Windows 10 is still supported until 2025; if someone wanted to use a machine after then, I would be more inclined to install Linux on it, rather an operating system from the worlds largest online advertising company. Once the process finishes, clickGet started. Chrome OS Flex also does not support Intel GMA 500, 600, 3600, and 3650. It was a thumbs up emoji but it appears the site doesnt allow them. The setup will now warn you that all your data will be deleted.

There are many reasons why you should get Chrome OS Flex for your PC but there are also a few limitations that you should be aware of. ClickAdd to Chrome. Chrome OS Flex provides enhanced security depending on your system but falls short when compared to ChromeOS and its hardware-based security.

Installation of Chrome OS Flex is not as straightforward as Google makes it out to be.

Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt. If your system uses a different key, then use the same to enter the BIOS menu. Required fields are marked *.

If these limitations are features that you heavily rely on, then Chrome OS Flex might not be the best option for you. Click onAgree and continue.

I have thousands of tools and virtually every browser at my disposal.

It is what it is I guess.

No, Chrome OS Flex does not support Android and Google Play apps. Select Continue. ChromeOS?

Note: Installing Chrome OS will wipe the selected drive. Why Install Chrome OS Flex on a Windows PC and How to Do It.

Chrome OS Flex is a special version of Google's Chrome OS that is bringing the operating system to Windows PCs and Apple Macs.



Click Get Started to set up Chrome OS Flex on your PC.

CloudReady and its parent company were acquired by Google recently.

Graphics adapters released after 2010 are recommended, but older components may work.

ClickInstall again to confirm your choice.

Several Windows and Mac operating systems will run out of support in the coming years.

ClickInstall CloudReady 2.0 to initiate the process. You wont be able to run third-party executables and programs unless opting for workarounds.

Ignore the question mark. Ghacks is a technology news blog that was founded in 2005 by Martin Brinkmann. Why on earth would I brick my box with a dumb OS that puts me in a Google cage?

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

What is the difference between Chrome OS and Chrome OS Flex?

pretty sure not users but the website lolif the website get ddos-ed it would be bad for users since they probably cant access it or super slow.

Definitely not.

Most systems will boot into the BIOS by holding down F2 during the restart process. If you wish to use Google Assistant then clickI agree. My life lessons can be summarized as practice the SDGs and Slow Life orientation. I think its a poor Google decision (or non-decision) to just let it ride with that mediocre-at-best installation method rather than doing something more reliable like Windows media creation tool or a downloadable ISO. If you have an old device struggling to run Windows 10 or 11 then Chrome OS Flex is for you.

This makes any computer using it a toy computer. All Chrome devices also have superior security compared to Chrome OS Flex.

Keep your device connected to the wall during this process. Ensure your USB is plugged into the system and restart your system. Fred, yes. Installation will remove all data from the device. Howeve, Cloudflare did NOT affect other sites, thank goodness. Ive been kicking around getting a $99 discounted special with 4GB/64GB to experiment with.

When asked to identify the Chromebook, activate "select a model from a list" and pick Google Chrome OS Flex as the manufacturer and "Chrome OS Flex" as the product. All You Need to Know, How to Edit a PDF Document on iPhone in 2022 [AIO].

The operating system follows the release cadence of Chrome OS.

The process should be done in 20 to 30 minutes.

If I were to uproot myself from Microsoft Windows I would very likely find myself using Linux. Note: In case your BIOS looks different and you are unable to find the desired options, then we recommend you refer to your OEMs support website for more help. Now that were familiar with Chrome OS Flex, lets take a look at how you can get it on your system. The main limitations are that Chrome OS Flex requires a 64-bit processor and 4 Gigabytes of RAM; this leaves 32-bit only systems hanging.

Off topic I know but is anyone also experiencing the Cloudflare check when coming to Ghacks these past couple of days?

While you can find alternative web apps for most desktop apps, they might not perform as efficiently or effectively. Your system will now directly boot from the USB drive.

