How To Install Linux On Chromebook

Chrome OS covers most day-to-day tasks, but it locks out a lot of software — IDEs, native compilers, advanced command-line tools. Installing Linux on a Chromebook changes that. Google has made the process far more accessible than it used to be, and most Chromebooks produced after 2019 support it natively. This guide covers both the built-in method and the manual route for older devices.

Does Your Chromebook Support Linux Installation?

Before anything else, check compatibility. Open Settings, scroll to Advanced, and look for a Developers section. If you see “Linux development environment” listed there, your device supports Crostini — Google’s built-in Linux container.

Chromebooks running Chrome OS 69 or later on supported hardware can use this method. Devices on managed accounts (school or work) may have Linux disabled by the administrator, in which case you will not see the option at all.

Older Chromebooks without Crostini support can still run Linux through Crouton, though that path requires enabling Developer Mode and carries a few trade-offs covered later in this article.

How to Install Linux on a Chromebook Using Crostini

Crostini runs a Debian-based Linux container directly inside Chrome OS without touching the underlying system. No data wipe, no warranty concerns. This is the recommended way to install Linux on a Chromebook for most users.

Step 1: Turn On Linux Development Environment

Click the clock in the bottom-right corner to open Quick Settings, then select Settings. Navigate to Advanced > Developers. Next to “Linux development environment,” click Turn on.

Step 2: Set Your Username and Disk Size

A setup wizard appears. Enter a username — it can be anything — and choose how much storage to allocate. The minimum is 7.5 GB, but 15–20 GB is more practical if you plan to install multiple tools or packages.

Step 3: Wait for the Container to Install

Chrome OS downloads and configures the Linux container. This takes anywhere from a few minutes to around 15 minutes depending on your connection speed. Once done, a Terminal window opens automatically.

Step 4: Update Packages After Setup

Run the following two commands in the Terminal before installing anything else:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

This pulls the latest package index and upgrades any outdated components in the container. After that, your Chromebook Linux setup is ready. You can install Linux apps on a Chromebook without the terminal by opening .deb files directly through the Files app once Crostini is active.

How to Install Linux on a Chromebook Using Crouton

Crouton (Chromium OS Universal Chroot Environment) lets you run Ubuntu or other distributions alongside Chrome OS. It requires Developer Mode, which disables verified boot and erases all local data. Back up anything important before starting.

Step 1: Enable Developer Mode

Power off the Chromebook. Hold Esc + Refresh, then press the Power button. At the recovery screen, press Ctrl + D, then confirm by pressing Enter. The device will reboot into Developer Mode — this process takes 5–10 minutes and wipes local storage.

Step 2: Download Crouton

Sign into Chrome OS as a guest (no Google account needed). Open Chrome and go to goo.gl/fd3zc to download the Crouton script. It saves to your Downloads folder automatically.

Step 3: Run the Install Command

Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open the Crosh terminal, type shell, and press Enter. Then run:

sudo sh ~/Downloads/crouton -t xfce

XFCE is recommended for lower-end hardware. The installer downloads Ubuntu and sets up the desktop environment. When finished, type sudo startxfce4 to launch it. Switch back to Chrome OS at any time using Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Back or Forward.

Crostini vs Crouton: Comparing Linux Installation Methods

The two approaches differ across several dimensions. Crostini wins on security and ease of setup. Crouton gives you a full desktop environment but at the cost of system security and a mandatory data wipe. For most users today, Crostini is the right choice unless the Chromebook is too old to support it.

What to Do After Installing Linux on Your Chromebook

Once the Linux environment is up, a few follow-up steps make a meaningful difference in usability.

Install build-essential if you plan to compile anything from source: sudo apt install build-essential. This pulls in GCC, make, and other compiler tools. Developers setting up a full workflow should also read this detailed Chromebook web development setup covering Node.js, NPM, and XAMPP.

For tasks that push graphics — 3D rendering, video work, or heavier apps — you can enable GPU acceleration for Linux apps through Chrome flags, provided your device supports it.

File sharing between Chrome OS and Linux works through the Files app. Right-click any folder in Chrome OS and select “Share with Linux” to make it accessible inside the container. Linux writes to its own sandboxed filesystem by default, so files stay isolated unless you explicitly share them.

If you also need to test Android apps, the same Linux environment enables ADB, which lets you sideload Android APKs directly onto the device.