Pros & Cons
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- Works on low-cost computers
- Good security with automatic updates
- Runs Android apps
- Fast boot-up speeds
- Tight integrations with Android phones and Google services
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- Doesn't run traditional desktop apps
- Still some app store and file location confusion
- Requires a Google account and buy-in to Google services
ChromeOS is Google's cloud-connected desktop operating system. The web-app-focused OS primarily powers inexpensive Chromebooks, and its integration with Google's online apps makes it excellent for education and light productivity. Android app compatibility enables access to millions of software choices, too, even if some still don't adapt well to a larger screen size. ChromeOS can't match the capability or extensibility of macOS Tahoe or Windows 11, our Editors' Choice winners for the category, but it's still a worthwhile choice if you want a simpler experience.
ChromeOS Evolves: From Standalone Browser to Full OS With AI
ChromeOS has come a long way since its beginning. It launched as little more than a version of Ubuntu that could run just a single app: the Chrome web browser. It has gained many significant capabilities since then, the biggest of which is the ability to run Android apps. It also has resizable windows and good printing options. Using a Chromebook offline was problematic in the early days, but apps now work mostly fine without an internet connection.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)The OS has become more stable, and apps are less quirky as well. Along the way, ChromeOS acquired decent touch-screen support, though it still doesn’t deliver an ideal tablet experience. Chromebook Plus models and even newer machines with onboard NPUs add yet more capabilities.
ChromeOS's support for Android apps continues to improve, and Google has deprecated browser-based apps from the Chrome Web Store; it now hosts only browser extensions and themes. Google has been phasing out the ability to run Chrome web apps, which will completely end in October 2028. Only administrator-installed apps from organizations will work until then. Google is telling developers to switch over to Android apps, browser extensions, PWAs, or standard web applications (which run on most browsers on any platform).
You can now pin files (not just programs) to the Shelf, while a Focus feature helps you get things done without distractions. New accessibility options include the ability to control the mouse with face gestures and to configure the keyboard to control the mouse and minimize unintentional typing.
Google recently announced that ChromeOS would merge with Android, with an executive later indicating that the move will take place in 2026.
Gemini AI Arrives on ChromeOS
Google continues to infuse all of its products with Gemini AI, and ChromeOS is no exception. All Chromebooks now get Chat with Gemini for quick access to Google's generative AI. The Welcome Recap feature gets you back to what you were doing, complete with activity suggestions and reminders. AI-generated desktop backgrounds, Google Lens, Help Me Write, and Live Translate join the existing features.
Some new features are exclusive to Chromebook Plus computers (more on those below). One of the coolest features among those is Capture Text, which uses AI to analyze anything you select on your screen and suggest relevant actions with direct links.
The most advanced Chromebooks have NPUs for local AI processing. To date, just two of these are available: the five-star-rated Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 and the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 and t. One feature exclusive to these devices is Smart Groups, which gathers apps and browser tabs that the AI determines are part of a related project, such as a trip itinerary. These machines also handle some AI processing locally on the device, including image editing and generation. For example, you can remove the background of an image or create a sticker.
What Devices Run ChromeOS?
Most computers that run ChromeOS are Chromebooks or Chromeboxes, but you may also encounter Chromebases and Chromebits. Chromebases are all-in-one PCs from Acer, HP, and LG; although they are no longer in production, you can still find them for sale on web retailers. Chromebits are very small units that plug into TVs to give them computing capabilities.
For this review, I tested ChromeOS on an Acer Chromebook Plus 515. It offers surprisingly strong capabilities for a laptop priced under $300.
Keyboard-less tablets running ChromeOS seem to have gone the way of the Passenger Pigeon. You can still find convertibles that switch between laptop and tablet mode, however, like the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714. The Lenovo Chromebook Duet gets even closer, since its keyboard is detachable.
Since ChromeOS is primarily a cloud-connected OS, you can easily get a Chromebook with LTE connectivity. Some run on ARM processors, but most use Intel or AMD CPUs.
Google's Instant Tethering feature eliminates the need for a dedicated mobile connection, as it allows you to tether your Android phone. Of course, if you use an iPhone, this doesn't help you.