Use the next step to help you install the same on your PC. If you were looking for the enhanced security and admin controls of Chrome OS, then unfortunately Flex might not be the best fit for you. Lets take a quick look at this new OS from Google and how you can use it to your advantage.

Linux is the way to go instead of Google Flex. I am happily running Linux Mint MATE on a low-end box. You will now have created a Chrome OS Flex boot USB. Chrome OS Flex is a cloud OS skew of the same platform supporting web apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Click the first drop-down menu and select Chrome OS Flex. If you are an IT admin looking to deploy Chrome OS Flex for your organization then these restrictions might be good or bad depending on your setup. The operating system may appeal to some organizations and home users, especially those already invested in Google's ecosystem. Navigate to theBootsection once you are in the BIOS menu. No, just making us very angry !!!!! Select yourUSB drive in the next drop-down menu.

Please click on the following link to open the newsletter signup page: Ghacks Newsletter Sign up.

The utility will now download the necessary files and create your USB.

Only a fool would use this data miner.

Here are a few commonly asked questions about Chrome OS Flex, that should help you get up to date with the latest information.

Copyright SOFTONIC INTERNATIONAL S.A. 2005- 2022 - All rights reserved, Google releases Chrome OS Flex for PCs and Macs, Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our, New Chrome experiment promises better battery life, Google Chrome 103 update fixes 11 security issues, Nova Launcher and Sesame Search have been acquired by Branch, an analytics company, Europe's Digital Markets Act has serious implications for Apple, Google, Amazon, Facebook and Microsoft, Microsoft is testing a Command Bar in the Edge web browser, Reggy for Chrome: create anonymous accounts with a few clicks, Chrome 103 update fixes 0-Day security issue that is exploited in the wild.

If you too have been looking for a way to spark some new life into your old desktop or laptop, then Googles Chrome OS Flex might just be the answer to all your prayers. This makes any modern Chrome device a tablet substitute, and some Chrome devices are very inexpensive.

This will activate parental controls for your PC and allow you to restrict activities and behaviors on the system.

Now and then I start thinking of getting a Chromebook and installing a Linux distro such as Q4OS or a Puppy derivative on it. Your email address will not be published. In other words, a digital detox. Additionally, if you are someone who uses Virtual Machines frequently, then unfortunately Chrome OS Flex does not support them yet.

Save your changes and exit the BIOS menu. It also adds insult to injury for those people who bought Chromebooks and found they had an expiry date set by Google.

Ah Yes Google always doing what is in the best interest to the consumer [End Sarcasm]. This thus gives you the ability to perform 90% of modern-day workflow tasks on your older device without having to upgrade/purchase a new one.

CloudReady customers will be upgraded to Chrome OS Flex for free. Click onYou if you plan to use the PC yourself. Reasons and Fixes Explained, How to Search in Windows 11 [4 Ways Explained], 5 Ways to Change Folder Icon on Windows 11 (And 3 Tips), Using Windows 11 Without Microsoft Account: Everything You Need to Know, Support for Secure Boot (Supported devices only), No verified boot & Google Security Chip (Secure Boot support on select models), Devices without TPM are vulnerable despite having encryption, Google Play and Android apps arent supported, Some keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys might be inactive when using Chrome OS Flex, Unsupported Ports with limited functionality on select devices, Chrome OS Flex does not support Google Play apps and Android apps.

Chromebook Recovery Utility | Download Link. Martin Brinkmann is a journalist from Germany who founded Ghacks Technology News Back in 2005. Now selectChrome OS Flex (Developer-Unstable)from the next drop-down menu. Mac users can hold down theOption key instead. Chrome OS Flex without Android gives you a browser that wants to be a computer. Enter your email ID at the top and clickNext once done. Before proceeding we recommend you keep the following drawbacks in mind. Click Done once completed.

Now plug in your USB and click the icon for Extensions. Its said that all modern Chrome devices support an Android subsystem.

Spectroscopic collection of human cells trying to pave a path via words. Does Chrome OS Flex come with the Google Play Store? Like most Linux distributions, Chrome OS Flex can be run from an USB device without installation, or it can be installed on a device.

