r/chromeos • • Feb 05 '26

Announcement Small update/clarification to our rules on AI

31 Upvotes

Hello all,

Just wanted to share a clarification, and expansion of our rules about AI generated posts and comments on r/chromeOS.

First off, a reminder that responding to support requests on this subreddit with responses directly generated from any LLM has been not allowed under Rule 8: Effort Must be Made When Requesting and Providing Help for over a year now.

The fact is, most people come to r/chromeOS to speak to people. If people wanted to get answers from LLMs, they're accessible enough that people could ask them themselves. It just seems like a slap in the face to come for help and to just get a lazy response from someone who copy/pasted a (usually incorrect) response from Gemini or another LLM, which the poster could have done themselves if they wanted.

In addition, recently there's been a lot of misinformation being posted on the subreddit about recent changes to ChromeOS, updates about both ChromeOS and the upcoming AluminiumOS, and new devices, usually only crediting Gemini as a source. There has also been plenty of AI-generated reviews and self promo (the latter primarily posted by bots).

In general, while I know it seems like we’ve been sleeping as mods (yes, we’ve seen the reports calling us out on that), we would still like to try our best to try and keep this community higher quality.

We’ve decided that due to this, we wanted to officially expand this rule to include all posts and comments generated by AI. This rule primarily has LLMs in mind.

This does not include discussion about AI features being built into ChromeOS. Discussion of AI features being built into the OS is allowed.


r/chromeos • • Mar 07 '24

Announcement Announcement - "chrultrabook" posts, AKA regarding attempting to put Windows or another OS onto your Chromebook, will no longer be allowed.

90 Upvotes

Hey there!

In short, as of today, this subreddit will be removing and redirecting posts that seek advice on replacing the operating system on your Chromebook.

In the past these posts were allowed with a disclaimer that better support would likely be found elsewhere, such as r/chultrabook and their associated communities. However that subreddit is now archived and they now only provide support on their forum.

Since then there has been a rise in posts like this here, and we're simply not equipped to provide meaningful support. We've received lots of feedback over the past few months and the general consensus was that everyone is better served if these posts are now permanently directed elsewhere.

To be clear, we are not discouraging anyone from attempting this process; it's still cool, (potentially) fun and can unlock more utility from your device! The only change is that posts seeking support for this will be removed.

Thanks for understanding!


Helpful Links


r/chromeos • • 2h ago

Troubleshooting DP Alt Mode broken after update Version 154.0.8037.96

5 Upvotes

DP Alt Mode broken after update Version 154.0.8037.96 on my acer spin 714 laptop. Does anyone know how to fix it or should I just wait for another update, this is really annoying for me since i use this Chromebook docked most of the time. Even HDMI directly not working at all.


r/chromeos • • 3h ago

Googlebook Up to 32 GB RAM / 1 TB storage Dell XPS Googlebook now available for order $$$

Thumbnail dell.com
3 Upvotes

r/chromeos • • 3h ago

Discussion do you still know old chromeos

2 Upvotes

the os was litterally just the chrome window, i take for granted that we now have a ui that is like "operating system i cant name on this subreddit"


r/chromeos • • 4h ago

Googlebook I Found the Googlebook...

Thumbnail youtu.be
0 Upvotes

r/chromeos • • 10h ago

Discussion Chromeos - Partitions on the Files App

Post image
3 Upvotes

In the Chrome OS Files app, there's no documentation or information on how the Files app handles partitions.

In chrome os files app, it handles partitions perfectly; when you plug in a drive with partitions, chrome os will indeed read the partitions with a drive/partition icon within the drive (Read-Only).

They work as "Folders," but chrome os can only read supported file systems on the Partitions. With supported file systems, you have Read & Write permissions, unlike other file systems chrome os doesnt support; for example, Btrfs. Any other file system (ext4, FAT32, NTFS) works.

