Why I wouldn’t install Windows on a Chromebook

By Kunal Khullar Published October 30, 2025

PC enthusiasts, including myself, have often tried to install Windows on Chromebooks — a project that sounds tempting on paper. After all, Windows offers greater flexibility and app support, while ChromeOS can feel limited to those used to traditional desktop systems. 

But after years of updates to both platforms, installing Windows on even the best Chromebooks in 2025 is no longer a clever workaround, but an impractical move that sacrifices performance, reliability, and usability.

Chromebooks and Windows laptops serve very different purposes. ChromeOS was originally built as a lightweight, cloud-first operating system, designed to run web apps and Android software efficiently. It thrives on simplicity, speed, and security particularly on modest hardware.

Windows, on the other hand, is a full-featured desktop OS that demands far more from the system. Even Windows 11, with all its optimizations, requires significantly more storage, memory, and processing power than ChromeOS.

Most Chromebooks use low-power processors like Intel N-series or entry-level ARM-based chips, paired with limited RAM and eMMC storage, making them poorly suited for Windows’ heavier requirements.

Installing Windows on such hardware can often lead to poor system responsiveness, frequent lag, and shorter battery life. What begins as an attempt to unlock more functionality quickly turns into a downgrade in user experience.

Even when Windows runs successfully on a Chromebook, it’s rarely seamless. Many Chromebook components lack official Windows drivers, especially touchpads, Wi-Fi chips, and cameras. Users often report missing features or unstable connections.

Performance is another concern. ChromeOS boots almost instantly and maintains long battery life by minimizing background activity. Windows, on the other hand, continuously runs services, updates, and security processes. On limited Chromebook hardware, these background tasks can cause noticeable slowdowns, making the system feel sluggish even during light workloads like browsing or document editing.

Additionally, most Chromebooks rely on slower eMMC or soldered UFS storage rather than full SSDs. This limits data transfer speeds and further affects how smoothly Windows runs. The result is a compromised experience that neither matches ChromeOS’s responsiveness nor provides the full power of a true Windows PC.

One of ChromeOS’s biggest advantages is security. The OS features automatic system verification, sandboxed apps, and rollback protection, all of which are lost when moving to a new operating system. Installing Windows often requires enabling Developer Mode, disabling verified boot, or flashing custom firmware, all of which increase security risks and void warranties.

If something goes wrong, neither Google nor the Chromebook manufacturer is likely to provide support. Restoring ChromeOS is possible but can be a time-consuming process, and in some cases, you can end up with a permanently bricked device.

Years ago, installing Windows on a Chromebook made sense as ChromeOS was limited to web browsing and simple apps. Today, that’s no longer the case. ChromeOS supports Android and Linux apps, integrates smoothly with cloud services like Microsoft 365, and even supports PC gaming via Steam on select models.

For productivity, most users can already access the full Microsoft Office suite through the web or as Android apps. For creative work, platforms like Adobe Express, Canva, and Figma run efficiently in browsers. ChromeOS now covers most mainstream computing needs without the overhead of Windows.

For users who rely heavily on Windows applications or specific desktop tools, it makes far more sense to buy a Windows laptop instead. Modern Windows ultrabooks powered by the latest Intel, AMD and even Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X platform deliver the same lightweight form factor and excellent battery efficiency but with far greater compatibility and performance.

Ultimately, Chromebooks are best used as they were designed: secure, simple, and optimized for online work. Installing Windows undermines those strengths and often results in a worse experience overall.

Technically, it’s possible to install Windows on some Intel-based Chromebooks by enabling Developer Mode, modifying the system BIOS using tools like MrChromebox’s firmware utility, and booting from a Windows USB drive.

However, this process carries several risks that go beyond simple software tweaks. It can permanently disable verified boot security which is one of ChromeOS’s key defenses against tampering and often requires flashing custom firmware that isn’t officially supported by Google or the device manufacturer.

Even if the installation succeeds, the experience rarely matches expectations. As mentioned before, official drivers for essential components may also not exist, leaving key hardware unusable.

System performance and battery life typically take a noticeable hit, and any remaining manufacturer warranty is voided. While technically skilled users can make it work, for most people, the trade-off in stability, security, and usability simply isn’t worth it.

We have a number of Windows machines in our best laptops, best gaming laptops and best cheap laptops rundowns if you are desperate for Microsoft’s operating system.