(You can see that in the reviews on the extension page.).

It comes packed with Google apps and services, including the company's Chrome web browser, Google Assistant and has the same interface as Chrome OS. You will receive limited security on certain devices due to limited support for TPM and Secure Boot.

Google released Chrome OS Flex as an early access version. Any Linux distro is more than enough for older computers. Chrome OS Flex is a lightweight desktop OS that offers modern-day security and performance on older devices thanks to its design. Google plans to release a stable version in the coming months.

Sign in to your Google account now. Click No thanks if you wish to disable it. Whether it will become a popular choice for older PCs and Macs that run out of support remains to be seen; there is plenty of Linux distribution competition, and these give users full offline and online access to their devices and data.

Martin confirmed and explained why :

He is passionate about all things tech and knows the Internet and computers like the back of his hand. You will now be shown Googles TOC and privacy policy. My main comment here though is that the Chrome Recovery Utility has always been sort of touchy. Once completed, you will be asked to verify your identity to write files to your USB. While Microsoft and Apple hope that customers will upgrade to supported versions or buy new PCs with these systems, other companies and developers hope that users will make another choice. All will now be set up and you will be greeted by the OOBE. Chrome OS Flex is a "cloud-first, fast, easy-to-manage, and secure operating system for PCs and Macs" according to Google. It comes with Googles enhanced security and is only available on Google Hardware. Google Chrome OS Flex is one of those options. With comments like these, who needs bots?

Now you: Is Chrome OS Flex an option for you? Once you have booted from the USB, clickGet Started. How to Edit the Metadata for Multiple Photos on iPhone on iOS 16, What Is Copy as path in Windows 11? You can follow Martin on, Published in: July 20, 2022 12:03 pm | Updated in: July 20, 2022 12:03 pm, Published in: July 14, 2022 8:24 am | Updated in: July 14, 2022 8:26 am, Published in: July 8, 2022 6:48 am | Updated in: July 8, 2022 6:48 am, Published in: July 5, 2022 6:48 am | Updated in: July 5, 2022 6:48 am, Published in: July 2, 2022 11:28 am | Updated in: July 2, 2022 11:28 am.

Now set your USB drive as your boot device priority.

Instead of providing an ISO image or USB setup tool, getting the tool on the USB device requires the following steps: Once created, boot any device from the USB device that Chrome OS Flex has been put on to launch Google's operating system.

Open Chrome and click on the link above to download the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension. Perhaps Google should make this crap available for those expired Chromebook users instead. SelectInstall CloudReady 2.0and clickNext.

Google acquired Neverware back in late 2020. [https://www.ghacks.net/2022/07/14/reggy-for-chrome-helps-you-create-anonymous-accounts-with-a-few-clicks/#comment-4531015], No Cloudflare check this morning, 2022-07-15-07:20GMT.

Absolutely NOT. Chrome OS Flex is a successor to CloudReady with changes and improvements from Google. The name and logo of Ghacks are copyrights or trademarks of SOFTONIC INTERNATIONAL S.A.

Not supporting Android apps is a strange decision if they want this thing to really take off.

We hope this post helped you get familiar with and install Chrome OS Flex on your PC.

The process takes a while to complete. For now I use Samsung Tab S2 tablets, which allow me to browse desktop sites on Vivaldi well enough, and I can use it for email too. Protecting users from DDOS ? It has since then become one of the most popular tech news sites on the Internet with five authors and regular contributions from freelance writers. Note that it requires at least 8 Gigabytes of space and that all data will be erased in the process. > Now you: Is Chrome OS Flex an option for you? You will now be shown the sync settings for your account.

If you really want to replace a no-longer-supported Windows OS (which can easily be kept safe and working well for years to come) then why not replace it with an easy-to-use and more versatile proper Linux distro such as Mint or Ubuntu, instead of installing Google spyware?