Chromebook Plus: More Power, More Features
In 2024, Google unveiled the Chromebook Plus class of computers. These machines have more advanced specs than typical Chromebooks and benefit from exclusive features. A Chromebook Plus must have an Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 7000-series or higher processor, at least 8GB of RAM, 128GB of local storage, and a 1080p IPS or higher screen resolution. Existing computers that meet these minimums automatically qualify for the Chromebook Plus status.
An early update added a helpful Quick Insert key for entering emoji, Google Drive-stored files, recently viewed links, text generated by Gemini AI, and more. If you don't want to buy a new laptop just for this key, a shortcut key combination provides the same functionality: Launcher-F or the Google logo key-F. You can also reprogram another key of your choice in Settings.
These machines can run increasingly impressive cloud games from Nvidia GeForce Now, the new web version of Adobe Photoshop, and even online video editing apps such as Kapwing and ClipChamp.
Chromebook Plus computers can use the Magic Eraser feature, which is also available for Google Pixel phones. This feature automatically selects people or objects in a photo and moves them around to your taste. It also blurs the background.
The latest Chromebook Plus exclusives include the Help Me Read feature, which summarizes articles, PDFs, articles, or websites; Live Translate for any on-screen text (very similar to a new Copilot+ PC feature); gameplay recording; a Recorder app with transcriptions that identify speakers; and video call enhancements that remove background noise and improve lighting. (MacOS and Windows offer similar video calling features.)
Finally, the larger local storage requirement further enables a feature in Chromebook Plus computers to sync all the cloud files to the local machine. That means you can access them without an internet connection.
Can You Install ChromeOS by Yourself?
Google doesn't make ChromeOS installation media available in the same way that Ubuntu and Windows 11 do. However, ChromeOS Flex is an option that provides a reasonable facsimile of ChromeOS on old PCs and Macs, without the ability to run Android apps. It primarily targets business environments with managed machines and virtual desktop infrastructure, but can also be installed on personal Intel- and AMD-based computers. Flex also doesn't support ChromeOS verified boot, but it can take advantage of UEFI Secure Boot.
Since the operating system's code is open-source as part of the Chromium OS project, other developers have produced installers, such as FydeOS. You could, with a bit of gumption, try installing Chromium OS on standard PC hardware, but you might encounter hardware incompatibilities. Most people should buy hardware with the OS preinstalled.
Peripheral Support: Most of Your Stuff Will Work
When it comes to peripherals, ChromeOS works with USB keyboards, mice, and hubs, as well as with Bluetooth peripherals (see below). Google's Works With Chromebook program is an initiative designed to simplify the process of finding compatible devices for users. ChromeOS supports monitors via DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI, or VGA.
Storage
When I plugged in a USB thumb drive, the OS correctly identified it and opened a file-browsing window. Note that the OS mimics Apple's macOS in that it annoyingly displays a notification whenever you unplug the USB key without first telling the OS you want to eject it. (Windows just deals with it.) ChromeOS supports the SMB 3.0 protocol, which means you can use network storage, such as that found in popular Synology NAS devices, for example. It's especially important if you have large audio, photo, and video libraries that you need to store locally for fast access. Remember, though, a key to ChromeOS is its reliance on cloud storage, especially Google Drive.
Printers
Google has made efforts to enhance printer support, but it still lags behind Windows and macOS in the number of printers it supports. If it doesn’t find your Wi-Fi-connected printer automatically, you can manually enter an IP address and download a driver. I'm disappointed that a ChromeOS driver is not available for our workplace's Brother HL-4150CDN printer, though it does support some newer models in that line. ChromeOS supports five Internet Printing Protocols, as well as the Line Printer Daemon. It connected and printed via Wi-Fi to my home Epson XP-6100 without any issues.
ChromeOS now has basic printer management functionality like that on other desktop OSes. Settings entries allow you to view current print jobs, cancel them, and manage saved printers.
Bluetooth and Miracast
During testing, my Chromebook successfully identified mice, smartphones, PCs, TVs, speakers, headphones, and more devices over Bluetooth. Displaying your Chromebook or box's screen on a large TV is a cinch. Simply select the Cast Devices Available option from the status tray menu, located at the lower right.
