[Chromebook] Recover Chromebook operating system

When your Chromebook’s operating system (OS) doesn’t work properly, you can recover it. Recovery removes and reinstalls the OS. For newer Chromebooks, you can recover the OS with an internet connection.

Important: Recovery permanently erases everything on your Chromebook's hard drive, even your downloaded files. If possible, before you recover your Chromebook, back up your files.

If you use your Chromebook at work or school, ask your administrator for help. If you're an administrator, for more help, contact Google support.

For more details, please refer to Chromebook Help from Google:

https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/1080595

 

Table of Contents:

 

When to recover

You might want to recover if: 

  • You get the error message "Chrome OS is missing or damaged."
  • You’ve tried other troubleshooting steps and nothing has fixed your issue.

 

Before you recover, try less invasive steps

If you can sign in to your Chromebook, try these steps first:

  1. Turn your Chromebook off, then back on again.
  2. If your Chromebook still has an error, reset to factory settings.

If neither of those steps fix the error, continue to recovery.

 

Recover your Chromebook

Step 1: If you have anything connected to this Chromebook (such as a mouse or external hard drive), remove it.

Step 2: Enter recovery mode

  • Chromebook: Press and hold Esc + Refresh, then press Power button. Let go of Power.
    Note: On some Chromebook models: Press and hold Esc + Maximize, then press Power button. Let go of Power.
    When a message shows on the screen, let go of the other keys.
  • Chromebook tablet: Press and hold the Volume Up, Volume Down, and Power buttons for at least 10 seconds, then release them.

Step 3:

Recovery option 1: Use the Internet

On your Chromebook, select “Recover using internet connection” and follow the on-screen instructions. Shortly after you complete the instructions, your computer automatically restarts to complete recovery.

Important: If you decide to choose a different recovery method at any point while you work on the instructions, press and hold Esc + Refresh, then press Power button.

If your computer doesn't have internet access or the option to recover with the internet doesn't appear, you may be on an older Chromebook that doesn’t support this feature. Click here to continue to "Recovery option 2: Use the external storage.

  1. After entering the recovery mode, navigate to [Recovery using internet connection] by the Arrow keys (up or down)①, then press Enter key to select it.
  2. Press Enter key to select [Next]②.
  3. Press Enter key to select [Available Networks]③, then choose a network you want to use.
  4. Press Enter key to select [Enter your password]④, then press Enter key again after typing the network password.
  5. After connecting to a network, select [Next]⑤. Your Chromebook will start the recovery process.
    Note: The recovery may take a few minutes. Do not turn off the device or disconnect the power.
  6. After the following screen displays, the recovery is complete. Your Chromebook will automatically restart and then display the welcome screen for the first time using.

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Recovery option 2: Use the external storage

The preparation before you start:

  • Another Chromebook, or a Windows / Mac computer with Chrome browser installed.
  • A USB flash drive with a capacity of at least 8 GB and make sure it can be emptied. If your Chromebook has a SD card slot, you can also use a SD card instead.

On the working computer (not the Chromebook with the error), follow the below steps:

  1. Install the recovery extension. Open Chrome browser, copy the following link into the search bar of Chrome browser①, then click Enter key to find Chromebook Recovery Utility.
    https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chromebook-recovery-utili/pocpnlppkickgojjlmhdmidojbmbodfm?authuser=0
  2. Click [Add to Chrome]②.
  3. Select [Add extension]③.
  4. Click the [Extensions] icon at the top right of your browser window④, then select [Chromebook Recovery Utility]⑤.
  5. After Chromebook Recovery Utility opens, click [Get started]⑥.
  6. Type in the model number of the Chromebook (with the error) you want to recover⑦, then select [Continue]⑧.
    Note: To find this number, look at the bottom of the error message on your Chromebook screen (on the recovery mode screen).

  7. Insert and select the USB flash drive or SD card you want to use⑨, then select [Continue]⑩.
  8. Select [Create now] to start creating a recovery media⑪.
    Note: All data and partitions on your USB flash drive or SD card will be deleted.
  9. The recovery media creation is complete. Select [Done]⑫, then you can remove the USB flash drive or SD card from the computer.

On the Chromebook (with the error) you want to recover, follow the below steps:

Note: If the recovery mode interface on your Chromebook differs from the following, you may be on an older Chromebook. Click here to continue to "The older interface of Chromebook.

  1. After entering the recovery mode, navigate to [Recovery using external storage] by the Arrow keys (up or down)①, then press Enter key to select it.
  2. Select [Next]②.
  3. Select [Next]③.
  4. Insert the external storage (USB flash drive or SD card) with a recovery image, then Chromebook will start the recovery process.
    Note: The recovery may take a few minutes. Do not turn off the device or disconnect the power.
  5. After the following screen displays, the recovery is complete. Remove your recovery image (USB flash drive or SD card), then Chromebook will automatically restart and then display the welcome screen for the first time using.

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The older interface of Chromebook

  1. After entering the recovery mode, insert the external storage (USB flash drive or SD card) with a recovery image, then Chromebook will start the recovery process.
    Note: The recovery may take a few minutes. Do not turn off the device or disconnect the power.
  2. After the following screen displays, the recovery is complete. Remove your recovery image (USB flash drive or SD card), then Chromebook will automatically restart and then display the welcome screen for the first time using.

Back to Table of Contents