Turn on chrome os developer mode to install apps

Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more. Chrome OS devices are getting more powerful and capable, allowing for a pretty good albeit simple PC experience. This post will explain exactly how to do that, and what to be aware of.

Chromebooks are affordable and easy-to-use devices that are a great choice for anyone. Since their release, Chromebooks have added many useful features, making the best Chromebooks a great alternative to Microsoft Windows laptops. Even though they are great for web browsing, Chromebooks are a bit limited by nature, and some power users may want a little more out of their devices. The Chromebook operating system, Chrome OS, includes a Developer mode that lets users tailor their Chromebook experience to suit their needs, much like gaining root access on an Android device. Here's a tutorial on what Developer mode is, why you might want to use it, and how to access it.

Turn on chrome os developer mode to install apps

Chromebooks are fantastic devices. Yet, their capabilities are very limited outside the browser and Google apps. Chances are that you might want to run Linux on your Chromebook for extra functionality. You can do this by turning on the developer mode on your Chromebook. There are pros and cons of putting a Chromebook in developer mode. Once you get a grasp of them, the process of doing it is fairly easy. To put your Chromebook into developer mode, you need to power it on while holding two additional keys. The next screen will ask you if you want to turn OS verification off. Here, hit Enter. ChromeOS will then display a message for 30 seconds about transitioning the system to developer mode. Your Chromebook will automatically proceed to enable the developer mode.

Guides How-to's. All security features are disabled when Developer Mode is turned on.

It's a hidden setting on your Chromebook that turns off all the restrictions and protections built into Chrome and gives you relatively direct access to a wealth of features that typically only developers and IT professionals take advantage of. While there are risks with enabling Developer Mode, it's easy to do and to undo if you want to turn it off later. Developer Mode is a Chrome configuration that gives you root access to your Chromebook. Similar to the way you can "jailbreak" an iOS device, putting a Chromebook in Developer Mode means you can install Android apps from any source and bypass security systems ordinarily built into Chrome OS. You can even add a different operating system, so you can run Linux on your Chromebook as well. After enabling Developer Mode, your Chromebook doesn't automatically grant you access to the files and apps already installed, though, so you will need to manually copy existing data from the original configuration into Developer Mode. There are other things to be wary of as well.

If you are geek, you must be aware of the fact that if you really want to make the most out of a software, you have to tinker with it. So, if you have been using a Chromebook and want to unlock its full potential, you should enable Developer Mode on the device. Developer Mode on Chrome OS gives you root access , which lets you install other operating systems like Linux or other Chromium-based platforms. Moreover, it brings a slew of more options through Crosh commands and also lets you install Android apps through APK files. So, everything on the device will be deleted along with your account details and settings. However, if you have stored your files online via Google Drive, you can recover them along with all your settings when you enter your Google account. Google will retract support Another important thing to note here is the fact that Google will stop supporting your Chromebook if you enable the Developer Mode. This means, the warranty of your device will be void.

Turn on chrome os developer mode to install apps

A similar setting in Chrome OS unlocks new features but with some setbacks. Before we get started, be warned that enabling developer mode on your Chromebook will wipe your Chromebook. Doing the same will enable features that might be unstable, which might affect the user experience. Turning off developer mode on Chrome OS will completely reset your Chromebook. Hence, make sure to take a complete backup of your device. Tip: You can directly transfer files from your Chromebook to Google Drive. Your Chromebook will be reset and will boot into Chrome OS again, where you will be greeted by the setup process again. While Chromebooks allow you to run Linux , they still lack the openness that other Google products like Android provide. Enabling developer mode unlocks experimental features and, more importantly, the ability to sideload Android APKs.

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You can also use it to access the developer shell if you want to actually do some Chrome-based development. Power off your Chromebook before proceeding. Share icon An curved arrow pointing right. Perhaps the most popular use for Developer Mode is for sideloading Android apps. If you want to try new features from Google before they're released to the stable channel, change your ChromeOS channel to Beta or Dev. Although many users pick up a quality Chromebook because of the simple browser-based experience, there's much more you can do with it if you're comfortable tweaking more advanced settings. While there are risks with enabling Developer Mode, it's easy to do and to undo if you want to turn it off later. Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Computing Chromebooks.

It's a hidden setting on your Chromebook that turns off all the restrictions and protections built into Chrome and gives you relatively direct access to a wealth of features that typically only developers and IT professionals take advantage of. While there are risks with enabling Developer Mode, it's easy to do and to undo if you want to turn it off later. Developer Mode is a Chrome configuration that gives you root access to your Chromebook.

Also, when you turn on your device with Developer Mode enabled, you'll see a warning screen letting you know it's in Developer Mode. When ready, go through the Chromebook setup process. Travel Angle down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. Then do this:. Source: Google. Related How to reset a Chromebook before selling it or to fix software problems In this tutorial, we discuss how to reset Chromebook by Powerwashing, and discuss additional options if this doesn't solve your problem. It allows you to enable functionality not present in the standard ChromeOS settings. It indicates the ability to send an email. ChromeOS does not sync Linux data to the cloud, and that puts the data at risk. Guides How-to's. Readers like you help support XDA Developers.