How to activate Chrome OS developer mode: A simple guide

Chromebooks are a type of laptop that run on Google’s Chrome OS operating system. Chromebooks are known for their ease of use, security, and speedy performance, making them perfect for everyday tasks like browsing the web, checking email, and working in Google Docs or G-Suite. But for those who want a little more customisation under the hood, Chrome OS offers developer mode. 

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This powerful tool allows access to features not available for everyday use, like installing Linux applications, sideloading Android APKs, or even customising your Chromebook to a whole new level. So, to help you explore the possibilities, here’s how to enable or activate Chrome OS developer mode.

How to activate Chrome OS developer mode

Before you proceed, enabling Developer Mode on your Chromebook will permanently delete your login information and any locally stored data. This also happens when switching back to regular mode. Therefore, it’s crucial to back up all important data before continuing.

With that out of the way, here’s how you can enable Chrome OS developer mode:

1. Power down your Chromebook completely.

2. Once turned off, hold the Esc and Refresh keys (usually located on the top row of keys) together.

3. While still holding those keys, press the Power button to turn on your Chromebook.

4. You’ll see a message saying ” You are attempting to enable developer mode.” Don’t worry, this is normal. Press Ctrl + D on your keyboard.

5. Press the up arrow and select Confirm to confirm you’re entering Developer Mode.

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6. Then hit Enter.

7. Press Ctrl + D again. Your Chromebook will restart and display a message saying, you are in recovery mode screen.

8. Press Ctrl + D to dismiss the message.

Once finished, your Chromebook will restart again, but this time in developer mode. You may need to go through the initial setup process again, including signing in with your Google account.

How to turn off Developer Mode

So what if you enabled Developer Mode and don’t like it? The good news is that disabling Developer Mode is just as easy. The bad news is it will wipe your data again. Make sure all your important data is backed up. Once that is done, simply follow these steps:

1. Start by powering on your Chromebook, or if it’s already powered up, initiate a reboot. 

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2. Navigate to the screen indicating ‘You are in Developer Mode’ and select ‘Return to secure mode’ by pressing the up arrow. 

3. Press Enter to confirm. This action will trigger a complete factory data reset, erasing all content from the device. 

4. Follow the setup prompts to go through the Chromebook setup process once again.

As you can see, enabling and disabling Developer Mode is quite simple. If you want to test out Developer Mode, make sure you’re fully aware of the inherent security risks and back up all your personal data. Developer Mode can add an extra layer of exciting functionality to your Chromebook. However, just make sure you use it with caution.