10 Steps to Enable Chrome OS Developer Mode on School Chromebook

Enable Chrome OS Developer Mode on School Chromebook

Are you eager to unleash the hidden potential of your school Chromebook? Unlocking Developer Mode on Chrome OS grants you access to a world of customization, enabling you to tinker with system settings, install custom software, and delve into the depths of your device’s capabilities. However, embarking on this journey requires a few crucial steps, and our comprehensive guide will illuminate the path for you.

First and foremost, it’s imperative to acknowledge that enabling Developer Mode can void your Chromebook’s warranty. Thus, proceed with caution and carefully consider the potential consequences before initiating the process. Additionally, a recovery USB drive is strongly recommended as a safeguard in case you encounter any unforeseen difficulties during or after enabling Developer Mode. With these precautions in mind, let’s commence our adventure into the realm of Chromebook customization.

To initiate the unlocking process, press the “Esc + Refresh + Power” key combination while your Chromebook is turned off. This will trigger the appearance of a Recovery Mode screen. Navigate to the “Developer Mode” option using the arrow keys and press “Enter.” A warning will appear, highlighting the potential risks associated with Developer Mode. Carefully review the information and proceed only if you are fully aware of the implications. Congratulations! You have successfully enabled Developer Mode on your Chromebook, opening up a myriad of possibilities for exploration and customization.

$title$

Enabling Developer Mode in Education Environments

Enabling Developer Mode on a school Chromebook can provide valuable benefits for educational purposes, such as allowing students to install specialized software or access restricted tools for coding and development projects. However, it’s crucial to approach this process with caution and follow the appropriate steps to ensure compliance with school policies and maintain the integrity of the device.

Before enabling Developer Mode, it’s essential to obtain necessary permissions and approvals from school administrators. This is to ensure that the use of Developer Mode is aligned with the school’s educational goals and does not compromise the security or functionality of the device.

Additionally, it’s important to note that enabling Developer Mode may void the device’s warranty. Therefore, it’s advisable to carefully consider the potential risks and benefits before proceeding. Users should also be aware that once Developer Mode is enabled, the Chromebook’s firmware will be modified, and the device will no longer receive automatic updates from Google.

Once the necessary permissions and approvals are obtained, the following steps can be taken to enable Developer Mode on a school Chromebook:

Step	Instructions
1	Press the “Esc + Refresh + Power” keys simultaneously to enter recovery mode.
2	Use the volume keys to navigate to the “Developer Mode” option and press “Enter.”
3	Read the warning message carefully and press “Enter” to confirm the operation.
4	The Chromebook will restart and enter Developer Mode, which may take several minutes.

Preparing Your Chromebook for Developer Mode

Before proceeding with enabling Developer Mode, you need to prepare your Chromebook by taking the following steps:

1. Back Up Your Data

Enabling Developer Mode will wipe all data from your Chromebook, so it’s crucial to back up your important files and settings. You can do this by:

Using Google Drive: Save your files to your Google Drive account before enabling Developer Mode.
Using an External Storage Device: Insert a USB drive or SD card and copy your files to it.

2. Disable the “Verified Boot” Feature

By default, Chromebooks have a “Verified Boot” feature that prevents unauthorized changes to the operating system. To enable Developer Mode, you need to disable this feature:

Press Ctrl + Alt + F2 to open the Crosh terminal.
Type the command: crossystem disable_verified_boot
Press Enter and restart your Chromebook.

3. Enable Developer Mode

Once you’ve backed up your data and disabled Verified Boot, follow these steps to enable Developer Mode:

Step 1: Open the Recovery Screen

Power off your Chromebook. Then, press and hold the Esc + Refresh keys while pressing the Power button. Release the keys when you see the “Recovery” screen.

Step 2: Select the “Developer Mode” Option

Select the “Developer Mode” option using the arrow keys and press Enter. You’ll see a warning message. Press Ctrl + D to confirm that you want to enable Developer Mode.

Step 3: Complete the Process

Your Chromebook will restart and show a progress bar. Once completed, you’ll be asked to log in to your Google account. Note that your Chromebook will now have Developer Mode enabled.

