How to Enable Developer Mode on a Chromebook

Developer Mode gives you a lot more freedom on a Chromebook. It can be used to install a new OS and complete other tasks related to the OS that you wouldn't be able to do on a Chromebook that isn't in Developer Mode.

Steps

  1. Image titled Enable Developer Mode on a Chromebook Step 1
    1
    Back up any data or files you want to keep, first. This process will remove all your accounts and files. Then turn off your Chromebook.
  2. Image titled Enable Developer Mode on a Chromebook Step 2
    2
    Push the Escape, Refresh (circular arrow), and Power buttons on your keyboard at the same time. Wait for the computer to enter recovery mode.
    • You should see an orange exclamation mark and text saying "Chrome OS is missing or damaged."
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  3. Image titled Enable Developer Mode on a Chromebook Step 3
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    Press Ctrl+D at the same time.
  4. Image titled Enable Developer Mode on a Chromebook Step 4
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    Press ↵ Enter.
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    Wait for your Chromebook to load up. When it's done, you should see a screen saying that OS verification is off with a picture of a laptop with an orange exclamation mark. This is there to warn you that your system is less secure in Developer Mode.
  6. Image titled Enable Developer Mode on a Chromebook Step 6
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    Wait for your Chromebook to start up. Then sign in with your Google account.
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    Disable Developer Mode again when you need to. To do this, reboot your Chromebook, then hit the Spacebar when you see the "OS verification is off" message.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    On a scale of 1-10, how risky is this?
    Mariah
    Mariah
    Community Answer
    It all depends on what you decide to do when in Developer Mode. For example, doing things such as changing your OS may result in damage to your setup, whilst doing something more simple is less risky. However, it also depends on how much you know about the task you are going to complete. It's really all up to the person.
  • Question
    What if I do it on a school Chromebook?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You'd probably get in trouble. Don't do it. It can be difficult to revert back to being school-managed.
  • Question
    What do you do if your Chromebook says something along the lines of "you are not allowed to use developer mode because your administrator blocked it"?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You can't enable developer mode, so you can contact your school, or whoever manages your Chromebook to get permission to do this.
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Things You'll Need

  • A Chromebook

Warnings

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References

  1. https://www.androidcentral.com/how-enable-developer-mode-chrome-os

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 23,910 times.
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Co-authors: 7
Updated: April 30, 2019
Views: 23,910
Categories: Chromebook
Article SummaryX

1. Back up your data.
2. Boot into Recovery Mode by pushing Escape, Refresh, and Power at the same time.
3. Press Ctrl+D once you're in Recovery Mode.
4. Hit ↵ Enter. Your computer should load up in Developer Mode.

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