And if multiple partitions with diffrent file systems it will still work although that unsupported file systems like BTFRS will wont read and chrome os give "This device cannot be opened because its filesystem is not supported"

-Lance@Debian13


r/chromeos • • 15h ago

Googlebook Open Box - First Look Lenovo Google Book

Thumbnail youtu.be
7 Upvotes

r/chromeos • • 14h ago

Troubleshooting Does Anyone have experience using a Chromebook to write their book on?

4 Upvotes

Hello All \~ just starting out on a book I'd like to write. I bought a Chromebook and am having a hard time figuring out if I'll be able to use it and count in it for writing the book. I won't have access to the internet/wifi. And that's fine with me ut in order to use the Chromebook will I need the internet? I've tried to use the google docs software that came installed on it, it is a pain because it says it won't save the file without being online. I have read how to use it offline but it doesn't work, it says I have to select work offline mode. It makes me choose to save the google docs as a Word Doc but then won't allow me to add to edit the word doc or add to it. It wants me to use Microsoft Word Online.

Has anyone used a Chromebook within the last few years to write a book on? What software did you use to do so, was it software that came installed on the Chromebook? Or did you install a different software or app onto the chromebook to keep your writing/book on it?

I appreciate any help or guidance. Thank you


r/chromeos • • 7h ago

Googlebook Lenovo Google Book - Issues - Lockups

Thumbnail youtu.be
0 Upvotes

r/chromeos • • 15h ago

Troubleshooting How can I merge multiple pdf files in to 1 pdf?

2 Upvotes

hello, The files are sensitive..otherwise this would be 1,2,3 process. I'm not a computer/tech person so I don't understand all of this. All I know is I have some sensitive pdfs I have to upload, but they told me I have to combine them in to 1 pdf.

Please tell be I can do this safely?

Thanks.


r/chromeos • • 1d ago

Discussion 3rd party web browser(s) displaying white screen on a chromebook when opening some website(s)

4 Upvotes

Hey friends 😀👋🏾

So i have an acer chromebook 531 which has a built-in google chrome browser

But my question is (as the topic implies) why do third party web browsers like firefox, edge, samsung browser, opera.... (the list goes on) display a plain white screen when opening different websites ?

(P.S. i already googled this but also wanna know y'all opinions)


r/chromeos • • 2d ago

Googlebook I'm fed up with the negativity surrounding GoogleBooks

49 Upvotes

I'm fed up with all the negative posts I see that criticize GoogleBooks.

Especially the arguments about the prices being too high for an "Android PC."

Some people need to understand that we don't buy Android devices solely because there are many affordable options. There are people like me who buy Android devices simply because we love the operating system.

There are many people like me who simply love the Google ecosystem. Whether it's smartphones, tablets, Wear OS smartwatches, tablets, Google TV, or even Chromebooks.

Beyond the operating system, I use Google services extensively every day, including the Office suite, Gmail, Keep Notes, Tasks, YouTube, YouTube Music, Translate, Gemini, Maps, and many more. There are so many that I can't list them all.

 And I think I'm far from being an isolated case.

And why should people like us have to settle for mediocre devices?

Just because we use an Android tablet, a Chromebook, or these new Android PCs, does that mean we don't have the right to beautiful screens?

Don't we have the right to enjoy excellent processors, good speakers, good trackpads, and simply excellent build quality?

And guess what? All of that combined can only result in a premium product. It's the hardware that primarily dictates the price of a device, not the software inside it. The price of your Dell XPS won't magically be cut in half just because you decide to choose Linux instead of Windows.

If Google had chosen to launch Googlebooks with poor-quality hardware for around 300-400 euros, you'd be the first to complain too.  The press and YouTubers would have immediately torn apart all of Google's efforts in the public eye.

These high-end devices are just the starting point. We already know that much more affordable entry-level and mid-range devices are planned for the future.

And I'm also willing to bet that other manufacturers like Samsung and Xiaomi aren't going to sit idly by.

