhausting disk or SSD will imply it feels extra responsive as it can possible be quicker than operating it off your USB flash drive. Putting in it can wipe your laptop computer’s storage, although, so ensure you again up something it is advisable to maintain.

You are able to go

Putting in ChromeOS Flex to your laptop computer takes only a minute or two and as soon as it is finished, you possibly can take away your USB flash drive and use it for different issues once more.

FAQ

Q: Can I set up ChromeOS Flex on any laptop computer?

As long as the laptop computer is newer than 2010, it ought to meet the minimal specs.

Q: What apps can I take advantage of?

Virtually something that may run in an internet browser with an Web connection, resembling Google Docs, Netflix or Microsoft 365.

Q: Can I set up software program on ChromeOS Flex?

No. Something that may run in a browser can run on ChromeOS Flex, however you possibly can’t set up software program.

Q: Do I’ve to delete Home windows?

No. You’ll be able to run ChromeOS Flex off your USB flash drive to strive it out, however it can run quicker if put in immediately in your laptop computer.

Q: What dimension USB flash drive do I would like to put in ChromeOS Flex?

You will want an 8GB or bigger USB flash drive.