How To Install Ubuntu On Chromebook

Step-by-Step Guide: Installing Ubuntu on Your Chromebook for Full Linux Power

Think Chromebooks are just for casual browsing? Think again. This guide proves you can turn your lightweight laptop into a powerful Linux workstation without sacrificing portability or battery life.

Chromebooks have gained massive popularity thanks to their simplicity, speed, and long battery life. However, by default, they’re limited to ChromeOS and web-based apps—great if you just want to browse or work in the cloud, but restrictive if you need full Linux capabilities like programming environments, advanced software, or custom tools.

Fortunately, you can easily install Ubuntu on your Chromebook and unlock the full power of Linux. In this step-by-step guide, I’ll walk you through how to do it safely and effectively, turning your Chromebook into a versatile development and productivity machine.

Why Install Ubuntu on Your Chromebook?

• Access full Linux ecosystem: Run tools like Git, Python, Docker, or even IDEs like VSCode effortlessly.
• More software options: Install native Linux apps not available via ChromeOS.
• Better customization: Tailor your environment exactly how you want it.
• Offline capabilities: Work without relying solely on web apps or internet connectivity.
• Preserve portability & battery life: Linux on Chromebooks is lightweight and efficient.

Before You Start: Things to Know

1. Model Compatibility: Most Intel-based Chromebooks support this process well. ARM-based ones might have complications.
2. Backup Your Data: Installing Ubuntu will involve switching out of developer mode and potentially erasing local data. Always back up important files.
3. Developer Mode: To install Ubuntu outside ChromeOS’s container, your Chromebook needs to be in Developer Mode — this disables some security features but is necessary for full access.

Step 1: Enable Developer Mode

Developer Mode grants deeper access to your Chromebook but comes at the cost of disabling some security safeguards.

How to Enter Developer Mode:

1. Turn off the Chromebook.
2. Press and hold Esc + Refresh (F3) then press the Power button.
3. At the “Chrome OS is missing/damaged” screen, press Ctrl + D.
4. When prompted, press Enter to enable Developer Mode.
5. The device will reboot and begin transitioning — this may take around 10-15 minutes. Don’t interrupt.

Once finished, you’ll arrive at a boot screen reminding you of developer mode — press Ctrl + D quickly or wait 30 seconds to continue booting.

Step 2: Prepare Your Chromebook for Ubuntu

With developer mode enabled, some more setup steps are required:

• Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open the Crosh terminal.
• Type shell and press Enter — this opens a full bash shell.

Now you’ll use a tool called Crouton that allows seamless installation of Ubuntu alongside ChromeOS without repartitioning the disk.

Download Crouton with:

wget https://goo.gl/fd3zc -O crouton

Make it executable:

chmod +x crouton

Step 3: Install Ubuntu Using Crouton

Run the installation command with your desired desktop environment such as XFCE (lightweight), Unity (default Ubuntu desktop), or KDE Plasma:

sudo ./crouton -t xfce

This installs a basic Ubuntu system with the XFCE desktop environment.

You can also add additional targets like keyboard or extension for hardware support:

sudo ./crouton -t xfce,keybd,extension

The installer will download necessary packages and set up Ubuntu — this may take several minutes depending on your connection speed.

Step 4: Running Ubuntu on Your Chromebook

Once installation finishes,

• Start your Ubuntu session with:

sudo startxfce4

This switches from ChromeOS into your new full-fledged Linux desktop environment.

To switch back to ChromeOS without shutting down Ubuntu:

• Press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Back and then Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Forward.

Also consider installing useful apps immediately like:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install git build-essential code

to get Git, build tools, and Visual Studio Code ready.

Optional: Using Crouton Integration Extension

To make switching between ChromeOS and Ubuntu smoother,

1. Install the Crouton Integration extension

2. Launch it from ChromeOS for easy clipboard sharing & window management between systems.

Step 5: Keeping Your System Updated

For best performance & security keep both ChromeOS and your Ubuntu install updated:

In Ubuntu terminal run:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Periodically restart your Chromebook into Developer Mode for system updates.

Troubleshooting Tips

• If installation stalls mid-way — reboot in Developer Mode & retry.
• Lost track of keyboard shortcuts? Write them down!
• Want another desktop env? Re-run crouton with targets like unity, kde, or gnome.

Wrapping Up

By following these steps, you've successfully transformed your Chromebook from a simple web device into a powerful Linux machine capable of running complex software right at your fingertips—all while maintaining its sleek form factor and impressive battery life.

Whether you're coding on-the-go, setting up containers with Docker, or running open-source applications offline—Ubuntu on Chromebook gives you all that flexibility without sacrificing convenience.

Ready to supercharge your workflow? Get started today!

Useful Resources

• Crouton GitHub Repository
• Ubuntu Desktop Environments

Have questions? Drop a comment below—let’s get those Chromebooks working harder!