{"id":184721,"date":"2022-03-03T09:34:11","date_gmt":"2022-03-03T08:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=184721"},"modified":"2025-07-01T20:54:51","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T03:54:51","slug":"turn-old-mac-into-chromebook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/turn-old-mac-into-chromebook\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Turn Your Old Mac into a Chromebook"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you have an older Mac that no longer gets security updates from Apple and battles to run the latest macOS<\/strong>? Well, now you don\u2019t have to ditch it. You can fish it out of wherever you\u2019re keeping it and give it new life by turning your Mac into a<\/strong> Chromebook<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is possible with Chrome OS Flex<\/a><\/strong>, a cloud-first operating system that you can install on devices initially built to run macOS (or Windows and Linux). Installing Chrome OS Flex will make your old Mac boot fast. It won\u2019t slow down over time and will keep your device secure with regular updates.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Chrome OS Flex?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2020, Google bought Neverware<\/strong>, a company that produced CloudReady,<\/strong> which allows users to convert old PCs into Chrome OS <\/strong>machines. Google then introduced Chrome OS Flex, which essentially replaces older operating systems with a way of computing that\u2019s primarily managed in the cloud. It\u2019s similar to Chrome OS because it uses the same code base. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please note:<\/strong> Using Chrome OS Flex is free for individuals. However, businesses and schools currently using CloudReady will continue to be charged a subscription rate and a fee, respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s needed to install Chrome OS flex?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To install Chrome OS Flex and turn your old Mac into a Chromebook, you\u2019ll need a post-2010 Apple Mac that has the Chrome browser installed<\/strong> on it and16GB of free internal storage. If your Mac has components like a processor and graphics card made before 2010, it might perform poorly. You\u2019ll need an Intel or AMD x86-64-bit compatible device with 4GB of RAM. The device must also be bootable from a USB drive you\u2019ll use to install Chrome OS Flex. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The USB drive must have at least 8GB of storage space. You will also need full administrator access to the BIOS to make adjustments there during the installation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please note: <\/strong>The graphics hardware for Intel GMA 500, 600, 3600, and 3650 do not meet the performance standards required by Chrome OS Flex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to install Chrome OS Flex<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n

  1. Open Chrome Browser<\/h2>\"How

    Open the <\/span>Chrome browser<\/b> on your Mac and select the Chromebook Recovery Utility in the Chrome web store. At the top right, click Add to Chrome<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  2. Enable Chromebook Recovery Utility<\/h2>\"How

    In your Chrome browser window, click <\/span>Extensions -> Manage extensions<\/b>, at the top right. Next, go to <\/span>Chromebook Recovery Utility and <\/b>turn it on.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  3. Identify Chromebook<\/h2>\"How

    In the<\/span> Chrome Recovery Utility extension<\/b> under <\/span>Identify your Chromebook<\/b>, choose\u00a0 <\/span>Google Chrome OS Flex<\/b>, then click <\/span>Continue<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  4. Create recovery data<\/h2>\"How

    When prompted, insert your USB drive, select it from the drop-down menu and click <\/span>Continue<\/b>, then click <\/span>Create Now<\/b>. Remove the USB drive when it says it\u2019s safe to do so. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>

  5. Finalize<\/h2>

    Shut down the device on which you want to run Chrome OS Flex and then reinsert the USB drive. Hold down the Option<\/b> key and power up the MAC again. When you see the boot menu, choose USB drive<\/b> and hit Enter<\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ol><\/div>