If you have an old laptop, Windows feels laggy and doesn’t function as responsive as it should. Google released the Chrome OS Flex in February 2022 for an older laptops, Where using Windows or macOS is difficult.
Google is directly competing against the Office productivity application giant Microsoft. ChromeOS Flex runs Web Progressive application, Which includes Google Docs and Spreadsheet, similar to the Microsoft Office suite.
You can install it on your PCs and Macs, ChromeOS Flex offers most of the benefits of ChromeOS, but there is a significant difference. ChromeOS exclusively runs on Chromebooks, ChromeBoxes, and Chromebases. ChromeOS Flex doesn’t support Android apps or Google Play Store; it neither runs the Windows virtual machine nor supports Linux Development environments.
How to Install ChromeOS Flex on PCs
You can use Cloud-First ready on a non-certified device, but you can check the certified model list
Pre-Requirements
- Chrome Browser: You need Chrome Browser to download and Boot your drive.
- USB Drive: You can use any USB Driver; it should be a minimum of 8 GB.
Minimum Requirments to run ChromeOS Flex
- Architecture: Intel or AMD x86 – 64-bit Device
- RAM: 4 GB
- Internal Storage: 16 GB
- GPU: Your GPU should be launched after 2010 to get acceptable performance.
How to Downlaod Chrome OS Flex
To create a USB installer, you need to use Google Chrome, and next use the following steps to boot your USB Drive.
Download Chromebook Recovery Utility Tool extension
- Open Chrome Web Store.
- Search for Chromebook Recovery Utility Tool, or Go here.
- Click on Add to Chrome.
- Click on Add Extension, and Wait for it to finish installing.
Insert USB Drive, and Erase Recovery Media
- Starting with inserting your USB Drive into your computer.
- Next, Open the Chromebook Recovery Utility Tool extension on your Chrome.
- Click on the Gear icon, which appears in the top-right corner.
- Click on it, and Click on Erase Recovery Media.
- Next, Select your USB Drive and Click on Continue.
- Confirm your action by clicking on Erase Now, and Click on yes on UAC (User Account Control).
Download, and Boot your Chrome OS Flex on Drive
- Open Chromebook Recovery Utility Tool from an extension.
- Click on Get Started and select a model from a list next.
- Choose a Google Chrome OS Flex as the Manufacturer and Chrome OS Flex as the Product.
- And Continue; select your USB Drive.
- Click on Continue, and to download Dev click on Show advance settings. Choose Stable or Developer based on your preference.
- Next, Click on Create Now.
It takes some time to create a ChromeOS Bootable drive; keep patience while it is complete. During this process, UAC will prompt click Yes and wait for it to finish.
Once it finish, Click on OK.
- You can also download the Zip File and Extract it to your USB Drive using WinRar.
Download ChromeOS Flex ISO
Install ChromeOS Flex on your Pcs, and Mac
- Shut down your device and insert your Bootable ChromeOS Flex USB Drive.
- Power on your device, and press the Boot Key repeatedly, Choose the USB Drive to boot.
Boot Key
| Manufacture | Boot Key |
| Acer | F2 |
| Apple | Hold Option |
| Asus | Del |
| Dell | F12 |
| Gateway | F1 |
| HP | F9 |
| Intel | F2 |
| Lenovo | F12 |
| Toshiba | F2 or F12 |
| Other | Esc, F1-F2, or Enter |
- Next, It opens the ChromeOF Flex screen with two options: Get Started and Try it first (Where it allows you to run OS directly from your USB Device without installing it).
- Follow the on-screen installation, which asks you to sign in with your Google Account.
- Your device will restart multiple times, and your data will be erased during this process.
- That’s it! You can now enjoy using ChromeOS Flex.
Note: If installing failed, checkout the Google Troubleshoot guide or send feedback. For any help, check the ChromeOS Flex Help.
Format USB Drive
After installing ChromeOS Flex on your device, use USB Drive. You need to format, and It’s recommended to format using the Chrome Recovery Utility extension.
Erase Recovery Media
- Starting with inserting your USB Drive into your computer.
- Next, Open the Chromebook Recovery Utility Tool extension on your Chrome.
- Click on the Gear icon, which appears in the top-right corner.
- Click on it, and Click on Erase Recovery Media.
- Next, Select your USB Drive and Click on Continue.
- Confirm your action by clicking on Erase Now, and Click on yes on UAC (User Account Control).
Benefits of using ChromeOS Flex
Most of the things run on the cloud, which makes it lightweight, works fast and runs on most of the hardware. It gives you easily sync with your Android Smartphone, Including Mobile notifications, Photos, replies to conversations, Messages using Google Messages, and More things. It gets connected to your android device, and it also helps reduce e-waste. Google regularly push the update to improve the operating system.
