🌟 Introduction: Why Run Chrome OS from a USB Drive?
If you’ve ever wanted to experience Chrome OS — Google’s sleek, cloud-based operating system — without buying a Chromebook, this guide is for you.
By the end of this article, you’ll learn how to install and run Chrome OS directly from a USB drive, complete with Google Play Store support, meaning you can download and use Android apps just like on a Chromebook.
This process uses the Brunch framework (an open-source project that lets you run official Chrome OS builds on standard PCs) and Rufus (a popular USB flashing tool).
Best of all, this method is completely reversible and portable — your existing Windows installation remains untouched, and you can carry Chrome OS in your pocket.
💡 1. Understanding Chrome OS on USB
Before jumping into setup, it’s important to know what this installation actually does.
When you install Chrome OS on a USB drive:
- The OS runs directly from the USB, without overwriting your main hard drive.
- All apps, files, and settings stay saved inside the USB drive.
- You can plug this USB into any computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux) and boot into Chrome OS.
Essentially, you’re carrying a portable Chromebook environment that works anywhere.
However, since Chrome OS wasn’t originally designed for USB booting, we’ll use a compatibility layer called Brunch to make it work on any Intel or AMD computer.
🧰 2. Requirements and Preparation
Let’s gather everything you need before starting:
- A 64GB or larger USB 3.0 flash drive (smaller drives may work but will have limited space).
- A Windows PC with at least 8GB of RAM.
- An active internet connection.
- The following software and files:
- Chrome OS Recovery image (official Google build)
- Brunch framework (from GitHub)
- Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
- Rufus USB flashing tool
💡 Tip: Avoid using slow or cheap USB drives — Chrome OS performance heavily depends on USB speed.
🔽 3. Step 1 – Download the Chrome OS Recovery Image
The official Chrome OS recovery files are hosted by Google and indexed on the Cros.tech website.
- Visit https://cros.tech/.
- In the search bar, type your CPU codename to find the correct image.
Use the table below to choose the correct recovery image for your processor:
| CPU Type | Codename | Example Processors |
|---|---|---|
| Intel 8th or 9th Gen | shyvana | i5-8250U, i7-8750H |
| Intel 10th Gen | jinlon | i5-1035G1, i7-1065G7 |
| Intel 11th or Higher | wxel | i5-1135G7, i7-1165G7 |
| AMD Ryzen | combos | Ryzen 3 3200U, Ryzen 5 3500U |
- Download the latest stable build (for example, version 129).
- The file will download as a .zip or .bin archive.
🧩 4. Step 2 – Download and Set Up Brunch Framework
Brunch acts as a compatibility layer that modifies the Chrome OS recovery image so it can run on standard non-Chromebook hardware.
- Visit the official Brunch GitHub page:
👉 https://github.com/sebanc/brunch - Download the latest release (.tar.gz) file.
- Once downloaded, extract both the Chrome OS recovery image and the Brunch archive.
This gives you a set of files — kernel images, scripts, and utilities — that you’ll combine later into one bootable Chrome OS image.
🗂️ 5. Step 3 – Create the Chrome OS Folder
Let’s keep everything organized.
- Create a new folder named
chromeosanywhere (e.g., Desktop). - Copy all extracted files — both from the Chrome OS recovery and Brunch — into this folder.
- Rename the Chrome OS recovery file to simply
chromeos(without spaces).
This helps the installation script identify it automatically in later steps.
🐧 6. Step 4 – Set Up Linux Environment on Windows (Using WSL)
Since Brunch scripts are written for Linux, Windows users need to create a lightweight Linux environment using Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).
Step-by-step setup
- Open the Windows Start Menu and search for “Windows Features”.
- Enable Windows Subsystem for Linux.
- Restart your computer.
- Open the Microsoft Store and search for Ubuntu.
- Click Install and wait for it to complete.
- Launch Ubuntu, and it will prompt you to create a username and password.
You’ve now successfully installed a Linux terminal within Windows — ready to execute Brunch scripts.
