

If you do this in Chrome, though, you can install the Classroom web app to simplify things for the next time they sign in. However, it's easiest to use Google's free Chrome browser, where your child just needs to sign in to their Classroom account (aka G Suite for Education). To be clear, you do not need a Chromebook or Chrome OS to access Google Classroom any web browser will work. It was incredibly helpful to me during the pandemic's early days, converting an old HP netbook that could barely function under the weight of Windows 10 into a Chromebook capable enough for schoolwork online through Google Classroom and other services. However, the current version of CloudReady Home Edition is still available. Until then, you can download and use an early version, though the company cautioned that you should expect bugs while it's improving the system.

At that time, computers already running CloudReady will automatically update to Chrome OS Flex. A stable release of Chrome OS Flex is expected to roll out in the second quarter of 2022. Google acquired Neverware in December 2020, and in February 2022 it announced the first public fruits of that acquisition: Chrome OS Flex, a more robust version of CloudReady that's still free for home use. You don't get tech support, and it can't be managed with the Google Admin console, but again: free. And although Neverware has paid versions for enterprise and education users, its Home Edition is free for personal use. Google's Chrome OS isn't available for consumers to install, but you can get the next best thing: Neverware's CloudReady Chromium OS.ĬloudReady looks and feels nearly identical to Chrome OS, but it can be installed on nearly any laptop or desktop, whether Windows or Mac. at least, not the same way that you're able to install the latest Windows OS or a version of Linux. Do a web search for "how to install Chrome OS on a laptop" or anything like that and you likely discovered that it can't be done.
