# Install ChromeOS Flex (CloudReady 2.0) on a Laptop or Desktop

## What is ChromeOS Flex?

> Try the cloud-first, fast, easy-to-manage, and secure Chrome OS for PCs and Macs. Chrome OS Flex is a free and sustainable way to modernize devices you already own. It’s easy to deploy across your fleet or simply try it to see what a cloud-first OS has to offer. -https://chromeenterprise.google/os/chromeosflex/

## Things You Will Need

- A USB flash drive, at least 16 GB https://amzn.to/3wkR5ju | https://amzn.to/3qkrJ1p | https://amzn.to/3Nhu9b9

## Creating the Installation Media

PRO TIP: I repeatedly had issues booting the flash drive created by the Chromebook Recovery Utility. I found that the utility downloads ChromeOS Flex to the user's local temp directory (%temp% or %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Temp). Browse through the scoped_dir directories to find the compressed ChromeOS Flex image. I grabbed the file and used Balena Etcher to write it to a flash drive to correct the booting issue

1. Open a Chromium based browser, install the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension
2. In Brave Browser, open a new tab and navigate to https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions
3. Search for Chromebook Recovery
4. Click on Chromebook Recovery Utility
5. Click the Add to Brave button > Click Add Extension to confirm
6. After the extension installs, click the puzzle piece next to the hamburger menu > Click Chromebook Recovery Utility to launch it
7. Inside the Chromebook Recovery Utility click the Get started button
8. Click the Select a model from a list link
9. Select Google Chrome OS Flex from the manufacturer dropdown
10. Select Chrome OS Flex from the product dropdown > Click Continue
11. Select the USB flash device to write ChromeOS Flex to > Click Continue > Click Create now
12. Wait while Chrome OS Flex is written and verified
13. Once the flash drive is setup, remove it and plug it into a USB port on the target device

## Installing ChromeOS Flex

1. Power on the target device and boot to the ChromeOS Flex flash drive

1. After the Chrome splash screen displays, click the Get started button
2. Click Install CloudyReady 2.0 to select it > Click Next
3. Click Install CloudyReady 2.0
4. Click Install to confirm erasing the hard drive
5. After about two minutes the installation will complete and the PC will reboot
6. Remove the USB flash drive during the reboot to avoid booting back into the installation media
7. Once ChromeOS has rebooted, click the Get started button
8. ChromeOS should detect an Ethernet connection, otherwise connect to a Wifi network > Click Next
9. Uncheck the Help improve ChromeOS option > Click Accept and continue
10. At the Who's using this Chrome device screen, select You > Click Next
11. Login with Google account credentials
12. At the Sync your Chrome device screen, click Accept and continue
13. Uncheck the Let Google use your hardware data option > Click Accept and continue
14. Select whether to use Google Assistant
15. Select whether to connect to your phone
16. Click Get started to complete setup
17. Welcome to ChromeOS Flex