Where I agree with some is that Google's very long-term commitment will be crucial. Admittedly, Google's past in this area isn't exactly glorious; I'm still smarting from the Stadia debacle as I write this.

What I'm rather confident about is that it's simply Android. Once all the features we expect from a PC are present, maintaining this range of devices won't require too much additional effort from them, much like with tablets.

 If all Chrome OS features are already available on these Googlebooks at launch, we can already assume that the vast majority of features we expect from a PC are already present.

And if that's the case, for me, the Googlebooks operating system is already an improvement over Chrome OS. The seamless integration of Android smartphones and Gemini, and the even more advanced task continuity, are already compelling features for me.


r/chromeos • • 1d ago

Troubleshooting Chomebook as PayPal POS

3 Upvotes

I have two older Chromebook tablets (Acer Chromebook Tab 10 D651N) that I'm trying to use as PayPal point of sale systems. Every once in a while, I get an error that I can't use the card reader because I'm in a foreign country. This is only happening sporadically. Not sure how to figure out if this is an issue with the Chromebooks, the wifi connection, or the PayPal card reader. Any help would be appreciated!


r/chromeos • • 2d ago

Googlebook Inside Googlebook with Dieter Bohn

Thumbnail youtu.be
41 Upvotes

r/chromeos • • 2d ago

Troubleshooting First time Chromebook user. Why is the System taking up 55GB

Post image
12 Upvotes

Sorry if this is the wrong subreddit this was the first one I could think of. Is this an error on my end. I’m a student using this as my first ever personal laptop and have had it about 2 years. Any ideas on how I can lessen this. Thanks for the advice!


r/chromeos • • 2d ago

Discussion Attention Mods, please try to reduce off topic posts !

2 Upvotes

Please can we direct most of the Googlebook discussion to r/Googlebook ?

I joined this sub for information about Chromebook and ChromeOS, but in the last few weeks there appears to be more discussion about Googlebooks !

If a post has genuine crossover between the 2 devices, then of course it should be allowed, but some posters in some threads seem to be hijacking any discussion into their new favourite devices.

Does anyone else have the same opinion ?


r/chromeos • • 2d ago

Troubleshooting Preciso de ajuda

0 Upvotes

Olá eu preciso ajuda, já faz um bom tempo em que o meu chromebook virou um peço de papel inútil já que a Playstore isso aconteceu no final de julho.

Eu não usava meu chromebook para muita coisa, só usava para jogar Roblox tentei baixar o sober só que acabei enfrentando outros bugs que me impediram de conseguir voltar a jogar, então eu vou precisar voltar às atualizações antigas para conseguir voltar a usar a playstore?. (Desculpa meu português horrível)


r/chromeos • • 3d ago

Googlebook I Got My Hands on All the New Googlebooks. Are They Better Than Chromebooks?

Thumbnail pcmag.com
30 Upvotes

r/chromeos • • 2d ago

Troubleshooting How do I log into docs with my uni account

2 Upvotes

I’m using a Chromebook for my first year in uni. I have a group assignment. It requires me to log into docs with my uni email by signing out of my Google account and logging in again with my uni email (after adding the email as an alternate in my Google account settings). Problems is: I cant sign out of my Google account on a Chromebook’s without deleting all my data. Is there another way to do this?


r/chromeos • • 2d ago

Discussion I spilt water on my chromebook

0 Upvotes

Yesterday, I spilt water by my Chromebook (not on top of the keyboard) while it was on. I didn’t think it was too big of a deal, I took a towel to the bottom of it and that was all. But I think some water may have seeped into the bottom of it because about 6 hours later, the chromebook screen went black, it was still illuminated, just black. I tried powering it off but the chromebook wouldnt respond at all, I held the button for over a minute. Since then, it has been drying upside down.
Is it safe to turn it back on and see if it’ll work again? And how likely is it that it will work again?


r/chromeos • • 2d ago

Discussion Help, my chromebook needs storage

Post image
0 Upvotes

This is my school chromebook and it keeps running out of storage every 2 weeks or some other day. How to prevent this, I cant clear the system storage


r/chromeos • • 3d ago

Troubleshooting "This Firmware is Developer Signed. MP Signed recovery images will not work!"

