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    Project Crostini Linux files now automatically mount in Chrome OS Files app

    Kevin TofelBy Updated:4 Comments1 Min Read
    Linux files mounted in Chrome OS Files

    I just noted that Dev Channel version 68.0.3437.0 fixes the broken Terminal app for Project Crostini and thanks to DennyL, I found out that the Linux files automatically mount to the Chrome OS Files app in this version as well. That means no more workarounds using the SSH app!

    I didn’t see this at first for one reason: There’s a flag to enable the feature. Make sure you type chrome://flags in your browser and then enable the #crostini-files flag. Restart and you should see a new Linux Files mount in the Files app on your Chromebook. Thanks DennyL!

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    After spending 15 years in IT at Fortune 100 companies, Kevin turned a hobby into a career and began covering mobile technology in 2003. He writes daily on the industry and has co-hosted the weekly MobileTechRoundup podcast since 2006. His writing has appeared in print (The New York Times, PC Magazine and PC World) and he has been featured on NBC News in Philadelphia.

    4 Comments

    1. ChrisGX on

      There is nothing conventional about the Linux folders mounted in this image. Any idea what this means?

      Also, it is hard to be certain about the mechanics of this – SSH and SSH authentification might still be surreptitiously playing a role, here.

      • Kevin C. Tofel on

        SSH is surely playing a role here: Google’s code shows that they’re using the mechanics of the Secure Shell app behind the scenes to auto-mount the user’s Linux files automatically to the Chrome OS Files app. As far as the “nothing conventional” aspect, it’s mounting your user files in Chrome OS. You still have access to the entire file system in the Linux terminal with Crostini, which I think makes sense.

        • Simon Langley on

          This didn’t render properly. I actually typed /home/username/ but the word username was in angle brackets.