What is a Chromebook? It is a laptop that runs ChromeOS, Google's operating system, in place of Windows or macOS. ChromeOS is built around the Chrome browser, so the laptop is designed for the web: you sign in with a Google account, your files sync to Google Drive, and most of your apps open in a browser tab or as Android apps.
Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and others build them, which is why they come in every size from cheap school laptops to fast premium models. This explainer covers how one works, what it runs, how long it is supported, how it stacks up against a Windows laptop or a Mac, and what Google's new Googlebook line means for it.
How a Chromebook Works
The first Chromebooks shipped in June 2011 with a simple pitch: a laptop that starts in seconds and keeps your work in the cloud. That still holds. When you open the lid you sign in with a Google account, and your Chrome bookmarks, extensions, Drive files and Android apps arrive with it. Move to a new Chromebook and most of your setup follows you when you sign in.
- Fast start-up and updates. ChromeOS updates itself in the background and applies the update when you restart.
- Built-in protection. Each Chromebook checks its own system at start-up through verified boot and repairs itself if something has been tampered with.
- Light local storage. Many models have modest drives because Drive holds most files, though downloads and offline files sit on the laptop itself.
That design made them a fixture in schools. Chromebooks made up 60 percent of computers purchased by schools in the United States in 2018, according to the Chromebook history.
Types of Chromebook
ChromeOS runs on more shapes than the classic clamshell, and the shape changes how you will use it.
- Clamshell laptops: the standard design, from 11-inch school models to 15-inch machines with a number pad.
- Flip or 2-in-1 models: a hinge that folds back into tent or tablet mode, useful for touch-friendly Android apps.
- Detachables and tablets: a screen with a keyboard that comes off.
- Chromeboxes and Chromebases: desktop versions, a small box you connect to a monitor or an all-in-one with the screen built in.
What Apps a Chromebook Can Run
A Chromebook runs three kinds of software, and knowing them answers most buying questions.
Web apps
Anything that works in Chrome works on a Chromebook: Gmail, Google Docs, Microsoft 365 on the web, Canva, Netflix, Spotify and video calls in Meet or Zoom. Many web apps install to the shelf so they open in their own window.
Android apps
Many Chromebooks run Android apps from Google Play, which adds mobile games and tools such as the LumaFusion video editor. Google notes in its guide to Android apps on Chromebook that the Play Store is available on only some models, and work or school accounts may block it.
Linux tools
A built-in Linux environment lets developers install code editors, command-line tools and IDEs. It is aimed at programming rather than games: graphics acceleration is not supported inside it.
What a Chromebook will not install is a Windows or Mac program. Desktop Photoshop, Premiere Pro and most PC games are off the table, and Google ended its Steam for Chromebook beta on 1 January 2026. For games, the realistic routes are Android titles and cloud services such as Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Can You Use a Chromebook Offline?
Yes, for the basics, provided you prepare while you still have a connection. Google Docs, Sheets and Slides can all be set to work offline.
- Connect to the internet and open Google Drive.
- Select Settings at the top right.
- Turn on the Offline setting.
- Open recent documents once so they are saved to the laptop.
Android apps that do not need the internet, downloaded films and music, and files saved to the Downloads folder also work offline. Anything that streams or lives only in the browser still needs a connection.
How Long Chromebooks Get Updates
Every Chromebook has an end date for automatic updates, and since 2021 that date is 10 years after the model was released. Before that it was eight years, and earlier still six and a half. Google has also said ChromeOS devices will be supported through mid-2034.
- At the bottom right, select the time, then Settings.
- Select About ChromeOS.
- Select Additional details.
- Read the Update schedule section for the last update your Chromebook will receive.
Check that date before buying a discounted or second-hand model. An older Chromebook can be cheap precisely because its support ends soon.
Turning an Old PC Into a Chromebook With ChromeOS Flex
Google also offers ChromeOS Flex, a version of ChromeOS that installs on existing Windows, Mac or Linux computers. It is a common way to keep an older laptop useful after its original operating system stops getting updates.
- Check the model on Google's ChromeOS Flex certified models list, which also shows when support for that model ends.
- Create a USB installer on a drive of 16GB or larger.
- Boot the old computer from the USB drive and follow the installer.
Flex is not identical to ChromeOS on a real Chromebook. Google only guarantees it on certified models, and Google Play is missing apart from a few Android VPN apps, so treat it as a way to revive hardware rather than as a substitute for buying a new Chromebook.
Chromebook vs Windows Laptop vs Mac
| Chromebook | Windows laptop | Mac | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software it installs | Web apps, Android apps, Linux tools | Desktop programs | Desktop programs and iPhone apps on Apple silicon |
| Where files live | Google Drive first, small local drive | Local drive first | Local drive first, iCloud optional |
| Updates | Automatic, 10 years from release | Windows Update, on Microsoft's support schedule | macOS updates for supported models |
| Gaming | Cloud and Android games | Full PC library | Mac App Store and Steam titles |
| Lowest new price | Budget models; Googlebooks from $899 | Varies widely by brand | MacBook Neo from $599 |
The cheapest Mac has moved into Chromebook territory. Apple's MacBook Neo starts at $599, which puts a full desktop operating system within reach of buyers who once had only ChromeOS at that price. Our MacBook Neo vs MacBook Air comparison covers where it falls short of the Air.
Chromebook Plus and the New Googlebook
Two labels now sit above the basic Chromebook. Chromebook Plus, introduced in 2023, guarantees a minimum of an Intel Core i3 12th Gen or AMD Ryzen 3 7000 series processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a 1080p display and a 1080p webcam, and adds Gemini features built into ChromeOS.
Googlebook is the bigger change. Google introduced Googlebook in May 2026 as laptops built around Gemini, running Googlebook OS, which combines ChromeOS with the Android tech stack. The first models went on sale in October from $899, with at least 16GB of RAM. Chromebooks stay on sale alongside them, and Google says many newer Chromebooks will be able to move to the new system.
Who Should Buy a Chromebook
- Good fit: students on Google Workspace, families sharing one laptop, anyone whose day is email, documents, browsing and streaming.
- Good fit with care: writers and office workers who are happy with Microsoft 365 on the web, and developers who want a light Linux machine.
- Poor fit: PC gamers, video editors who need desktop software, and anyone whose job requires a Windows-only program.
If you are curious about going further, developers can unlock more control with Chromebook developer mode, though it wipes the laptop and weakens its built-in security.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Chromebook and a laptop?
A Chromebook is a laptop. The difference is the operating system: ChromeOS runs web apps, Android apps and Linux tools, while a Windows laptop or Mac installs full desktop programs.
Do you need internet for a Chromebook?
Not for everything. Google Docs, Sheets and Slides work offline once offline access is turned on, as do downloaded files and many Android apps. Streaming and most web apps need a connection.
Can a Chromebook run Windows programs?
No. ChromeOS cannot install Windows or Mac software. Web versions, such as Microsoft 365 on the web, or Android equivalents are the usual substitutes.
Is ChromeOS being replaced?
Not for existing Chromebooks. Google launched Googlebook OS for its new Googlebook laptops, but ChromeOS devices keep receiving updates through mid-2034, and Chromebooks remain on sale.
