Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10 in October 2025, leaving the millions of PCs that can’t run Windows 11 with an outdated and insecure operating system. Google wants people to try something different: install ChromeOS and turn the PC into a Chromebook.
Google has offeredChrome OS Flexfor a few years now (formerly known as Neverware CloudReady), which is a modified version of ChromeOS that can be installed on traditional x86-based PCs. It looks and works like the ChromeOS software found on Chromebooks, with the same full-featured Chrome browser, fast startup time, and simple-to-use interface. The operating system can even be managed like a Chromebook, which has made Chrome OS Flex a useful alternative to Windows and Linux for some organizations and businesses.
Google published a blog post that pitches ChromeOS Flex as an option for Windows 10 PCs that don’t have an upgrade path to Windows 11, due tohardware requirementsor something else. Basically, instead of staying on Windows 10 and dealing with more security problems, or paying for a new PC that can run Windows 11, you could try switching to ChromeOS Flex. The blog post is mostly aimed at businesses and organizations with fleets of computers running Windows, but ChromeOS Flex can be installed for personal use as well.
Google said in the post, “ChromeOS Flex is designed to be fast and efficient, helping your team be more productive. ChromeOS Flex devices boot quickly, don’t slow down over time, and update in the background every four weeks. If you’re starting to notice your Windows or Mac devices slow down or struggle with compatibility issues, ChromeOS Flex can bring them back to life.”
This is a smart marketing move from Google, but ChromeOS Flex isn’t a perfect solution. For one, it can’t run Windows software, except specific applications through a compatibility layer likeCrossOver. If you absolutely need to play PC games or use the Windows version of Excel, ChromeOS won’t be helpful. You alsocan’t run Android apps or use the Google Play Store, like you can with ChromeOS on most Chromebooks. ChromeOS Flex also lacks support for some PC hardware and accessories, such as CD and DVD drives, fingerprint readers, and Thunderbolt ports.
If you want to give ChromeOS Flex a try on your old PC, you cancreate an installer with a USB drive. If you spend most of your time in a web browser, it might be a great choice, butregular desktop Linuxwill give you more features and a larger software library. Windows 10 won’t officially dieuntil October 2025(withoptional paid security updates after that), so you have some time to experiment.