Accessing Recovery Mode

To access Recovery mode, follow these steps:

Turn off your Chromebook.
Press and hold the Esc and Refresh keys, then press the power button.
Release all three keys when the Chromebook turns on.
You should now see the Recovery mode screen.

Key	Function
`Esc`	Exits Recovery mode.
`Refresh`	Refreshes the Recovery mode screen.
`Ctrl` + `D`	Enables Developer mode.
`Enter`	Confirms your selection.

If you see a screen that says “Chrome OS is missing or damaged”, you can try to recover your Chromebook using a recovery USB drive. For more information, see Recover your Chromebook using a recovery USB drive.

Entering Developer Mode Password

Once you have enabled developer mode, you will be prompted to enter a password. This password is used to protect your Chromebook from unauthorized access. It is important to choose a strong password that you will remember.

To enter your password, simply type it into the field provided and click “Enter”.

If you forget your developer mode password, you will need to perform a powerwash to reset your Chromebook. This will erase all of the data on your Chromebook, so be sure to back up any important files before you proceed.

Here is a table summarizing the steps involved in enabling developer mode on a school Chromebook:

Step	Action
1	Press the Esc + Refresh + Power buttons simultaneously.
2	Release the Power button when the screen turns on.
3	Continue holding the Esc + Refresh buttons until the “Chrome OS is missing or damaged” message appears.
4	Press Ctrl + D to enable developer mode.
5	Set a developer mode password and click “Enter”.

Developer Mode Warning

Enabling Developer Mode on a school Chromebook is not recommended without the explicit permission of your school’s IT department. Doing so may void the warranty of the device and expose it to potential security risks.

Recovering from Developer Mode Activation Errors

If you encounter any errors while activating Developer Mode, you can try the following troubleshooting steps:

1. Check your internet connection

Ensure that your device is connected to a stable internet connection.

2. Restart your Chromebook

Hold down the power button until the screen turns off. Then, press the power button again to turn it back on.

3. Try multiple recovery keys

If you’re using a physical recovery key, insert it into the USB port and try again. If you’re using a recovery key provided by your school, ensure you’re entering it correctly.

4. Reset the BIOS to default settings

Power off your Chromebook. Press the Esc + Refresh + Power buttons simultaneously and release them when the BIOS screen appears. Select “Power Wash” and follow the on-screen instructions.

5. Contact your school’s IT department

If the above steps don’t resolve the issue, contact your school’s IT department for assistance. They may have specific instructions or tools to help you activate Developer Mode.

6. Create a recovery USB drive (for Chromebooks released before June 2023)

If you have a Chromebook released before June 2023, you may need to create a recovery USB drive to fix activation errors. Follow these steps:

Step	Description
1. Download the Chrome OS recovery utility from the Chrome Web Store.
2. Insert a USB drive with at least 4GB of storage into your Chromebook.
3. Open the recovery utility and follow the on-screen instructions to create the recovery USB drive.
4. Once the recovery drive is created, insert it into your Chromebook and power it off.
5. Press the Esc + Refresh + Power buttons simultaneously and release them when the BIOS screen appears.
6. Use the arrow keys to select “USB Storage” and press Enter.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the recovery process.

Checking Developer Mode Status

Before you can enable Developer Mode, you need to check if it is currently disabled. Here are the steps:

Log in to your Chromebook.
Press Ctrl + Alt + F2. This will open a command prompt.
Type the following command and press Enter:
chromeos-data /dev/sda

This command will print a list of partitions on your Chromebook. Look for a partition with the label “dev”. If the dev partition has a size of 0 bytes, then Developer Mode is disabled.

Restarting in Developer Mode

To restart your Chromebook in developer mode, press the Esc + Refresh + Power buttons simultaneously. The screen will turn black, and the Chromebook will reboot. You’ll see a white screen with a message that says, “To turn OS verification off, press Ctrl + D.”

Press Ctrl + D to disable OS verification. The Chromebook will reboot again. You’ll see a yellow screen with a message that says, “OS verification is OFF.”

Now, your Chromebook is in developer mode. You can set a root password and access the Developer Options by following the instructions at the bottom of the screen.

Root Password

A root password allows you to access the Developer Options and perform advanced tasks. To set a root password, enter the following command in Crosh (chrome://crosh):

Command	Description
passwd	Sets the root password.

