Recover your Chrome device

Install a new version of the Chrome operating system on your Chrome device by going through the recovery process. You may want to go through this process if you’re having problems updating your Chrome device or if your Chrome device stops working.

All account information and data stored on your Chrome device, such as photos, downloaded files, and saved networks, will be deleted. Owner privileges for your primary account will also be reset. However, the actual Google Accounts and any data synced to these accounts won't be affected by the recovery process. After the recovery process is completed, you’ll be guided through the initial setup again.

 

What you'll need

Before starting this process, you'll need the following:

• A Chrome device, Windows, Mac, or Linux computer with administrative rights.
• A 4 GB or larger USB flash drive or SD card that you don't mind clearing.

Step 1: Check for the “Chrome OS is missing or damaged” message

If you see this message when starting your computer, please proceed to Step 2.

If you see the "Chrome OS verification is turned off" message, see the Chrome OS verification is turned off article.

If you don’t see either messages above but still want to recover your Chrome device, trigger this screen by pressing the recovery button on your Chrome device. Turn off your Chrome device, press this button, and while keeping it pressed, turn on your Chrome device again. In some cases, you'll need to poke the button by using a pin.

Find the recovery button location for your device

HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook

Press Esc+Refresh then hold down the Power button.

Acer AC700

Acer C7 Chromebook

Press Esc+Refresh then hold down the Power button.

Cr-48

Samsung Series 5

Samsung Series 5 550

Samsung Series 3

Samsung Chromebook

Press Esc+Refresh then hold down the Power button.

Step 2: Create the recovery USB flash drive or SD card

Insert a USB flash drive or SD card into your computer and follow the instructions below:

Chrome device instructions

Create a recovery flash drive by using the Image Burner. The tool may not be available in all languages.

1. Type chrome://imageburner into the omnibox (browser's address bar)
2. Run the tool and follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

When recovering your Chrome device, make sure to create the recovery flash drive on the same Chrome device model. For example, using an Acer AC700 WiFi recovery flash drive will not work on a Samsung Series

Windows instructions

Create a recovery flash drive by using the Recovery Tool. The tool may not be available in all languages.

1. Click this link to download the Recovery Tool: https://dl.google.com/dl/chromeos/recovery/chromeosimagecreatorV2.exe
   If you're a network administrator for your school, business, or organization, click this link to download the Recovery Tool: https://dl.google.com/dl/chromeos/recovery/chromeosimagecreator.exe
2. Run the tool and follow the instructions that appear on your screen.
3. After you recover your Chrome device, you must format your USB flash drive or SD card using the Recovery Tool. If you don't format your USB flash drive or SD card, you won’t be able to use all the storage space on your external device. Additionally, your USB flash drive or SD card may not be recognizable by Windows. See instructions for reformatting your USB flash drive or SD card.

Mac instructions

Create a recovery flash drive by using the Recovery Tool. The tool may not be available in all languages.

1. Click this link to download the Recovery Tool: https://dl.google.com/dl/chromeos/recovery/chromeosimagecreator.dmg
2. Run the tool and follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

After the process is complete, you might see an alert saying your USB drive or SD card is unreadable. If this fails, try removing and reinserting your USB drive or SD card. Your USB drive or SD card should now be ready to use for recovery.

Linux instructions

Create a recovery flash drive by using the Recovery Tool. The tool may not be available in all languages.

1. Click this link to download the Recovery Tool: https://dl.google.com/dl/edgedl/chromeos/recovery/linux_recovery.sh
2. Modify the script permissions to allow execution with the following command: $ sudo chmod 755 linux_recovery.sh
3. Run the script with root privileges with the following command: $ sudo bash linux_recovery.sh
4. Follow the prompts from the tool to complete building the operating system image.

Step 3: Reinstall the Chrome operating system

1. Start your Chrome device.
2. When the "Chrome OS is missing or damaged" screen appears, insert the USB flash drive or SD card you created into the USB port or SD card slot on your Chrome device.
3. Wait for the Chrome device to boot up from the flash drive.
4. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen.
5. On successful installation of the Chrome operating system, you will be prompted to remove the USB flash drive or SD card.
6. Remove the USB flash drive or SD card when prompted, and your Chrome device will automatically restart.

You should now be able to start your Chrome device as normal. Because the data stored on your Chrome device has been cleared, you'll need to go through the initial setup again. Make sure you sign in with your primary Google Account, because this account will be set as the owner account.

Set up your Chrome device

It takes mere minutes to set up your new Chrome device and get on the web. We’ll walk you through the steps.

What you'll need

To help things go smoothly, be prepared with the following:

• Access to the Internet. If you plan to connect to a wired local area network, you may need a USB Ethernet adapter.
• Your Google Account username and password

If you have a Chromebox, you’ll also need these items:

• External monitor with a DisplayPort connector or DVI cable
• USB mouse and keyboard. Your Chromebox may also support Bluetooth devices.

Set up your Chrome device

1. Connect your Chrome device to power and external devices.
   • If you have a Chromebook, you may have a detached battery; insert the battery if necessary.
   • If you have a Chromebox, you’ll want to connect a monitor to the device using the DisplayPort or DVI port at the back of the Chromebox. Plug in your keyboard and mouse using the USB ports at the front and back of the Chromebox. Refer to your Chromebox manual to find out where these ports are located. If you connect your Chromebox to an external display and the display doesn't appear automatically, try pressing Ctrl + (F4) to cycle through display options.
2. Turn on your Chrome device.
   • On the Chromebook, the power button is located at the top.
   • On the Chromebox, the power button is on the right side.
3. Select your language settings. On the "Connect" screen that appears, select the language you'd like to use by default. If there is more than one way to type in your language, you may be prompted to select a keyboard input method as well.
4. Connect to a network. Select a wireless network from the network menu. Or, plug in an Ethernet cable to connect to a wired network.
5. Accept the terms of service with one click. Once connected to a network, your Chrome device will then download any available system updates so you automatically get the latest features.
6. Enroll your Chrome device (optional). If your Chrome device was provided by your work or school, you might need to enroll it with your domain before signing in below. Ask your network administrator for instructions before continuing with these steps.
7. Sign in with your Google Account. In the sign-in box that appears, enter your Google Account username and password and click Sign in. Make sure you sign in with your primary Google Account, because this account will be set as the owner.
8. Set your account picture. This picture will represent your account on the main sign-in screen and status area. If you have a Chromebook, you can take a photo with the built-in webcam. If you don’t want to take a photo at this time, choose a fun icon instead. Don't worry, you can always update your picture after you've signed in.
9. Get to know your Chrome device. After you've set up your profile, you'll be shown the Get Started app. You can learn about your desktop, discover new web apps, find instructions on how to print, and much more. This app is customized based on your Chrome device model so you'll only see information relevant to you.