Support for Fast Pair worked extremely well in testing. Connecting a pair of Between Pro earbuds and a Logitech MX Vertical mouse took nothing more than a tap on the peripheral's entry in the Bluetooth panel.
Setting Up ChromeOS: Simple and Fast
To get going with ChromeOS, simply charge your Chromebook and hit the power button. The opening screen has you choose your language and accessibility options. The next option includes features such as ChromeVox (spoken feedback), a large mouse cursor, high-contrast mode, a screen magnifier, and an on-screen keyboard.
You must connect to the internet, agree to the license terms, and decide whether to send usage data back to Google. I opted out. Google knows plenty about me already. The setup wizard then checks for and installs updates.
Next, you have to sign in to a Google account. Windows, Mac, and Ubuntu all allow you to use the computer without an account (though the first two make it significantly harder). There's no workaround with ChromeOS. So, if you're hesitant to have all your activity stored on Google's servers, another OS is probably better for you.
After logging into a Gmail account, I saw a message that my settings would be synced and that my browsing history would be used to "personalize Search, ads, and other Google services." You can change these settings in your Google Activity Controls.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)During setup, Google Assistant requests additional privacy permissions. One is to allow the tool to create a unique sonic model of your voice, using what it calls Voice Match. After allowing Assistant, ChromeOS takes you through a brief yet enjoyable tour of all its features, highlighting key areas of interest along the way.
One feather in ChromeOS's cap is the ease with which you can switch users, though macOS and Windows also make it easy. ChromeOS adds the ability to easily log in as a Guest account. At the bottom of the lock screen are options for Browse as Guest and Add Person. Guests cannot install apps, either web or Android, though they can download files.
Like some Windows and macOS laptops, a few Chromebooks support biometric login via your fingerprint. You can use a PIN to unlock the computer, which I appreciate, or you can do the same with an Android phone. However, you must still sign in with a full password on startup. Surprisingly, the PINs and passwords you choose have no security requirements. I was able to set mine as 123456 and 111111.
Once you're up and running, a well-designed and thorough Explore app can help you move to, set up, and use your ChromeOS machine.
Can You Use ChromeOS With Multiboot or Virtual Machines?
You can boot Windows on an Intel-based Mac using Boot Camp or Ubuntu on a Windows PC. Very brave and savvy users can even try to get macOS running on a Windows machine. ChromeOS doesn't officially support any form of multi-booting, though you can find workarounds online. Some of these workarounds and third-party utilities can produce multibooting, but the capability is not part of the official OS. You don't need to multiboot Linux, since ChromeOS runs on top of Linux; a developer setting allows you to run Linux apps alongside ChromeOS apps.
Running guest OSes in virtual machines on ChromeOS is another thing that doesn't have Google's blessing, except when using the very limited ChromeOS Flex; however, there are workarounds. In truth, both multibooting and virtual machines are antithetical to the intention of ChromeOS: to be a simple computing platform. Nevertheless, its ability to run Linux applications makes the OS a viable option for developers.
Interface and Windowing: Right Up There With the Leaders
As you might expect from Google, the OS's interface focused on the browser and search. Unlike most desktop operating systems, ChromeOS doesn't let you pin icons for apps and files onto the desktop. Instead, you use the Launcher and the Shelf.
ChromeOS benefits from a couple of Microsoft Windows-style features that are still missing in macOS: Clipboard History is accessible with the circular Launcher Button-V or Search key-V. The operating system also gets its own form of Snap layouts, which, like in Windows 11, appear when you hover the mouse over the Maximize button at the top right of a window. (You can also get to the options with Launcher-Z)
The Shelf
The dock or taskbar along the bottom of the screen, which Google calls the Shelf, contains only some Google apps by default. In its last major UI update, Google center-aligned the Shelf icons. Previously, it left-aligned them. Windows 11 did the same with its Start menu, though you can still change it back. After you launch an app, whether it's a native Chrome browser app or an Android app, an icon appears for it in the Shelf. Icons for running apps receive the tiniest of faint gray underlines, indicating that they are indeed running. You can unpin any app icon except for the Chrome browser.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)Aside from the tiny underline to indicate an app is active, shelf icons don't offer much functionality. In Windows, by contrast, you can pause or skip back and forward from the Spotify app's taskbar icon or see the last several documents you opened in a productivity app with Jump Lists. In ChromeOS, the only choices are pinning the app and autohiding the shelf. You can position the shelf along the left or right screen edges if you prefer. I like that tapping a shelf icon a second time minimizes the app, a convenience not available in macOS but long present in Windows. Two-finger tapping an app icon in the shelf lets you see its info or uninstall it.
