Even though the Chromium Browser, including forks of it, and Chromium OS are open-source software, they technically cannot use Google APIs. Google rarely quivered over it but started taking action. Many developers used existing Google API keys in their public distributions (Ubuntu Chromium, custom Linux Operating systems, Sync apps, etc.) to make Google features like Sync function work. It was a rule but never enforced fully, that is, Google APIs keys were and are not to be publicly distributed in or out of developed applications. That prompts Chromium to say you need API keys. You can set up your Chrome OS with a Google account and use it only for surfing the internet.Īs of March 15, 2021, Google limited private APIs on Chromium OS and the Chromium browser that allowed Google features to work. You can boot it right from the USB without installation, so your primary OS won’t be affected.
The great thing about Chrome OS is that you don’t need to install it, and it doesn’t take any space on your hard drive. Boot into Chrome OS Without an Installation
macOS users can use the Disk Utility to format the USB as FAT32.Know that all of the data on your USB drive will be wiped clean. When the pop-up window appears, choose FAT32 as your file system and click Start.
If you are using Windows, find the USB in My Computer, right-click on it, and select Quick format.
Don’t expect high-level gaming functionality, though. It’s an operating system that doesn’t take too much space, and it works great for basic operations and surfing the internet.
However, you can also use it on newer computers or laptops using Windows 10 or Linux. The open-source version of Chrome OS is ideal for older Windows XP and Windows 7 PCs because it provides more protection and it’s easier to update. Their OS is now used in schools and businesses all over the world.
They used the open-source code to create Neverware CloudReady, which is the same as Chromium OS, but with some extra features and mainstream hardware support. The company behind Chromium is called Neverware. Some hardware won’t work perfectly, but most PCs can run Chromium without any issues. Chromium OS (not Chrome OS) is an open-source version of Chrome OS, and it can work with all devices, including Mac, Linux, and Windows. It’s one of the simplest operating systems you can get. Chrome OS Pre-Installation ConsiderationsĬhrome OS is technically made for Chromebooks that are designed to be lightweight and straightforward.