ChromeOS Flex installation guide

3: Start using ChromeOS Flex

Next: 4: Set up device management for your organization

After you have successfully booted ChromeOS Flex from your USB installer, you can permanently install ChromeOS Flex, erasing the device’s existing OS and replacing it with ChromeOS Flex. If you're not yet ready to install ChromeOS Flex on devices, you can temporarily run it using the USB installer. That way, you can test and verify that device functionality, such as networking and input tools, works as expected.

Things to consider

Google recommends that you fully install ChromeOS Flex, not live boot from the USB installer. Live booting has performance and storage limitations, and does not support automatic updates or enrollment for management. Live booting is only recommended for temporary exploration or testing. We strongly recommend full installation for the best ChromeOS Flex experience.

Full installation of ChromeOS Flex erases all existing data, applications, settings, and OS that are currently on your target device. Lost data is permanently unrecoverable, even if the installation is not successful.

Explore ChromeOS Flex

ChromeOS Flex provides the option to live boot, running the OS directly from your USB device without actually installing it. Live boot helps to preserve your device's current data and OS, so you can test ChromeOS Flex before you install it.

On the device that you booted using the USB installer:

On the Welcome to ChromeOS Flex screen, click Get started.
On the Start using ChromeOS Flex screen, click Try it first.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
Sign in to the device.

After you've finished testing or exploring ChromeOS Flex, to permanently install ChromeOS Flex:

Sign out of the device.
1. At the bottom right, click the time.
2. Click Sign out.
At the bottom of the sign-in screen, click Install ChromeOS Flex.
Carefully review the on-screen warning about erasing data.
Click Install ChromeOS Flex.
When installation is complete, you'll see a message on screen. The device turns off automatically.
With the device completely turned off, take out the USB installer.
Turn on the device and start using ChromeOS Flex.

Note: After you install ChromeOS Flex, user data—such as downloads and settings—collected during live booting does not persist.

Install ChromeOS Flex

Before you begin: Back up your data to the cloud or a separate drive. Be sure to disconnect all backup and storage drives.

On the Welcome to ChromeOS Flex screen, click Get started.
On the Start using ChromeOS Flex screen, click Install ChromeOS Flex.
Carefully review the on-screen warning about erasing data.
Click Install ChromeOS Flex.
When installation is complete, you'll see a message on screen. The device turns off automatically.
With the device completely turned off, take out the USB installer.
Turn on the device and start using ChromeOS Flex.

Format your USB drive

If you want to reuse your USB drive after you successfully install ChromeOS Flex on devices, use the Chromebook Recovery Utility to format it.

On the ChromeOS, Windows, or Mac device that you used to create the USB installer, open Chrome browser .
Launch the Chrome Recovery Utility extension.
Click Settings Erase recovery media.
Insert the USB drive you want to format.
From the dropdown menu, select the USB drive.
Click Continue.
Click Erase now.

The Chrome Recovery Utility extension erases everything on your USB drive
When you see the message Your recovery media has been erased, click Done.

ChromeOS Flex fails to install

If you’re having problems installing ChromeOS Flex on devices, go to Troubleshoot installation failures.

Send feedback

Your feedback enhances our ability to troubleshoot issues and helps us to improve ChromeOS Flex. We cannot respond to everyone's feedback, but we'll use the logs attached to your feedback report to improve ChromeOS Flex. You can send feedback about your experience or report an issue.

Before submitting feedback after an installation failure, check to make sure that you’re connected to the internet.