How to turn a laptop into a Chromebook?

Not everyone needs a computer with a full set of bells and whistles. The simplified interface of a Chromebook makes it popular with schools – and those of us who serve as IT support for less tech-savvy siblings. It can also cost less than a budget PC.

You may not even need to spend anything if you already have an older laptop. Installing the equivalent of Chrome OS on older hardware costs less than an hour elbow fat, and the end result often feels quicker than today’s dirty cheap Chromebooks.

Here’s how to do it.

How to turn a laptop into a Chromebook?

For this project, we’ll be using Neverware’s CloudReady operating system, which is based on Chromium OS – the same open source code as Google built Chrome OS. You can read more about the basic differences between the two if you are envious, but all you need to know is that Neverware has made the experience of using CloudReady all but identical to Chrome OS.

Step 1: Make sure your laptop meets the requirements

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Like Chrome OS, CloudReady’s system requirements are very poor. The laptop should have 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, full BIOS access, and ideally be produced by 2007. You will need to check your CPU model, however, as Neverware says that processors with Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 500, 600 , 3600 or 3650 graphics hardware does not meet CloudReady performance standards. (In other words, Atom processors from the Silverthorne, Lincroft, and Cedarview families, which were found in low-end laptops between 2008 and early 2012.)

Your best-case scenario is to find your laptop on Neverware’s list of certified devices, which clearly describes the support for features such as a webcam or touchscreen. (Click on the model name to see these details.) We were lucky that our test model, a 2013 Lenovo ThinkPad X240, has full feature support across the board.

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Note: The compatibility list will also show you desktop systems like iMacs and NUCs – so if you have a spare monitor, mouse, and keyboard, you can find a Chromebox instead. Systems with integrated graphics work best.

If your laptop meets the hardware requirements but is not on the list of certified devices, do not worry. You can try CloudReady from the flash drive you will create next, allowing you to test how well it works without shutting down your system.

FRIENDLY BRING: Before you start installing CloudReady, back up all the files in your existing OS! The process is the same as a clean install of Windows, Linux, or MacOS and will delete your drive completely.