If you have an aging Mac lying around that struggles to run the latest macOS and has stopped receiving security updates from Apple, it's possible to give it a secure second life by installing software that essentially turns it into a Chromebook.

chrome os flex mac
That's because Google has released an early access version of Chrome OS Flex, which offers a way to replace the operating system on older PCs and Macs so that they can tap into a way of computing that is almost entirely managed in the cloud. Installing the cloud-first OS means using your Mac will stay secure with regular updates, it should boot fast, it and won't slow down over time.

Chrome OS Flex is the result of Google's 2020 purchase of Neverware, a company that offered an app called CloudReady that allows users to convert old PCs into Chrome OS machines.

Chrome OS Flex has the same look and feel as Chrome OS, which is shipped with every Chromebook, as it's built on the same code base and includes Google Assistant, the Chrome browser, and Nearby Sharing. However, it's worth noting that there's currently no Google Play Store, and Google has outlined some other, mainly system-level limitations of OS Flex that distinguish it from Chrome OS on native Google devices.

What You'll Need

  • Mac released after 2010 with 16GB of free storage.
  • Chrome browser installed on your Mac
  • USB drive with 8GB or more of storage space.

Installing Chrome OS Flex

Note that use of OS Flex is free for individuals, but schools and businesses who are using CloudReady will continue to be charged a fee and subscription rate, respectively.

Also bear in mind that this is an early access version, so expect some bugs (the OS can also be booted directly from a USB stick if you don't want to commit to installation). A stable version of the OS is expected to launch in the coming months.

  1. Open Chrome browser on your Mac and select the Chromebook Recovery Utility in the Chrome web store.
  2. At the top right, click Add to Chrome.
    chrome recovery

  3. When prompted, click Add extension.
  4. At the top-right of your Chrome browser window, click Extensions -> Manage extensions, and next to Chromebook Recovery Utility, toggle the switch to the right to turn it on.
  5. Launch the Chrome Recovery Utility extension and identify your Chromebook as Google Chrome OS Flex, then click Continue.
    chrome flex installer

  6. When prompted, insert your USB drive, select it from the dropdown menu and click Continue, then click Create Now.
  7. When it says the media is ready, remove the USB drive.
  8. Now shut down the Mac you want to run Chrome OS Flex on and reinsert the USB drive.
  9. Power on the Mac again while holding the Option key.
  10. Select the USB drive from the boot menu and hit Enter.

After you have successfully booted Chrome OS Flex from your USB installer, you can permanently install Chrome OS Flex, erasing the device's existing OS and replacing it with Chrome OS Flex.

If you're not yet ready to install Chrome OS 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. For more help on the installation and configuration process, consult the Chrome OS Flex installation guide.

Popular Stories

ios 18 4 carplay

iOS 18.4 Includes a Small But Useful Change for CarPlay

Sunday February 23, 2025 2:23 pm PST by
The first beta of iOS 18.4 is now available, and it includes a small but useful change for CarPlay. As we noted in our list of iOS 18.4 features, CarPlay now shows a third row of icons, up from two rows previously. However, this change is only visible in vehicles with a larger center display. For example, a MacRumors Forums member noticed the change in a Toyota Tundra, which can be equipped...
cook trump

Trump Responds to Apple Keeping Diversity Policies

Wednesday February 26, 2025 6:32 am PST by
In an all-caps post on Truth Social today, U.S. President Donald Trump said Apple should fully end its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Tim Cook meeting with President Trump in 2017 "APPLE SHOULD GET RID OF DEI RULES, NOT JUST MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THEM," he wrote. Trump's post comes one day after Apple held its annual shareholders meeting, during which a majority of...
apple watch ultra snow

6 Features Coming to the Apple Watch Ultra 3

Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:00 am PST by
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to launch later this year, arriving two years after the previous model with a series of improvements. While no noticeable design changes are expected for the third generation since the company tends to stick with the same Apple Watch design through three generations before changing it, there are a series of internal upgrades on the way. By the time the ...
airtag orange

AirTag 2 Rumored to Launch in May or June With These New Features

Monday February 24, 2025 6:11 am PST by
Apple plans to launch a second-generation AirTag in May or June this year, according to a post today from a leaker known as Kosutami. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that a new AirTag would be released in mid-2025. May or June would align with that timeframe. Below, we recap three new features rumored for the AirTag 2: With a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, the...
iPhone Fold Vertical Feature

Apple's 2026 Foldable iPhone Has No Visible Display Crease – Report

Tuesday February 25, 2025 2:58 am PST by
Apple is making significant headway on its long-rumored foldable iPhone, with a new report suggesting the company has achieved a major breakthrough by effectively eliminating the screen crease that plagues current foldable devices. According to Korean publication ETNews, Apple is finalizing its component suppliers for the foldable iPhone, with the selection process expected to be completed...
iphone 17 lineup cad render majin bu

Revealed: Entire iPhone 17 Lineup's Striking New Camera Designs

Monday February 24, 2025 2:49 am PST by
A new CAD render of all the devices in Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 lineup has been shared online by leaker Majin Bu, specifically showing the allegedly different rear camera system designs of the standard iPhone 17, all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, and the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models. The leaker Majin Bu has had some hits in the past, but some of his information has been wrong,...
trump iphone dictation issue

Apple Fixing 'Trump' Dictation Processing Bug

Tuesday February 25, 2025 1:18 pm PST by
Multiple iPhone owners today noticed a pronunciation processing issue that causes the word "Trump" to momentarily show up when using dictation to send a message with the word "racist." In some cases, when speaking the word racist through the iPhone's built-in dictation feature, the iPhone briefly interprets the spoken word as "Trump" and "Trump" text shows up in the Messages app before being ...
iOS 18

Apple Says iOS 18.4 Will Be Released in April With These New Features

Wednesday February 26, 2025 7:15 am PST by
In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 18.4 will be released in April. From the Apple News+ Food announcement:Coming with iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 in April, Apple News+ subscribers will have access to Apple News+ Food, a new section that will feature tens of thousands of recipes — as well as stories about restaurants, healthy eating, kitchen essentials, and more — from the...