How To Turn On Chrome OS Developer Mode: Best Tips and Info for 2024

If you are a Chromebook user, then you will know that it is one of the simplest, most secure, and hassle-free devices to use. But are you unhappy with the limitations of downloading and accessing more software and applications? Then you must know about Chrome Developer mode, which gives you more access to tweak and modify the system and explore third-party applications and software. So keep reading our blog on how to turn on Chrome OS Developer mode to know all about it and more!

What is the Chrome OS Developer Mode?

Chromebooks are designed as a simple and user-friendly solution with only the essential Google services provided in the system. It prioritizes security and high-speed performance, but you can only access limited services and applications provided by Google. The Chrome OS Developer mode removes these limitations and helps you get more control over your device. If you enable the Developer Mode, you can download third-party operating systems and applications and go beyond the software provided by the Google Play Store or Chrome Web Store. Tech geeks and Developers usually prefer to know how to turn on Chrome OS Developer Mode for coding projects, experimentation, or for unleashing more capabilities of their Chromebooks. This is why many users want to know how to turn on Chrome OS Developer mode.

Difference Between Standard Mode vs Developer Mode

In the Standard Mode for Chromebooks, there are certain limitations to your system, but it is a secure and fast mode for your device. On the other hand, the Developer mode gives you more control and helps you unleash the true potential of your device, but there can be security risks. Let us take a look at the difference between Standard Mode and Developer Mode on the Chrome OS.

FeaturesStandard ModeDeveloper Mode

Speed and PerformanceKnown for its high performance and speed. You can perform all the tasks like booting, downloading, etc. very fast.This mode slows down the device. Common tasks like rebooting, downloading, etc. take more time than usual.

SecurityProvide high security and stability to the system.The system becomes more susceptible to malware and attacks.

Download CapabilitiesYou can only access the Google apps and some Linux applications from the Linux subsystem for Chrome OS and download applications and software only from Google Play Store and Chrome Web Store. It opens up your system to access and download third-party operating systems and third-party software from anywhere on the internet.

Local FilesYour local files stay secure and saved in the system.All the local files along with your login details are erased from the system whenever you enable and disable the Developer Mode.

Suitable forBest for beginners or users who want a high-speed, simple, user-friendly computer system.Tech enthusiasts, developers, coders.

Now that you know the difference between the Standard Mode and Developer Mode of Chrome OS, let us get into all the features and capabilities you can unlock when you know how to turn on Chrome OS Developer Mode.

Key Features of the Chrome OS Developer Mode

These are some of the features and capabilities that you can unlock if you know how to turn on Chrome OS Developer Mode:

You can access the hidden advanced settings and tweak and customize them as per your needs.
Chromebooks allow you access to download limited software and applications that are only available on Google Play Store. With the developer mode, you can download third-party applications and software from other sources from the internet. So you can install games, files, and other tools that are unavailable on Google Play Store.
This mode allows you to download those Linux applications that you cannot usually access. So you can try out a vast range of software for editing, coding, software development, etc that the Standard mode does not allow.
One of the most important aspects of the Chrome OS Developer mode is that you can use it to boot your device from external media. You can run other operating systems by just using a USB drive and it won’t cause any changes to the internal settings of your device.
The Developer mode gives you access to the system’s command line interface. So developers and tech enthusiasts can install packages, run commands, and tweak the core features of the system. It is especially useful if you want to experiment, develop software, and explore and manipulate the core workings of the system.
With this mode, you can also manipulate and make changes to the operating system, like modifying the UI, tweaking the system settings, or experimenting with different settings and codes to optimize the speed and performance of your system.
Many software developers working on new projects use the Developer mode to test their software. It provides a clean and controlled environment for testing software and even Chrome applications and extensions.

This mode surely gives you a lot more control to make changes to your Chromebooks and experiment with new applications and software. So let us get to know how to turn on Chrome OS Developer mode and take advantage of all of these capabilities.

