How to Enable USB Booting on Chromebook

This wikiHow teaches you how to enable USB booting on a Chromebook. This setting is only available after enabling Developer Mode--a step that will erase all of the data on your Chromebook.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:
Enabling Developer Mode

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    1
    Back up the data on your Chromebook. Enabling Developer Mode will erase all of the data on your Chromebook, as well as any customization changes you’ve made.[1]
  2. Image titled Enable USB Booting on Chromebook Step 2
    2
    Turn off your Chromebook. To do this, click your account photo in the menu, select Power.
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  3. Image titled Enable USB Booting on Chromebook Step 3
    3
    Press Esc+F3, and the Power button simultaneously. The Chromebook will turn on and ask you to insert recovery media.[2]
    • Some models may require you to insert a paperclip or other slim object into a tiny hole on the side of the unit while pressing the Power button. If you see a small hole on the side marked "Recovery," try that instead.
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    4
    Press Ctrl+D on the ″Insert recovery media″ screen. A confirmation message will appear.
  5. Image titled Enable USB Booting on Chromebook Step 5
    5
    Press ↵ Enter to confirm. The Chromebook will reboot. Once the conversion is complete, you’ll see a message that says ″OS verification is OFF.″ You’ll now see this screen every time you boot up the Chromebook.
  6. 6
    Press Ctrl+D on the ″OS verification″ screen. Your Chromebook is now in Developer Mode.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:
Enabling USB Booting

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    1
    Press Ctrl+Alt+F2 on the home screen. This opens a console window, which is a black screen with white text.[3]
  2. Image titled Enable USB Booting on Chromebook Step 8
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    Type sudo crossystem dev_boot_usb=1 at the prompt.
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    Press ↵ Enter. This runs the command.
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    Insert the USB drive you want to boot from. Now that you’ve enabled USB booting, you can reboot from the drive from the console window.
  5. Image titled Enable USB Booting on Chromebook Step 11
    5
    Press Ctrl+U on the ″OS verification″ screen. The Chromebook will now reboot from the connected drive.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Doesn't that wipe the Chromebook?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It is possible to do a clean install of the Chrome operating system using Chromebook Recovery Utility, available in the Chrome Web Store.

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.androidcentral.com/how-enable-developer-mode-chrome-os
  2. ↑ http://dev.chromium.org/a/chromium.org/dev/chromium-os/developer-information-for-chrome-os-devices/generic
  3. ↑ http://dev.chromium.org/a/chromium.org/dev/chromium-os/developer-information-for-chrome-os-devices/generic

About This Article

Nicole Levine, MFA
Written by:
Nicole Levine, MFA
Tech Specialist
This article was written by Nicole Levine, MFA. Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. This article has been viewed 134,893 times.
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Co-authors: 5
Updated: June 24, 2021
Views: 134,893
Categories: Chromebook
Article SummaryX

1. Back up your Chromebook.
2. Power it off.
3. Boot into recovery mode.
4. Press Ctrl + D and press Enter.
5. Press Ctrl + D to log in.
6. Open the console.
7. Type "sudo crossystem dev_boot_usb=1" and press Enter.
8. Insert the drive and press Ctrl + U.

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