So, in this simple step-by-step guide, let me explain why and how to install Chrome OS on any old Mac for free.
Why you should consider installing Chrome OS on an old Mac?Installing Chrome OS on Mac: Things you need to knowHow to install Chrome OS on Mac
Why you should consider installing Chrome OS on an old Mac?
MacBooks are a long-term investment, no doubt. They’re one of the most reliable pieces of tech one can own. However, every tech product has a certain age. Despite having future-proof internals, MacBooks start to show their age after six or seven years. Slow-downs, crashes, and lags become a common sight. But, do you know you can still extract two to three years of more life from your old Mac by installing Chrome OS on it? Let’s start from the basics.
What is Chrome OS?
Chrome OS is Google’s operating system for laptops that don’t have high-end specs. It is a lightweight alternate operating system to macOS, Windows, and Ubuntu. The OS is simple to use and has a familiar desktop feel. Despite the desktop-like look and feel, Chrome OS is essentially a web browser at its core. Now that most of the core apps required for work, such as PowerPoint, Word, and Excel, are available as web apps, the main aim of Chrome OS is to run, well…, Chrome smoothly, even on a ten-year-old Mac. You can watch YouTube, scroll through Twitter or any other social networks, and do everything you would do on a Mac with macOS.
Why Chrome OS? Why not Windows or Ubuntu?
First of all, Chrome OS is free and takes only 10 minutes to install. Windows and Ubuntu are viable options as well; however, Windows requires a paid license to work, and Ubuntu isn’t optimized for old hardware. Moreover, their recent versions of both Windows and Ubuntu are quite heavy for an old Intel processor. So, there’s no point in installing another resource-intensive OS on your Mac if it can already run macOS. Chrome OS is pretty light and allows you to use your old MacBook without any issues. You can make Zoom calls, presentations, create docs, and do everything you would on a normal Mac, albeit on the web apps. I use Chrome OS on my 2012 11-inch MacBook Air, and it works perfectly for streaming YouTube/Netflix when I work. I can take Meet calls, quick notes, open links, and check mail without any issues. It has essentially become a part of my workflow — it handles most of my secondary tasks, which my MacBook wouldn’t usually be able to do on macOS.
Installing Chrome OS on Mac: Things you need to know
Compatibility:
Before you go ahead and install Chrome OS on your Mac, you need to make sure your Mac’s model is supported. Here’s a list of all the Macs that support Chrome OS.
iMac mid-2009 and above (with at least 2GB of RAM)Silver Mac mini mid-2007 and above (with at least 2GB of RAM)MacBook Air 2011 and above (with at least 2GB of RAM)MacBook Pro 2009 and above (with at least 2GB of RAM)MacBook 5,2 (White 13-inch Core 2 Duo 2009)MacBook 6,1 (Unibody 13-inch Core 2 Duo Late 2009)
Can you use Chrome OS via Bootcamp on Mac?
Bootcamp does not officially support Chrome OS. However, you can install a third-party OS virtualization software, such as Virtual Box or Parallels Desktop, to run macOS and Chrome OS side by side. Talking about dual-boot, you can technically dual-boot Chrome OS and macOS. However, you’ll have to partition your hard disk before installing it. Click here to read more about how you can partition a hard drive on your Mac.
How to install Chrome OS on Mac
How to install webpages as apps on Chrome OS
Since most of the apps are not available for Chrome OS, it might get tiring at one point to open each webpage to use an app. To avoid opening pages repeatedly, you can install the webpage as an app on Chrome OS. To do so: Phew! Those were a lot of steps to follow, but once you’re done, your Mac will feel like a new one. Were you able to install Chrome OS on your Mac? Did you face any issues? Let us know in the comments section below! You may want to read these as well:
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