Introduction:

Chromebooks are known for their simplicity, security, and affordability. However, there may come a time when you want to access a more diverse set of applications or programs that Google’s Chrome OS might not support. This is where installing Ubuntu Linux on your Chromebook using Crouton comes in.

Step 1: Enable Developer Mode

Before you can install Ubuntu Linux on your Chromebook, you must enable developer mode. Here’s how:

1. Power off your Chromebook.

2. Press and hold the Esc key, Refresh key (usually found at the top of the keyboard), and power button simultaneously.

3. Release the keys when you see a warning message.

4. Press Ctrl+D to enable developer mode.

5. Press Enter when prompted.

6. Wait for the device to reboot and erase all locally stored data.

Step 2: Download Crouton

Crouton is an open-source project that helps you install Ubuntu Linux alongside Chrome OS without dual booting or partitioning your storage drive.

1. Visit the Crouton GitHub repository at https://github.com/dnschneid/crouton.

2. Click on the “goo.gl” link found at the top of the page to download the latest version of Crouton.

Step 3: Install Ubuntu with Crouton

1. Open a terminal in your Chromebook by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T.

2. Enter `shell` and press Enter to access the full bash shell.

3. Now, let’s install Ubuntu using Crouton by running this command: `sudo sh ~/Downloads/crouton -r ubuntu-version -t desktop-environment`

Replace ‘ubuntu-version’ with your desired version (e.g., xenial or bionic) and ‘desktop-environment’ with your preferred desktop environment (e.g., xfce, kde, or lxde).

4. Wait for the installation process to complete.

Step 4: Switch Between Chrome OS and Ubuntu

To start your newly installed Ubuntu Linux environment, you’ll need to run the following command in your terminal: `sudo startxfce4`.

Replace ‘startxfce4’ with ‘startkde’, or ‘startlxde’ based on your chosen desktop environment.
Now, you can switch between your Chrome OS and Ubuntu by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Back and Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Forward.

Conclusion:

By installing Ubuntu Linux on your Chromebook using Crouton, you’re opening up a world of new possibilities and accessing a more diverse set of applications that might not otherwise be available on Chrome OS. Enjoy using both operating systems and exploring their unique features!