Chrome OS Flex is a new operating system from Google that allows you to take outdated Windows and Mac hardware and update the operating system, converting them into Chromebooks. Because of Windows 11’s stringent hardware requirements, which could leave legions of older PCs stranded when Windows 10 reaches the end of its support lifecycle in 2025, this is an interesting development.
It’s an intriguing notion, even though Google is labeling Chrome OS Flex an “early access” and “unstable” project at the time of writing: rather than throwing away an old PC that’s nearing the end of its useful life, you can turn it into a Chromebook instead. In order to obtain download instructions for the new operating system, you’ll need to sign up with your email address on Google’s special Chrome OS Flex website, which you can find here.
Initially, it appears like Google is presenting Chrome OS Flex to serve two purposes: as a method for individuals to experiment with and evaluate the benefits of Chromebooks, and as a tool for businesses to assess how well they can be managed. According to Google, Chrome Enterprise Upgrade can be used to manage a Chrome OS Flex “fleet,” which is a collection of Chromebooks. If any of this sounds familiar, that’s because it is: Google acquired CloudReady a few years back, and the company’s expertise was utilized to convert laptop PCs into Chromebooks using Google’s Chromebook conversion tool. Chrome OS Flex was a “prior version of Chrome OS CloudReady,” according to Google. “When Chrome OS Flex is stable, Google will automatically update CloudReady devices to Chrome OS Flex,” the company said in an additional statement.
The traditional approach for DIY PC enthusiasts was to either leave an outdated computer running and scavenge it for parts or to replace the Windows operating system with a resource-light version of the Linux operating system. Now, Google is providing them with an additional option: they can switch from Windows to Chrome OS and reap the benefits of the more streamlined operating system that Google has developed. And this is something that needs to be stressed again: Like the new Android apps for Windows, Chrome OS Flex does not provide the possibility to run Chrome OS in a window or a virtualized environment, as does the Chrome browser. Instead, it completely replaces Windows and all of its associated files.
Installing Google Chrome OS Flex using installation media on a new PC is quite similar to installing Windows 11 via installation media on an existing PC. You’ll need a USB flash drive with at least 8GB of storage space. PCs will require a minimum of 4GB of RAM and 16GB of storage space. The CPU requirements are more lenient: you’ll need a 64-bit processor, no matter what. Which is to say, every processor manufactured after the year 2000 falls into this category. However, there are several constraints on the GPU: Google claims that the Intel GMA 500, 600, 3600, and 3650 graphics processors do not fulfill the performance requirements for Chrome OS Flex.
The main snag, on the other hand, appears to be the wide range of PC hardware that is compatible with Chrome OS Flex, as well as how that gear will interact with the operating system. There is a list of “certified models” that are currently certified or are slated to be certified with Chrome OS Flex that has been released by Google, and many, many of them have the caution “small difficulties expected” next to them. The search engine giant describes “small difficulties” in a cyclical manner, saying that “models are likely to enable at least basic functionality, but are still being worked on by our team. You might run into some minor issues.”
In light of this, why wouldn’t you want to install Chrome OS Flex on an older computer? In any case, there is a lengthy list of restrictions that are associated with the installation process. For starters, Google warns that Android apps, Google Play, and Parallels Desktop support are no longer supported. Google does not have the ability to handle firmware updates for Chrome OS Flex devices, nor does it have the ability to provide verified boot capabilities.
All of this gives the impression that installing Chrome OS Flex on an older PC is a “use at your own risk” type of project—albeit one that can still transform your older PC into a Chromebook, and for no additional cost.