The Status Tray Menu
The status tray menu, located at the far right of the Shelf, displays the time, Wi-Fi status, and battery status. Clicking it allows you to adjust the volume and brightness, shut down the machine, sign out of your account, connect or disconnect Wi-Fi, take a screenshot, enable Do Not Disturb, and view the VPN status (if you have installed one). It also has Cast Screen and Settings buttons.
The Launcher
The Launcher opens via the Launcher Button or when you click its circular icon. This panel, similar to the Windows Start menu, offers quick access to apps and searches. However, ChromeOS's Launcher is less functional than Windows' Start menu, which also provides access to settings, power options, and recommended apps and documents. You can group app icons by dragging one atop another. Scrolling down takes you through your whole library of apps, a helpful trick. In Windows 11, you have to press another arrow button for that.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)The Files Window
(Credit: Google/PCMag)ChromeOS's Files window displays local files in the Downloads folder. That goes even for files that you never downloaded, such as screenshots. I wish Google would simply call this section Local Files. There’s also a Play files folder, where Android apps may store their data in subfolders. The Files window helpfully shows a Recent section at the top, similar to Windows’ Home section, which I find indispensable. Unlike in macOS and Windows 11, the Files window doesn't feature tabs for working between multiple folders.
The Launcher Key/Quick Insert Key
Most Chromebooks still have the Launcher key with the circle, which, logically, opens the Launcher. On the most recent Chromebooks, however, the Quick Insert key replaces the Launcher key, offering several AI-powered functions, such as inserting a relevant link or generating text. Other Chromebook users can use Launcher Key-F for this. When I tested it, a small panel opened with options for emoji, Caps Lock, and Help Me Write. That last one generates text based on your text prompt (which must be four words or more).
Depending on what's on your screen at the moment, the Quick Insert panel may also offer a calculator that performs unit conversions, searches Google Drive, and displays recently visited web links. To get Launcher functionality on a keyboard with the Quick Insert key, use the Quick Insert key-S shortcut.
Keyboard Shortcuts
The operating system supports most standard keyboard shortcuts, such as Ctrl+F for Find, Ctrl+Z to undo, and Ctrl+V to paste. Two excellent keys are Show Windows and Full Screen. macOS has the former, but the latter is unique and a great idea. The Launcher Button-Esc shortcut takes you to the task manager, where you can shut down misbehaving programs. Some newer Chromebooks have a Google G logo key, which opens Gemini. On some older Chromebooks, the Google Assistant key now opens a Gemini window as well.
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Taking Screenshots
Taking screenshots is as easy as it is in the two leading desktop OSes. Press the dedicated Screenshot key or Ctrl+Show Windows, and a thumbnail appears in the lower-right corner, allowing you to open, annotate, or copy the resulting image to the clipboard. You can select a specific rectangle for the screenshot by pressing the Shift key in combination with the other keys, but you cannot capture a freeform shape as Windows allows. ChromeOS's tool offers screen recording, with or without narration and pointer indicators. It even allows you to perform a visual search on the selected area using Google Lens. Unfortunately, I can't take a screenshot of the screenshot tool itself, since it disappears from the result.
Customization and Moving Parts: Lots of Options
Window behavior and manipulation work differently depending on whether you're running a Chrome or Android app. For Chrome apps, you usually see browser tabs; however, you can full-screen the view, making the app appear as its own entity without the browser tabs and menu. Compatible Android apps can run in full-screen mode; however, you must select Resizable from the top selector when starting them. Doing so, however, comes with a warning dialog box stating that some apps don't play well with this choice.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)You can drag Chrome app windows against the edge of the screen to fill half of it exactly, but not so with most Android apps. And there's no quarter-screen view like you get with Windows, where you can drag a window header to any corner. As mentioned, you do get something resembling Snap Layouts, though Google didn't copy this feature as obviously as Apple did for its equivalent in macOS Sequoia. For example, Google's version has a floating option. You can't drag a full-screen app down from its header, however. When you use the app switcher (Alt-Tab), the app tiles don't fan out as in Windows and macOS. Instead, they scroll out of view.