Steps Of How To Turn On Chrome OS Developer Mode

You can follow these simple steps if you want to know How to Turn on Chrome OS Developer Mode. While there can be some minor changes in the steps as per your Chromebook version, the overall process is more or less the same.

Remember: When you turn on Chrome OS Developer Mode, all the locally stored data on your computer will be deleted and won’t be restored. Therefore, make sure to back up your important files and data before you know how to turn on Chrome OS Developer Mode.

Step 1: Power off your Chromebook. Then press and hold the Esc+Refresh Buttons together, and hold the Power Button along with them.
Step 2: You will get a message on the screen saying ‘You are attempting to enable Developer mode’. Press Ctrl+D when you see this message.
Step 3: Use the arrows to select Enable Developer Mode, then click on the Enter key, then select Confirm and press Enter.
Step 4: At this stage, some Chromebooks will ask to turn off OS verification. If you want to turn it off then press Enter.
Step 5: Press Ctrl+D again and your device will restart. Don’t worry if it takes some more time to restart, as this is when the software will transition to Developer Mode.
Step 6: Your device will display a message saying “You are in Developer Mode screen”.
Step 7: Use the arrows on your keyboard to select Boot from internal disk, then press the Enter button.

And done! Now your device is in Developer Mode. You will have to go through the initial setup process and also sign into your Google account. Now that you know how to turn on Chrome OS developer mode, let’s explore how to disable it as well.

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How to Turn Off Chrome OS Developer Mode?

If you were thinking about how to turn on Chrome OS Developer Mode, then now you know that it is a hassle-free process. But do you want to turn off the Developer mode on your Chromebook? Then that process is much simpler. However, turning off the Developer mode will

Step 1: Power on your computer, and if it is already on, then restart it.
Step 2: The message “You are in Developer Mode” will be displayed. Select Return to secure mode using the arrow keys, then click on the Enter button.
Step 3: Click on the enter button to Confirm.
Step 4: Your device will power off and restart, and the system will transition to Secure mode. All of your data will also be erased, so make sure to backup beforehand.
Step 5: Once your computer restarts, go through the prompts to set up your device and log in to your Gmail and Microsoft accounts.

So now your Chromebook is back to the Secure mode!

Disadvantages of Turning on Chrome OS Developer Mode

If you are searching for how to turn on Chrome OS Developer Mode, you must know that it also comes with some risks. While you are always free to go through the process, here are some risks that you should be aware of and try to prevent:

Turning on Developer mode disables some of the security features of your device, so it might become more prone to malware threats.
All of your locally stored data on the device is lost when you enable the Developer mode. Even while disabling it, if you make even a single mistake, you run the risk of losing your data all over again.
Enabling the Developer mode can void the warranty of your device.
You can face many issues with your device performance like it will take a longer time to boot, and a warning screen will pop up whenever you turn on your device. It can also become more prone to crashing and instability as well.

How to Troubleshoot Common Issues for the Chrome OS Developer Mode

Even if you are an expert developer and have taken all the steps to use the Chrome Developer mode safely, you might still come across some issues. Here are some of the troubleshooting solutions if you face similar issues:

Dealing with system instability: Running the developer mode on Chrome OS can cause some system instability making it crash or reduce its usual performance speed. In this case, you can perform a Powerwash that will reset the device. However, it will also remove all the locally stored data on your computer.
Warning Screen: When your Chromebook is in developer mode, a warning screen will be displayed whenever you power on or reboot your device. However, that is normal because the security features of the computer are disabled. You can press Ctrl+D and it won’t be displayed anymore.

Final Thoughts

In this blog, we have explored the various aspects of the Chrome OS Developer mode and discussed its features, drawbacks, and differences with the Standard Mode. We have also discussed how to turn on Chrome OS Developer mode and how to disable it as well. So if you are planning to try out how to turn on Chrome OS Developer mode, this blog will surely help you out!