How to turn an old Windows PC into a Chromebook for free

Computers that stop receiving security patches don't have to become obsolete. Windows 10 officially reached end of life in October 2025, though extended security updates remain available through October 2027, and older Mac models will lose support over time as well. One solution is Google's ChromeOS, which needs fewer resources than Windows and tends to run more smoothly on weaker hardware.

ChromeOS was once only available pre-installed on Chromebooks, but Google now offers a free tool called ChromeOS Flex that lets users install the operating system on their own devices. The process takes about an hour.

Requirements and installation

ChromeOS Flex needs an Intel or AMD CPU, 4GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, though CPUs from 2012 or earlier no longer support the newest versions. Users also need a USB flash drive of at least 8GB, whose contents will be erased during setup, and a computer running Chrome to create the installation media via the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension. Once the drive is prepared, it's inserted into the target computer, and the boot menu is accessed during startup to select the USB drive. From there, users can either try the OS without saving data or install it directly, which erases everything already on the drive.

Downsides

ChromeOS Flex support isn't permanent and varies by hardware configuration; Google maintains a list of certified models, though uncertified hardware generally works fine too. The system doesn't officially support dual-booting alongside Windows, lacks biometric authentication and PIN login, and doesn't include the Google Play Store or an Android virtual machine — apps can only be installed via command line if Linux support is enabled. Even so, ChromeOS Flex remains a simpler alternative to installing Linux on an old but still working machine.