While it was possible for a while to turn an old Mac into a Chromebook, now Google has made the process easier than ever. You can even run Chrome OS from a USB drive if you’re not sure if you want to uninstall macOS.
Chrome OS is designed to be an extremely lightweight operating system that can breathe new life into older hardware that is struggling to keep up with today’s demands. That’s true, but I would advise most owners of older Macs not to do this…
Chromebooks
The original vision for Chromebooks was that they would be cheap, low-powered laptops, making them accessible to a much wider range of people than Macs or Windows PCs.
The secret to their effectiveness is that apps are essentially just wrappers for websites. The real work is done on the server, and the documents are also stored in the cloud, allowing you to use a Chromebook with very little power or built-in memory.
You can get pretty expensive Chromebooks these days for more than the shiny new MacBook Air M2. Despite this, the original vision is alive and well with many budget models.
Flexible version of Chrome OS
In 2017, Neverware created CloudReady, an unofficial Chromium-based operating system that turns old Macs and PCs into Chromebook-like devices. In 2020, Google bought the company and promised to make CloudReady an official product.
Earlier this year, Google kept that promise by renaming the operating system to Chrome OS Flex. The beta version was offered in February and is now launched as a stable product suitable for general use.
Which Macs can you convert?
Google says the following Macs are supported:
MacBook: Mid 2010 and up iMac: Mid 2010 and up MacBook Air: Mid 2012 and up MacBook Pro: Mid 2012 and up Mac mini: Late 2014 and up
However, I installed it on a 2011 MacBook Air and it works absolutely fine, so there’s no reason not to try it on older models.
How to turn an old Mac into a Chromebook
The process starts by installing Chrome OS Flex on a USB key, after which you can (optionally) install it directly on your Mac. You need an 8GB or larger USB key and make sure you extract all the files you need from it as they will be erased during installation.
You will need to install Chrome on your Mac if you don’t already have it.
Open Chrome and follow the instructions on this page. The only thing that’s not 100% clear is that when asked to identify your Chromebook, you’re not looking for your Mac. Instead, just select Google Chrome OS Flex as the manufacturer and Chrome OS Flex as the model. The installation process only takes a few minutes.
After you have installed it on the USB key:
Turn off your Mac. Turn on the power while holding down the selection key. Select the USB drive as the boot device (it will show up as an external drive).
When it boots into Chrome, you’ll be prompted to continue running it from a USB drive, or to wipe your Mac and install to a drive. I highly recommend not doing the latter until you’ve played with it.
Should you turn your Mac into a Chromebook?
Probably no.
I installed it on an elderly MacBook Air whose only function is emergency backup. Here are the reasons why I played with it for a few hours and then decided to stick with macOS:
It is based on the Google ecosystem.
If you are an existing Mac user, chances are you are very familiar with the Apple ecosystem. Instead, Chromebooks are built into the Google ecosystem. This alone will be enough to make many Mac owners give it up.
It’s very limited
Chrome OS is a very crude and basic operating system to start with. Most applications are essentially interfaces to websites. That’s why the OS works on older machines, of course, but it also means you’re very limited in your choice of apps. Chrome OS Flex is even more limited, doesn’t support all Chrome apps, and doesn’t offer the ability to run Android apps.
This is terrible
macOS is, for the most part, an elegant user interface. Chrome OS Flex… no. It looks like it was built from Lego. I think anyone who is used to sitting in front of a Mac will find this painful.
That’s who should do it
If you want to give your old Mac to someone else and they are not tech savvy at all, then you should definitely consider it.
Chrome OS is easy to use and bulletproof. Google will take care of all updates automatically. They can open Google and Microsoft Office documents without worrying about application versions. All files are stored in the cloud, and Google is responsible for the backup, so the chance of losing any files or data is minimal. In the worst case, you can reinstall the OS and all their files will still be safely in the cloud.
In short, if you want to gift a laptop to a friend or family member and not have to worry about being their tech support or laying their head in their hands when they ignored your Time Machine instructions and lost all their files, then turning a Mac into a Chromebook has many advantages.
Oh, and if you’re just curious and have never used a Chromebook, then install it on a USB drive and run it until your curiosity is satisfied! I found that it works fine when booting from a USB stick.
This is my opinion, what about yours? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
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