What You Need
Before you start, gather these essentials:
- A Windows 10 laptop
- A USB drive or SD card with at least 8GB of storage
- A reliable internet connection
- A Google account
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Step 1: Prepare Your Laptop
If your system isn’t eligible for a Windows 11 upgrade or you prefer switching, prepare it for ChromeOS Flex. You can either test ChromeOS Flex directly from a USB drive, allowing you to return to Windows anytime, or install it permanently. Google lists compatible models on its official site, but even unsupported systems often work fine. Back up all files before you begin.
Step 2: Install Chromebook Recovery Utility
Open Google Chrome on your Windows laptop and install the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension. Once added, click the puzzle icon near the address bar and launch the tool. Select Get started, then when prompted, choose Select a model from a list. Under “Manufacturer,” pick Google ChromeOS Flex, and under “Product,” select ChromeOS Flex.
Step 3: Create the Bootable Drive
Insert your USB drive and select it from the list in the Recovery Utility. Choose the Stable ChromeOS Flex build, then click Create Now. The utility will prepare the installation drive, this might take several minutes. When complete, remove the USB drive safely.
Step 4: Boot ChromeOS Flex
Insert the ChromeOS Flex USB drive into your Windows laptop and restart it. If it doesn’t boot automatically, enter the BIOS setup (usually by pressing keys like F2, F12, or DEL during startup). Change the boot order to prioritize the USB drive, save the settings, and restart.