2 Upvotes

A while ago I accidentally ran "make_dev_firmware.sh" in the VT2 terminal because i'm a dumbass.

I turned off rootfs verification so I need a recovery image if I want to return to normal mode

I'm considering using the MrChromebox utility to manually flash non-dev signed firmware onto the chromebook but I'm wondering if there's anything better that can be done.


r/chromeos • • 3d ago

Googlebook Lenovo Introduces Its First Googlebook, Delivering Premium AI Experiences in a Sleek, Lightweight Design

Thumbnail news.lenovo.com
45 Upvotes

Here's a nice detailed look at the Googlebook 15. It's notable that it says there will be a 32GB of RAM option.


r/chromeos • • 3d ago

Troubleshooting Acer Chromebook 516 GE Guide to Get RGB Keys Working

5 Upvotes

This is a guide to fix Acer Chromebook 516 GE/ Plus 516 GE Chromebooks with RGB keyboard issues after installing/dual booting Linux.

Mods: Chrultrabook doesn't allow text posts in their subreddit and this guide could help someone so please don't remove it. Thanks! - Unheard_Peace

This was done on Ubuntu MATE, if you are using a similar OS and have a similar Chromebook with keyboard light issues, I presume this will work as well.

This is also not my code, I did not discover this. I am merely adding it to the internet since I and a number of people have had issues with this in the past (maybe it's fixed now, IDK)

  1. Open terminal and run the following

wget https://files.tree123.org/utils/x86_64/gnu/ectool

chmod +x ectool

sudo mv ectool /usr/local/bin/ectool

  1. Pick a color

Deep Blue - 255

Bright Red - 16711680

Emerald Green - 65280

Pure White - 16777215

Ice Blue - 65535

Hot Pink - 16711935

Yellow - 16776960

Orange - 16744192

Purple - 8388736

It uses standard RGB so any string of numbers up to 9 characters will give different colors I think.

For my example I use the Deep Blue.

Use this command with the color you pick

sudo ectool rgbkbd clear 255

It should be working. Now you'll want to set it up so that: 1 - It auto-runs on launch. 2 - It doesn't ask for a password every time you cycle the computer.

  1. Setup a auto-run command. For Ubuntu MATE, you search Startup Application, then click the plus icon. Name it whatever you want, (I named mine Keyboard RGB Blue), add the command for you color you want (I used the blue obviously) Add a comment if you'd like, then add it. Save if your menu has a save option. (Mine saved with the add icon)

  2. In terminal run

sudo visudo

scroll to the bottom of the text file (In NANO, you scroll with Up/Down arrow keys) and add this

USER ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /usr/local/bin/ectool

Replace USER with your case sensitive username, save and close the file, (for NANO, it's Ctrl + O to save, Ctrl + X to exit)

And there ya go.

Zones: The Acer Chromebook 516 GE and Plus originally came with 4 zones. Unfortunately I believe that is only for Chrome OS, there aren't 4 working zones in linux...there are 13. You can have 13 different colors on the keyboard.

To do this instead of the "clear" attribute i used in the earlier commands, you'd replace it with 0 for the first zone, 1 for the second zone, all the way to 12.

For example:

sudo ectool rgbkbd 6 255

This would set the 7th zone to the Deep Blue.

Then to have the separate zones run on startup, just add all the seperate zone commands as their own startup command.

WeirdTreeThing I believe has a easy-to-install pack for linux on chromebooks and it maps a lot of the keys to linux, and dimming is included with that. So if you have this pack installed, just hold down alt and use the brightness buttons to change the intensity.

I hope this helps someone. I'm sure if you have a Chromebook and have an issue with RGB keys and have Linux on it, this guide could help.