Desks: Virtual Desktops
(Credit: Google/PCMag)ChromeOS offers multiple virtual desktops, like those long present in macOS and Windows. To be special and friendlier, Google calls them Desks instead of desktops. Switching between multiple Desks is a snap, with either a keyboard shortcut or a four-finger sideways swipe on the trackpad (but not on the touch screen). Unlike macOS and Windows, however, you don't get an on-screen button that shows you desktop creation and switching options.
Wallpaper Theme and Night Light
(Credit: Google/PCMag)As with all consumer OSes, you get to pick your desktop wallpaper. You have a choice of personalization by selecting the Light, Dark, or Auto theme (which automatically switches to dark at sunset). A night view, similar to Apple's Night Shift and Windows' Night Light, saves your eyes from sleep-ruining blue light. No shortcut or control lets you show the desktop without the running apps, though that's not as significant here since you can't pin icons for apps or documents to the desktop anyway. Still, when you have a lot of apps open, you might sometimes want to minimize them all.
Touch-Screen and Pen Support: It Works!
In Windows, I appreciate being able to tap a button on a touch screen now and then, saving me from the carpal tunnel stress of moving the mouse to just the right spot and executing yet another mouse click. That's not an option on macOS, but ChromeOS and iPads offer that convenience.
I would, however, like to see more useful gestures, such as swiping in from the sides of the screen. Windows and iPadOS offer those. ChromeOS gestures simply go forward and back in browser history, which you can also achieve by swiping within the browser window in both other OSes. ChromeOS also lacks useful multi-finger gestures, aside from pinch and unpinch, to zoom out and in. Note also that touchpad gestures differ from the touch-screen gestures.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)I appreciate that the on-screen keyboard for tablet touch input supports swipe text entry and offers voice input. However, I wish there were a split keyboard layout option, which is easier to use when holding the computer as a tablet with two hands.
ChromeOS supports the cross-platform Universal Stylus Initiative, and some Chromebooks can take advantage of that protocol. I tested the OS's stylus capability with the $99 Pixelbook Pen. (That model is no longer available, but you can find styli from the likes of Amazon, Lenovo, and others.) The system's handwriting recognition is on par with that of Windows, and it works with any app. You can also use the pen to circle on-screen objects to get info from Gemini about them. You can start a Google Keep note with the pen, even from the lock screen.
As for more artistic pen work, the Infinite Painter Android app proves that ChromeOS is capable of digital drawing—with support for pressure sensitivity, tilt, and palm rejection—much like what you'd find on a Surface Pro or iPad Pro. That said, the precision isn’t on par with the two other platforms, and there is not as much pro-grade drawing software available for touch Chromebooks.
Search and Gemini AI: Lots of Helpful Tools, But Assistant Features Are Gone
ChromeOS no longer incorporates Google Assistant; the keyboard key that used to open that now opens the Gemini window. Here, you can ask general knowledge questions, check the weather, calendar, stock quotes, or sports scores. One problem I have with Gemini is that you can't interact with it solely by speech, as I could with Google Assistant. After you say something, you have to hit Enter to send it to the AI. Microsoft Copilot and Siri offer a more naturally interactive setup. Another shortcoming is that it doesn't support a wake word, unlike the other two.
Gemini on ChromeOS doesn't allow you to control smart home devices; you need to install the Google Home app on your Chromebook for this functionality.
Gemini Is Now Standard
(Credit: Google/PCMag)ChromeOS now includes a Gemini app by default, accessible from the now-familiar star-shaped icon. It's the same experience you get with Gemini on the web: Type or speak text, click the send button, and you see text answers in the window. It feels less human-like than Microsoft Copilot on Windows, which greets you and responds to your conversation in a conversational manner, even despite interruptions and word stumbles.