Exactly. Note: The company recommends using systems manufactured after 2010 for maximum compatibility. This OS is a privacy disaster. Chrome OS Flex, however, is not recommended for users that rely on 64-bit apps unsupported by Chromium for their daily workflow. Android is useful if you have a simple life and use Blokada, combined with a decent browser, for privacy. ChromeOS is the native Google OS that supports Android Apps and Google Play. Connect to a network by selecting a desired one from the list on your screen. Chrome OS Flex brings Chromebook technology to PCs and Macs. You will face issues and bugs that might break your system, forcing a reinstall for now.

There is no logical reason why anyone would or should use Chrome OS at all. Chrome OS Flex only supports web apps and is a CloudReady successor rather than a ChromeOS successor.



As far as system requirements are concerned, there are not many. Dont trust Google at all with my data. Google maintains a certified models list, which you may access here.

Choose the data you wish to allow Google to collect from your system and clickAccept and continue.

Now you: Is Chrome OS Flex an option for you?

Hypocrisy.

I tried a Chromebook about ten years ago and thought it was ok at first but eventually found it too limiting and wont use Chrome OS again. Note: If you havent backed up your USB data then we highly recommend you do so at this point.

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. ClickCreate now. Toucan: Can you learn a language while browsing the web?

I wonder what that would be like in terms of real world performance? The download of the files starts and the operating system is copied to the USB device.

Neverware created Cloudaware, a Chromium-based operating system. Chrome OS Flex may be explored without installation at this point, but it may also be installed on the device. We hope you have backed up all your essential data before proceeding with this guide.

This is a DEV channel build which means it is still in its early days of development. Agreed.

A Linux distro can run all programs home users will ever need and is strongly recommended!

Your email address will not be published.

Additionally, if you have an unsupported Mac system, then you can also take advantage of Chrome OS Flex for updated and enhanced security on your system. Is Chrome OS Flex different from CloudReady? Windows 7 and 8.1 reach end of support in January 2023. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You can now leave your device and go grab a coffee.

How good is battery life on a Chromebook versus a tablet? Activate the extension icon in Chrome to open the Chromebook Recovery Utility interface.

ClickNext once done. Here are all the notable limitations of Chrome OS Flex that you should be aware of. The pandemic brought on a slew of new technology products to help us focus and improve our work from home experience. The fun of having it fail after an hour of downloading and verifying is maddening.

Chrome OS Flex is inspired by Googles Chrome OS and offers the ability to run most web apps effectively and efficiently.

This can take some time depending on your setup and network speed. Chrome OS Flex is a new desktop OS from Google that is focused on easy deployment and a way to reduce e-waste across the world. This account will be used to set up your system.

Chrome OS Flex is the first product of the acquisition. Windows 11 Update Not Showing?

Honestly, I would have hoped that ReactOS would have been a lot further along right now not that they havent made some great steps over the years, its just that I was hoping for it to move forward in leaps and bounds.

I wonder if it is for technical reasons or just because it is early and hasnt been implemented yet.

So perhaps I have very little need for something in a small notebook form factor. Just had a thought since Google cares so much about the devices left behind PCs and Macs, why it doesnt do something for Android devices?

Note: You will also need administrator access to the system along with access to the BIOS. If you plan to give it to a younger user then you can selectA child instead. ClickSelect a model from a listinstead.

These might make it difficult for you to perform tasks that were much easier on your previous OS.

Chrome OS Flex does not support Android. IMO Linux is the better solution for giving second life to low-end hardware. On the next screen, select the USB media that you want to use for the installation.

But its tempting. If you face any issues or have any more questions, feel free to reach out using the comments section below. In these times many users were riddled with the confusion of buying a new device or reviving an old one. Past this, all your data on the USB drive will be deleted permanently. Chrome OS Flex requires an USB device with at least 8 Gigabytes of free storage space.

You can load apps from Google Play. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Turn on the toggles for the items you wish to sync and clickAccept and continue.

The PC or Mac needs to have 4 Gigabytes of RAM, a 64-bit processor and internal storage of at least 16 Gigabytes.