How to Install Chrome OS in a Virtual Machine

Running Chrome OS in a virtual machine is a smart way to test-drive Google’s lightweight operating system without wiping your hard drive. Whether you’re a developer, a Chromebook-curious user, or just want a distraction-free environment for web tasks, here’s how to set up Chrome OS in a virtual machine using VirtualBox.

What You’ll Need

• A working PC or Mac with virtualization support (check BIOS/UEFI)
• VirtualBox – free and cross-platform
• The Chrome OS image (CloudReady by Neverware is the go-to, or use Chromium OS from ArnoldTheBats if you want bleeding-edge)

Note: Google doesn’t officially distribute Chrome OS images, so you’re working with Chromium OS or CloudReady – both are nearly identical in experience.

Step 1: Download and Install VirtualBox

1. Go to VirtualBox.org and download the version for your OS.
2. Install it like any regular app.
3. (Optional but recommended) Install the Extension Pack for better USB support and integration.

Need more VM power? Learn how to enlarge a virtual machine’s disk in VirtualBox or VMware.

Step 2: Get a Chrome OS Image

You’ve got two main options:

• CloudReady (by Neverware):
  • Download the .zip file from CloudReady Home Edition
  • Extract the .bin file
• Chromium OS (by ArnoldTheBats):
  • Visit arnoldthebat.co.uk
  • Download the latest “Daily” or “Special” build
  • Extract the .img file

These files can be used to create a virtual hard disk.

Step 3: Convert the Image to VDI Format

VirtualBox works best with VDI or VMDK files. Use the Terminal or Command Prompt to convert the image.

On Linux/macOS:

VBoxManage convertfromraw ChromiumOS.img ChromiumOS.vdi --format VDI

On Windows:

VBoxManage.exe convertfromraw ChromiumOS.img ChromiumOS.vdi --format VDI

Make sure VBoxManage is in your system path (comes with VirtualBox).

Step 4: Create a New Virtual Machine

1. Open VirtualBox.
2. Click New, name it “Chrome OS”, and select:
   • Type: Linux
   • Version: Other Linux (64-bit)
3. Allocate RAM (2–4 GB is good).
4. Choose “Use an existing virtual hard disk file” and select your converted .vdi.

Step 5: Adjust VM Settings

Before starting, tweak a few settings:

• System > Motherboard: Enable EFI
• System > Processor: Allocate at least 2 CPUs
• Display > Video Memory: Set to 128MB
• Storage: Remove any empty optical drives

Step 6: Start the Virtual Machine

Click Start. Chrome OS (or Chromium OS) should boot. Initial setup might take a minute.

Log in with your Google account and you’re good to go.

Bonus: Other VM Setups Worth Checking

If you’re experimenting with different OSes, you might also be interested in:

• How to Install macOS Ventura on VMware on Windows PC (2024)
• How to Install macOS Sonoma on AMD Ryzen using VMware and OpenCore

Wrapping Up

That’s it. You now have Chrome OS running in a virtual machine. It’s a great way to explore the OS without buying hardware or messing up your main system. Whether you’re testing for development, curious about Chrome OS, or want a focused web environment, this setup does the job.

Let me know in the comments if you hit any snags or want a tutorial on dual-booting Chrome OS.