Live Translation
(Credit: Vimeo/Google/PCMag)Another AI feature, this one exclusive to Chromebook Plus models, is Live Translate. It resembles the Live Captions features in Windows and macOS, though the latter doesn't include translations. It's not on by default, so you must go into Settings to turn on Live Captions and enable translations. As with Copilot's live translation feature, you have to download language packs for the languages you want the system to understand. I tried using it on an Italian-language video on Vimeo (using Firefox, since Chrome has its own built-in captioning). Before downloading the Italian pack, the result was gibberish. Once I enabled everything and downloaded the language pack, I got the result in the above screenshot. It was acceptable, though sometimes the translations didn't make sense in English. You can resize and move the text box, while good text formatting options are available.
Help Me Read
Finally, among the new AI features is Help Me Read. I wasn't able to test this myself, but PCMag's Principal Writer for Hardware, Matthew Buzzi, tried it on a Chromebook Plus. Here's his take: "[Help Me Read] allows you to select pages of text and call on the AI cloud service to condense and summarize the page. You can turn one or many pages into a single paragraph or less to drill down to the key takeaways. Then, you can prompt the AI with additional questions or cut it down further. While this feature is undoubtedly convenient, I have reservations about its potential impact. It’s similar in spirit to the Google AI summaries at the top of search results, which, to varying degrees, you can’t necessarily trust."
Photo Editing
ChromeOS has two main options for photo apps: the basic Photo Gallery and the well-known Google Photos. Gallery offers just basic adjustments such as brightness, contrast, and cropping. It does, however, let you select an area of an image to search with Google Lens.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)Chromebook Plus computers receive additional Google Photos capabilities, including background removal and blur, as well as an HDR effect. The Magic Eraser tool isn't as effective at removing backgrounds as Adobe's tools for that task, but the program did a fine job of blurring backgrounds and fixing a portrait's lighting.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)It's easy enough to install Google Photos from the Play Store, and you can even set it as the default photo editor and viewer. macOS and Windows come with powerful photo editing apps. There's an impressive, if not fully featured, web version of Photoshop that you can run on ChromeOS, as well as one for Lightroom. There are plenty of online photo editing apps, some of which are surprisingly powerful, that can serve you, too.
Android photo apps are also available, including the reasonably powerful Befunky, Polarr, and Fotor. If you just want to snap a photo or video from your ChromeOS computer, the included Camera app can do the job, even if it's more basic than what you get with macOS or Windows.
Music and Video
The operating system comes with a basic music player, which started playing my MP3s from a USB drive without any fuss. You can also use YouTube Music to stream music stored in the cloud. To play a downloaded M4A file, I had to install a separate Music Player for the Google Drive web app. Of course, you can watch Netflix and Hulu and listen to Pandora, Qobuz, and Spotify all through their web interfaces or Android apps.
ChromeOS preloads entertainment media stores, including Play Movies & TV and Play Books. I appreciate that Google's bookstore offers audiobooks in addition to books you have to read yourself. However, Apple is the leader in terms of media stores on the desktop.
Chromebooks aren't ideal for video editing, although you can find some web and Android apps that may serve your needs. One option, ClipChamp, allows you to join clips, apply transitions and effects, and more. Others include LumaFusion and Kapwing. You can find lightweight versions of PowerDirector, Filmora, and NCH VideoPad. However, none of those options is even nearly as powerful as video editing apps that can be run on macOS or Windows, such as Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve.
Offline Usage
Originally, ChromeOS' Achilles' heel was its lack of offline functionality. In the past, ChromeOS devices were little more than a paperweight if you had no internet connection, or at least you had to jump through hoops to get offline functionality. The addition of Android apps addresses that issue. Right-click on a file in the Files app, and you see an Available Offline choice.
Google's apps, including Drive and Gmail, now function more effectively for offline use. You can also play locally downloaded or USB-connected media. In the Chrome Web Store, you can filter results by 'Runs Offline,' though the only recognizable names I saw there were Pocket, useful for reading webpages offline, and Polarr.
The emergence of progressive web apps, or PWAs, which many modern browsers support, is a boon to ChromeOS. These standard web apps utilize offline support, notifications, and custom window interfaces. You can also use Android media apps with offline functionality, such as Netflix.