Enter your desired password twice when prompted. Once you have set a root password, you can access the Developer Options by clicking the gear icon in the Crosh window and selecting “Developer Options.”

Developer Options

The Developer Options allow you to customize your Chromebook and enable advanced features. To access the Developer Options, press Ctrl + Alt + T to open Crosh, then enter the following command:

Command	Description
chrome://flags	Opens the Developer Options.

Installing Third-Party Applications

After enabling developer mode, you can install third-party applications that are not available through the Chrome Web Store. Here’s a detailed guide on how to do so:

1. Enable "Unknown Sources" Setting

Open the Chrome OS settings panel.
Navigate to "Security and Privacy" > "Security."
Toggle the switch next to "Allow installation of apps from unknown sources" to "ON."

2. Download the .deb File

Download the .deb package for the desired application from a reputable source.
Transfer the file to your Chromebook’s "Downloads" folder.

3. Open the Linux Terminal

Press "Ctrl" + "Alt" + "T" to open the Linux terminal.

4. Install the .deb Package

Navigate to the "Downloads" folder in the terminal: cd ~/Downloads
Run the following command to install the .deb package: sudo dpkg -i [package_name].deb
Enter your password when prompted.

5. Install Dependencies (Optional)

Some applications may require additional dependencies.
Run the following command to install any missing dependencies: sudo apt-get install -f

6. Verify Installation

Once the installation is complete, you can verify it by running the command: dpkg -l [package_name]

7. Launch the Application

Open the Chrome OS launcher.
Click on the "Linux apps" folder.
Find and click on the installed application to launch it.

8. Allow File System and Camera Access (Optional)

Some applications may require access to the file system or camera.
To grant permissions, open the "Files" or "Camera" app.
Click on the menu button (three dots) and select "Settings."
Turn on the "Allow Linux applications to access files and folders" or "Allow Linux applications to access camera" options.

9. Additional Considerations for Schools

Schools may restrict the installation of third-party applications due to security concerns.
Contact your school’s IT department for specific policies and guidance.
Before installing any third-party applications, ensure they are reputable and safe.

Re-enrolling in School Management

To re-enroll your Chromebook in School Management after enabling Developer Mode, follow these steps:

Log in to your Chromebook.
Connect to a Wi-Fi network.
Open the Chrome browser.
Navigate to the School Management website provided by your school district.
Enter your school username and password.
Click the “Enroll” button.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the enrollment process.

Once your Chromebook is re-enrolled in School Management, Developer Mode will be disabled and the Chromebook will be restored to its original state.

Re-entering Developer Mode

If you need to re-enter Developer Mode after re-enrolling in School Management, you will need to use a recovery USB drive. To create a recovery USB drive, follow these steps:

Download the Chromebook Recovery Utility from the Google website.
Insert a USB drive with at least 8GB of free space.
Run the Chromebook Recovery Utility.
Select your Chromebook model.
Click the “Create” button.

Once the recovery USB drive is created, you can use it to re-enter Developer Mode by following these steps:

Insert the recovery USB drive into your Chromebook.
Turn on your Chromebook.
Press and hold the “Esc” and “Refresh” keys simultaneously.
Release the “Esc” and “Refresh” keys when the “Recovery” screen appears.
Select the “Powerwash” option.
Click the “Continue” button.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the Powerwash process.

How To Enable Chrome OS Developer Mode On School Chromebook

Enabling developer mode on a school Chromebook is possible but requires obtaining permission from the school’s IT administrators. Here’s a general overview of the process, but it’s important to check with your school’s IT team before proceeding:

Obtain permission: Reach out to your school’s IT administrators and explain your reasons for wanting to enable developer mode.
Restart the device: Once you have permission, restart the Chromebook.
Press special keys: As the Chromebook restarts, press the following key combination: Esc + Refresh + Power
Enter recovery mode: The Chromebook will enter recovery mode. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the “Enable Developer Mode” option and press the Enter key.
Confirm warning: A warning message will appear. Read it carefully and press Ctrl + D to confirm that you understand the risks.
Restart again: The Chromebook will restart again. Once it’s back up and running, you’ll be in developer mode.