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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Canonical’s “Install Ubuntu on a Chromebook” tutorial is explicitly marked outdated and no longer recommended. Its crouton instructions are historical, not a sound starting point for a new installation. Choose a route based on whether you want Linux tools while keeping ChromeOS, Ubuntu in a container, or Ubuntu as a replacement operating system; those are different setups with different risks.
Why Canonical’s Chromebook tutorial is no longer recommended
The tutorial describes an old crouton workflow that runs Ubuntu in a chroot alongside ChromeOS. Canonical says crouton is end-of-life and will no longer receive updates or bug fixes. It also says crouton is a third-party script that Canonical and Ubuntu do not provide or support, and warns that ChromeOS updates may make such installations inaccessible. The page’s example command, sudo sh ~/Downloads/crouton -t unity, installs Ubuntu 16.04 in that legacy setup; do not treat it as a current installation recipe.
Canonical’s warning is direct: “This guide is outdated and no longer recommended!” That notice matters more than the old steps still visible on the page.
Choose what you mean by “install Ubuntu”
| Your goal | What you would use | What runs on the Chromebook |
|---|---|---|
| Use Linux command-line tools or apps and keep ChromeOS | ChromeOS Linux development environment | Debian by default |
| Run Ubuntu while keeping ChromeOS | An advanced custom-container setup | Ubuntu in a container, not a standard Ubuntu Desktop replacement |
| Make Ubuntu the computer’s operating system | A model-specific community firmware and live-USB procedure | Ubuntu replaces ChromeOS |
The built-in environment is the simplest first choice if Debian meets your needs. If Ubuntu itself is essential, decide whether a container is sufficient or whether you intend to replace ChromeOS entirely.
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Set up Linux tools while keeping ChromeOS
Google’s Linux development environment provides a Debian environment through ChromeOS. Google describes Linux as “a feature that lets you develop software using your Chromebook.” To check availability, open Settings → About ChromeOS → Developers, find “Linux development environment,” select Set up, and follow the prompts. Setup may take 10 minutes or more; when it finishes, a Debian terminal opens.
This option is not available to everyone: a work or school administrator can disable it. Google also lists limitations, including unsupported cameras and hardware acceleration. Check Google’s Linux setup instructions and limitations for the current details for your device.
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Run Ubuntu in a container without replacing ChromeOS
Canonical’s old Chromebook page points to Ubuntu containers through LXD, while the ChromiumOS project documents custom containers under ChromeOS. This is a separate, advanced route—not the same as enabling Google’s standard Debian environment and not a full Ubuntu Desktop installation. It is most appropriate if you already understand containers and can follow the relevant setup and device-support guidance.
Read the ChromiumOS documentation on custom containers before choosing this approach. Container capabilities and device support can vary, so do not assume every Chromebook supports the same configuration.
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Replace ChromeOS with Ubuntu on a supported Chromebook
An Ubuntu Community Hub guide describes a full-install route for selected Intel or AMD Chromebooks using Ubuntu 24.04 or later. It is community-authored, not a Canonical-supported universal procedure. Its firmware workflow removes ChromeOS, so use it only if you intend to replace the existing operating system and accept the consequences of changing firmware.
Check the exact model and processor first
The community guide is for supported amd64 devices, and directs readers to check the firmware utility’s current support list for their precise Chromebook. Do not infer compatibility from the Chromebook brand, a similar model name, or the fact that a USB can boot on another computer. The guide directs ARM Chromebook owners to separate instructions; its Intel/AMD path should not be applied to ARM devices.
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Prepare for the live-USB and firmware route
The community procedure uses a live USB and third-party firmware. Ubuntu’s general desktop installation tutorial recommends a USB flash drive of 12 GB or larger for installation media and explains how to write the ISO. That is a general media recommendation, not evidence that a particular Chromebook can boot the USB or is supported by the firmware utility.
- Back up files stored locally and confirm you can recover anything you need before changing firmware or operating systems. Canonical’s Ubuntu Desktop installation guidance also recommends backing up before installation.
- Verify the exact Chromebook model, processor architecture, and current firmware support before proceeding.
- Read the full community procedure and identify the recovery options for your device before beginning; do not start with firmware commands copied from a different model’s instructions.
- Plan for possible post-install configuration. The community guide discusses separate audio setup and keyboard remapping.
Canonical’s legacy Developer Mode instructions warn that enabling Developer Mode wipes local data and may void the Chromebook warranty. That warning pertains to the old route described on its page; check the instructions for your exact model and chosen procedure rather than assuming the same steps or consequences apply to every Chromebook.
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What compatibility evidence does—and does not—show
Canonical’s certified-hardware page reports over 500 operating-system-compatibility-focused hardware tests, but gives no year for that figure. Its listed test areas include audio, wireless, Bluetooth, USB, firmware, power management, memory, and CPU. This catalogue-wide figure does not establish that a particular Chromebook is Ubuntu-certified or that Ubuntu will work on it; use the model-specific firmware support information for the community full-install route.
The cited documentation does not establish a Chromebook-specific Ubuntu compatibility rate or success percentage. Compatibility therefore needs to be checked for the exact model and route, not assumed from a general Ubuntu hardware statement.
Quick Recap
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