Running Android Apps in ChromeOS: It's the Way to Go Now
Installing Android apps from the Google Play store on ChromeOS is a cinch, and thankfully, the store that appears on the desktop OS is customized for it.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)The window size issue for Android apps on ChromeOS has greatly improved. This time, I didn't encounter apps that require a restart just to switch between full-screen and windowed modes, unlike the last time I reviewed the OS. And none displayed a blank white window.
Some Android apps—even big names like Instagram—display a message when launched that states, "This app is designed for mobile," and offer three choices: Portrait, Landscape, and Resizable. The latter is the most desktop-like. I didn't have trouble running these. A minor quibble is that the back arrow at the top left in most app windows closes the app—not good if you expect it to work like every other such arrow and take you to the previous screen. Another complaint is that Android apps often assume they're running on a phone, so you typically need to interact with them via touch input rather than a keyboard.
Phone Integration: Seamless Support for Android Users
When it comes to integrations between mobile and desktop devices, Apple's strong ties with iOS and Windows Phone Link set the bar high, but Google is extremely competitive in this area. As mentioned, ChromeOS allows you to log in to your computer with your Android phone and access the internet via tethering. But support goes well beyond that. When you link a phone to your Chromebook, a phone icon appears on the Shelf on the right side, which opens the Phone Hub. From the Phone Hub, you can access any photos on your phone, silence it, enable its hotspot, or locate it. Google is even working on an upcoming version that will allow you to complete the entire Chromebook setup process using your phone by scanning a QR code.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)If you use Chrome as your web browser, you can sync bookmarks, history, and more. Nearly everything in your Google account (docs, mail, and YouTube videos) transfers between your Android phone and ChromeOS computer. Android text messaging from ChromeOS is only possible if you use Google Messages as your default texting app, and you need to open the Messages app on your computer; this functionality isn't part of the aforementioned mobile panel. I actually prefer using Windows Phone Link with my Android phone because all the phone functionality—including calling, texting, and even streaming multiple apps—happens within the same app.
Notifications from your phone conveniently appear on your linked Chromebook. Using certain Android phone models from Google, Nothing, and Xiaomi, you can stream mobile apps from the phone to the ChromeOS screen, just as you can with Windows 11. Of course, ChromeOS already runs many Android apps by itself. If you use an iPhone, ChromeOS doesn't offer you any connection options at all, unless you use cross-platform apps such as Google Photos and WhatsApp. With Windows Phone Link, you can view notifications, send and receive text messages, and make calls using a connected iPhone.
Privacy and Security: Surprisingly Good
Google states that ChromeOS has several levels of security, starting with automatic updates, verified boot, and sandboxing (running apps in a container that doesn't have access to the rest of the system). That last one applies to both web and Android apps. Recent Chromebooks include the Google Security Chip, which encrypts data on the computer. Web apps take advantage of encryption, and simply having an app store like the Android one means that apps are vetted for security. Although OS updates occur automatically, you can check the Settings> About panel to see if your version is the latest.
The fact that ChromeOS devices comprise a relatively small attack surface, with only about 1.3% of the worldwide desktop computer market, offers a degree of safety. However, no platform is 100% secure, and the addition of the Android capability introduces new threats, as evidenced by Google's occasional removal of rogue Android apps from the store. Those and Chrome extensions are the most likely vectors for malware. A few third-party security programs now specifically support ChromeOS. Malwarebytes' Android version is also designed to run on ChromeOS, and I successfully installed and scanned with Android malware protection from AVG, which offers app install protection and phishing protection for Android devices.
What happens if you lose your computer or someone steals it? ChromeOS features a decent set of recovery tools. In the former scenario, you can find all your cloud-synced files and apps by simply signing into your Google account. That doesn't include locally downloaded files, however. You can wipe the device remotely and remove it from your Google account, but you can't pinpoint its exact location, unlike with Android phones, Apple devices, and Microsoft Surface computers. You can see where it was last used based on IP address, which is not at all precise.
The Powerwash option, similar to Windows Refresh, clears out unnecessary clutter in the system that has accumulated over time, a feature lacking in macOS. There's also a Reset option that removes all account and personalization info.
