Google recently launched a new version of Chrome OS, “Chrome OS Flex”. Google released it for early access testing purposes. However, it is available to install on your Macbook, Windows, and Linux computer through a bootable USB drive. When the Chrome OS Flex will be stable, Google will automatically start updating ChromeReady devices to Chrome OS Flex.
There are many benefits of using Chrome OS Flex. This operating system is absolutely free to install and provides a highly secure environment for your devices. According to Google, there are many benefits of installing Chrome OS Flex such as it boots your PC fast and doesn’t slow down your computer over time, can be managed from the cloud, and updates automatically in the background.
What are the System Requirements to Install Chrome OS Flex?
There are some minimum device requirements to install Chrome OS Flex. Only if your device meets the following requirements, you should try installing the new Chrome OS Flex.
- Intel or AMD x86-64-bit architecture
- 4GB RAM
- 16GB internal storage
- Full administrator access
- Processor and graphics components should not be made before 2010.
These are the minimum system requirements for installing Chrome OS Flex on your device. However, for a more comfortable experience, Google has released a list of certified models that are planned to support Chrome OS Flex.
How to Install Chrome OS Flex on Your Mac, Windows, and Linux PC?
As already mentioned earlier in this post that bootable USB drive is currently the only medium to install Chrome OS Flex. So, in order to install Chrome OS Flex in your system, you will need the following things ready:
- A USB drive of 8GB or more storage.
- A Chromebook, Macbook, or Windows laptop with the latest version of Chrome browser installed to make the USB drive bootable.
- A Mac, Windows, or Linux computer where you would like to install the Chrome OS Flex.
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These are the things you need to keep ready before you start with the procedure of installing the Chrome OS Flex on your Windows, Mac, or Linux device. Now, once you are ready with all the required things, follow these steps carefully:
Step 1. Create a Bootable USB Drive
The very first thing you need to do is create a bootable USB drive using the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension for the Google Chrome browser. Once the extension is added to your Chrome browser, launch it, and follow the instructions. It will ask you to insert and remove the USB drive to successfully create your bootable USB drive.
Step 2. Insert Bootable USB Drive
In the next step, you will need to boot your target laptop using the bootable USB drive that you created in the last step. To boot your laptop using the bootable USB drive, you will first need to turn off your laptop, and once it’s turned off completely, insert the bootable USB drive. Now press the power button and then immediately start pressing your device’s boot key repeatedly.
Note: Different devices have different boot keys. Such as F12 is used as a boot key for Lenovo and Dell laptops, F2 for Acer laptops, Del for Asus laptops, Hold Option for Macbooks, F9 for HP laptops, etc.
This will trigger a boot menu where you will need to select the bootable USB drive you’re using to install Chrome OS Flex on the laptop.
Step 3. Install Chrome OS Flex
After selecting your bootable USB drive from the menu, you will soon get a Start using CloudReady 2.0 screen where you will need to click Install CloudReady 2.0. As soon as you will click on it, you will see an on-screen warning about erasing data. Review it carefully and click Install CloudReady.
Step 4. Take out the Bootable USB Drive
The installation will begin immediately. When it will be completed, you will see a message on the screen and the laptop will shut down automatically. When the laptop is completely turned off, you can safely eject the USB drive from the laptop’s USB port.
That’s all about installing the new Chrome OS Flex on your Windows, Mac, and Linux PC. Keep in mind that this Chrome OS Flex is currently unstable and is being used for testing purposes only.
Once you have successfully installed the Chrome OS Flex on your system, you can format the bootable USB drive to make it reusable. To format it, launch the Chrome Recovery Utility extension, click Settings, click Erase recovery media, insert the USB drive, select the USB drive, click Continue, and finally click Erase now.
