As operating systems go, ChromeOS is arguably the most reliable of them all. You won't have to deal with the dreaded "blue screen of death", crashes, viruses, boot failures, or any other things that regularly go wrong on Windows, Mac, and Linux distros.

That said, things do still occasionally go wrong. The cause can often be traced back to the user. Perhaps you tried installing Linux and something went awry, or you got unlucky and downloaded a Canary build that crashed the system. You can easily resolve these types of issues by reinstalling ChromeOS.

Try a Powerwash First!

Before taking the drastic step of reinstalling the entire operating system, why not first see if the Powerwash feature can remedy the problem?

The Powerwash is akin to hitting a factory reset button. It'll delete locally stored user data and restore the Chromebook back to its factory state, but it won't reinstall the operating system. It's similar to the Reset this PC functionality from Windows 10.

To powerwash your Chromebook, click on your profile picture in the lower right-hand corner and navigate to Settings > Advanced > Reset > Powerwash.

powerwashing chromebook using the reset settings panel

Per the onscreen message, if you agree to the powerwash, your computer will restart. The process should take no more than five minutes.

You will lose locally saved data when you reinstall ChromeOS on your Chromebook, so make a backup before proceeding!

How to Reinstall ChromeOS on Chromebook With Internet

In the past, it wasn't possible to install ChromeOS on a Chromebook without physical recovery media. This isn't the case anymore. You'll find that the new, completely digital process of ChromeOS recovery is as simple as pressing a few buttons.

1. Activate Recovery Mode on Your Chromebook

Before you get started, you'll need to activate your Chromebook's recovery mode. Disconnect any peripheral devices—such as USB mice or earbuds—and make sure that your Chromebook is connected to the internet.

Simultaneously press and hold Esc + Refresh. Then, press the Power button. Let go of the Esc + Refresh keys when the screen refreshes. A prompt reading, "Please insert a recovery USB stick or SD card" will appear onscreen.

2. Recover Your Chromebook Using Internet Connection

If your Chromebook supports ChromeOS reinstallation through the internet, you will see an option that reads "Recover using internet connection". Click on the text to proceed. Your Chromebook will prompt you to connect to a network if you aren't already connected to the internet.

Once you've established a stable internet connection, your Chromebook will begin to automatically reinstall ChromeOS. You shouldn't need to take any further action during the process. Make sure that your Chromebook is charging and that your internet connection is stable throughout the entire process.

Only Chromebook models launched after April 20, 2022 support network-based recovery. If you don't have this option, you'll need to reinstall ChromeOS with physical recovery media.

How to Reinstall ChromeOS Using a USB Drive

If you're still encountering problems, you've run out of options. You need to do a clean install of ChromeOS with recovery media. If you see an onscreen message saying "ChromeOS is missing or damaged," you'll need to reinstall the Chromebook OS. Nothing else will work.

What You Need

Before diving into the step-by-step instructions on how to install ChromeOS on Chromebooks, let's take a moment to list exactly what you will need:

  • A USB stick or SD card (if your Chromebook has an SD card port) with 4GB storage. The memory stick will be formatted during the process, so back up any critical data you have saved on it.
  • Another Chromebook, or a Windows or Mac machine, with a copy of the Chrome browser installed.

You cannot make recovery media from the Chromebook you want to reinstall ChromeOS on. Yes, it's strange. Unfortunately, there is no ChromeOS download for Chromebooks you can use instead—and there isn't a Chromebook Recovery Utility alternative aside from the internet recovery method, either.

1. Download the Chromebook Recovery Utility App

Wait, what app? Unlike installing a clean copy of Windows or macOS, you need to download an official Google app to make the recovery media. That's why you need a version of Chrome running somewhere other than the laptop you want to restore.

You can find the app, titled Chromebook Recovery Utility, in the Chrome Web Store (download link below).

downloading the chromebook recovery utility from the chrome app store

Just click Add to Chrome in the upper right-hand corner and wait for the download and installation process to complete.

Download: Chromebook Recovery Utility (Free)

2. Create Recovery Media for Your Chromebook

Once installed, launch Chromebook Recovery Utility from the Extensions list in your Chrome browser. Then, in the app's main window, click Get Started in the bottom right-hand corner.

chromebook recovery app

On the next screen, you need to enter your Chromebook's model number. This allows the Chromebook Recovery Utility to download the most recent functioning version of the operating system for your machine.

chromebook identify

You can find the model number on the bottom of your Chromebook. If you see the aforementioned "ChromeOS is missing or damaged" on your machine, it will also be displayed there. If you still can't find it, make your selection from within the app by clicking on Select model from a list. Click Continue when you're ready.

Next, the app will prompt you to install the USB drive you want to use. Plug it into your machine and select it from the dropdown list. Remember, any data currently on the card will be lost.

chromebook recovery usb

On the final screen, click on Create Now.

chromebook recovery usb create

3. Install the OS on Your Chromebook

No need to Google "how to reinstall ChromeOS"—now that you've set up your removable media with the Chromebook Recovery Utility, the rest of the installation process will be fairly simple.

After hitting Create now, the app will download ChromeOS for Chromebook onto your removable media. Depending on the speed of your connection, the download could take a while.

Before you can use the downloaded file, you need to put your Chromebook into recovery mode. Press and hold Esc + Refresh, then press the Power button. After a few seconds, you will see an onscreen message prompting you to insert the USB stick.

chrome os recovery tool prompts user to insert recovery usb

When you have inserted the stick, the Chromebook will automatically start verifying the contents of the stick. If you want to abort the installation, you can hold the Power button down for eight seconds during the verification process.

Eventually, your computer will start to reinstall ChromeOS. It could take a long time for the process to complete.

When the installation is finished, you'll see the welcome screen prompting you to enter your Google account credentials and choose a Wi-Fi network. Just follow the onscreen instructions.

chrome os prompts user that recovery is complete

4. Format Your USB Drive

Once you have verified everything is working as expected, you will probably want to remove the Chromebook reinstallation OS files from your USB drive.

You cannot do this using just the typical Windows or Mac methods. You first need to return to the Chromebook Recovery Utility you downloaded earlier.

Plug the USB into your computer and fire up the app. In the top right-hand corner of the app's window, you will see a gear icon. Click on the icon and select Erase recovery media.

chromebook erase recovery media

Choose the USB stick from the dropdown menu and click on Continue. On the final screen, select Erase Now in the lower right-hand corner.

chromebook erase recovery media

After the app has worked its magic, you still need to format the drive. Navigate to your USB drive in File Explorer, expand the menu panel, and click Format drive. If your drive is listed as read-only, erase the drive using the Chromebook Recovery Tool and try again.

attempting to format read only recovery usb in chrome os

Have You Reinstalled ChromeOS on Your Chromebook?

Reinstalling ChromeOS doesn't have to be an arduous task. In essence, all you need to do is download Chromebook Recovery Utility from the Chrome Web Store and put a copy of ChromeOS onto a removable media (such as a USB drive).

After pressing Esc + Refresh + Power on your Chromebook, inserting the removable media will allow you to reinstall ChromeOS within seconds. Once you're done, you'll likely find it just as invigorating to install your favorite apps on your new installation of ChromeOS.