VPNs are a hot topic in security, and we've shown you how to use a VPN with ChromeOS. The picture has improved, with the operating system offering built-in support for several VPN protocols. Nevertheless, Google's support pages indicate that you can access more advanced features using Android VPN apps, which I have verified.
Reliability is related to security, and ChromeOS feels more stable than it has in the past. Occasionally, however, I open an app or Settings page to find a blank white screen, or an app or game quits unexpectedly. One unique reliability characteristic of ChromeOS is that, as stated in a Google Blog post, "ChromeOS devices always have two images of the system software on separate partitions," so after an update, the startup partition switches for fast booting.
For troubleshooting and recovery, ChromeOS offers an app that allows you to create recovery media in case the system becomes unusable. A task manager, accessible with the Launcher Key-Esc shortcut, displays memory, disk, and network usage for all running processes and allows you to forcibly shut them down if you suspect something is behaving improperly.
Gaming on ChromeOS: Fine for Casual Use
Android app support has been a boon to ChromeOS gaming. The Stadia streaming game service held out even greater promise, but the service sadly no longer exists. The Play Store offers a vast selection of games, primarily mobile games. They're mostly not the AAA titles you find on consoles and PCs. Some games only appear in vertical mobile format, and Mortal Kombat kicked up an "isn't responding" error soon after I started it. If games like Among Us, Minecraft, Roblox, or Candy Crush are all you need, you'll be fine with a Chromebook. You can also play games via GeForce Now. It's also possible to install Steam, provided your Chrome device meets the following requirements: an Intel i3 or Ryzen 3 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. To install it, just search for "Steam" in the Launcher.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)As is the case with macOS, forget about VR gaming on a Chromebook: It won't support your Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, though Google is still experimenting with adding AR to the web via its long-gestating ARCore technology. Don't expect to be able to use the latest graphics cards or take advantage of ray tracing, although the OS does support some game controllers.
I recommend sticking with apps designed for tablets (you can filter these in the Google Play Store). Even better, only install those with the store's Editors' Choice designation. Some games simply don't play nicely on ChromeOS, as they assume you are using a smartphone. For more help, refer to our guide on playing games on your Chromebook.
Managing Multiple Accounts: Easy and You Get What You Need
ChromeOS is particularly popular in the education market and, as such, you can easily manage multiple computers using the OS. The Admin Console lets managers set policies for all Chromebooks in their domain, but it requires a Chrome Enterprise or Google Workspace for Education license for the group. Google now even offers a Professional ChromeOS Administrator certification. Admins can force or restrict the installation of Android apps—a must, given the store's huge selection of apps, not all of which are benign. Google has published a deployment document for managers who need these functionalities.
Windows has a long head start in machine management, offering granular control through Windows Domains and Active Directory, whereas the more recent Apple Business Manager works exclusively with Apple devices.
Another type of management involves parents overseeing their children's computer activities. The cheap price of Chromebooks makes them appealing for supplying kids with computers, so strong parental controls would seem a must.
Parents can create child accounts in Google's Family Link service or during the initial setup of the Chromebook, and then sign their children into the ChromeOS computer using those accounts. This way, the child can't install any apps from either app store, can't use private browsing mode, and can't view adult sites that Google is able to block. The parent can also use an allow list to restrict a child to specific sites. For monitoring, you can view the child's Chrome history and Android app usage through Google's parental controls.
Accessibility Features: A Good Set of Options
ChromeOS offers admirable accessibility features. Navigate to Settings > Advanced > Accessibility to get started. Here, you can enable automatic clicking when the mouse cursor rests, text-to-speech with ChromeVox (which reads everything on the screen), screen zoom, sticky keys, and an ultra-high-contrast screen mode. However, you can't control the computer entirely with your voice, unlike with macOS and Windows.
You can add a few more accessibility features, such as caret browsing, from the Chrome Web Store as a Chrome extension. The OS also supports switches and braille readers, though information on these isn't as detailed as what you find for macOS and Windows. Google does have live Disability support staff and a Belonging website that explains all the company's accessibility options.
Final Thoughts
(Credit: Google)
Google ChromeOS
A good choice for casual users and students, Google's ChromeOS gives you an inexpensive way to browse the web and run Android apps from an intuitive, well-designed desktop interface.