Have you decided to dump your old Mac due to a non-functional operating system? Stop! Give a second call to it. Recently, Google has announced Chrome OS Flex, a method for replacing the operating system to turn your old Mac into Chromebooks.
This step can bring a huge change, hence preventing e-waste. Google itself is encouraging individuals, schools, businesses, and offices to download Chrome OS Flex; hence they can easily try modern computing with cloud-based management.
Google’s 2020 purchase of a company named Neverware offered an app Cloud-ready that allows users to convert old PCs into Chrome OS machines. This resulted in Chrome OS Flex.
Chrome OS is a full cloud-based operating system, and for using it, you don’t require Windows, Linux, or macOS.
For running Chrome OS Flex, you need:
Mac released after 2010 with 16 GB of free storage and installed chrome browser
USB drive of 8GB or more storage space
How to turn your old Mac into a Chromebook?
For this purpose, you need to install Chrome OS Flex. Its installation can be done by following some simple steps mentioned here:
On your Mac, open chrome browser> Select the Chrome book Recovery Utility in the chrome web store.
Then, click on ‘Add to Chrome’ available at the top right.
When prompted, click ‘Add extension’.
Tap Extensions > Manage extensions >turn on the Chromebook Recovery Utility by sliding the switch to the right.
Then, launch the Chrome Recovery Utility extension and identify your Chromebook as Google Chrome OS Flex. Finally, click continue
A prompt to insert a USB device will appear, insert it, then click ‘Create Now’.
Remove the USB device when it shows media is ready
Shut down the Mac to run Chrome OS Flex and re-insert the USB drive.
Now, power on your Mac and select the USB drive from the boot menu.
Finally, hit enter.
After successfully booting Chrome OS Flex from the USB installer, you will be able to install ‘Chrome OS Flex’
Now, it will help you erase the old OS and turn your Mac into a Chromebook.
Important Note:
You can temporarily run Chrome OS Flex by using the USB installer. In this way, you can test and verify your Mac functions like networking, input tools, etc.
Notably, OS Flex is free for individuals, but users like schools and businesses who are using CloudReady will be charged a subscription and fees, respectively.
Users can expect some bugs in recent OS Flex because of early access to this app, but soon, a stable version will be launched.
Experiencing difficulties with your Device, check out our “How To” page on how to resolve some of these issues.