🧱 7. Step 5 – Prepare Chrome OS Disk Image
Now we’ll use the Linux terminal (Ubuntu) to combine the Brunch files and Chrome OS recovery image into one bootable .img file.
Steps to Create Chrome OS Image
- Open Ubuntu (WSL).
- Navigate to your Chrome OS folder using the
cdcommand. For example:cd /mnt/c/Users/YourUsername/Desktop/chromeos - Next, run the following command to build the Chrome OS image:
sudo bash chromeos-install.sh - The process will take 10–15 minutes, depending on your disk speed.
Once complete, a new disk image file (.img) will be created inside your chromeos folder.
💡 Tip: Keep your laptop plugged in and don’t close Ubuntu during this process.
💾 8. Step 6 – Create a Bootable USB with Rufus
Now it’s time to flash this .img file to your USB drive using Rufus.
- Download Rufus from the official site:
👉 https://rufus.ie/ - Launch Rufus (no installation needed).
- Plug in your USB drive (64GB or larger).
- Rufus will automatically detect it.
- Under Boot selection, click Select and choose the
chromeos.imgfile. - Click Start and wait for the process to complete.
This process usually takes 5–10 minutes. Once done, you’ll have a bootable Chrome OS USB drive.
⚙️ 9. Step 7 – Boot Chrome OS from USB
Now comes the exciting part — booting into Chrome OS for the first time.
- Restart your PC and enter the BIOS or Boot Menu (usually by pressing F2, F12, or Esc during startup).
- Disable Secure Boot (this is important).
- Select your USB drive as the boot device.
The Brunch framework will start loading Chrome OS.
During the first boot, Chrome OS will configure itself for your hardware — this may take 10–15 minutes.
Once completed, you’ll reach the Chrome OS welcome screen.
🌐 10. Step 8 – Set Up and Log In to Chrome OS
The setup is similar to what you’d see on a real Chromebook.
- Connect to your Wi-Fi network.
- Accept the Google Terms of Service.
- Sign in with your Google Account.
After setup, you’ll reach the Chrome OS desktop, where you can open the Google Play Store to install apps like YouTube, Gmail, or games — all running natively.
💡 Note: Brunch enables Play Store support automatically, but if it doesn’t appear, check under Settings → Apps → Google Play Store and toggle it on.
💽 11. Step 9 – Fix Low Storage Issue Using Resize Command
You might notice that even if you’re using a 64GB USB drive, Chrome OS only shows 2–3GB of free space. This happens because Chrome OS creates fixed-size partitions by default.
Here’s how to fix it:
- Press Ctrl + Alt + F2 to open the Chrome OS terminal.
- Log in as root when prompted.
- Type the following command:
resize data - Press Enter and wait a few minutes.
- Once complete, type reboot to restart your device.
After rebooting, open Files → Storage info, and you’ll see that Chrome OS now recognizes the full USB capacity (e.g., 43GB out of 64GB available).
🧠 12. Common Questions & Troubleshooting
Q1. Can I install Chrome OS directly on my hard drive?
Yes, but this guide focuses on the portable USB version. Installing it on your internal drive is possible but requires extra care and backups.
Q2. Does Chrome OS run smoothly from USB?
Performance depends on USB speed. Use USB 3.0 or better for smooth operation.
Q3. Can I update Chrome OS?
Yes, Chrome OS updates normally through Google’s servers — though it might take longer compared to Chromebooks.
Q4. Will my data stay if I unplug the USB?
Absolutely. Your files, settings, and apps are stored within the USB partitions and stay intact when you use it on another PC.
Q5. What if my keyboard or Wi-Fi doesn’t work?
That’s a driver issue. Try a different Chrome OS recovery build closer to your CPU type or update Brunch to the latest version.
⚠️ Disclaimer and Official Links
This article is for educational purposes only. Chrome OS is a proprietary product by Google. The Brunch framework modifies official Chrome OS builds solely for personal and non-commercial use.
Use at your own risk, and always back up your data before experimenting with system-level installations.
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