Final month, I used to be digging round in my desk cupboards searching for one thing else and located my Samsung XE350XBA-K05US Chromebook 4+ buried underneath a bunch notepads and my outdated MacBook Airs. I obtained it as a present in early 2021 and used it a ton these first few months, then much less and fewer. By the point we moved in 2023, I might already stopped touching it. I tossed it within the cupboard throughout unpacking and actually forgot about it. I remembered studying someplace that Google solely helps these items for 5 years, which might make mine mainly nugatory. I am getting rid of my old Macbook Pro soon, and I might thought I might do the identical right here. So, I obtained curious at some point and determined to plug it in.
It seems nearly every part I assumed was incorrect. In the event you’ve obtained an outdated Chromebook gathering mud, you is perhaps shocked at what you may nonetheless do with it. This is what I realized after checking Google’s Auto Update policy page and really placing mine again to work.
I anticipated my 2021 Chromebook to be lifeless
It powered up and up to date after years in storage
My Chromebook had a lifeless battery, clearly. It had been in that cupboard for 2 or three years with no energy in any respect. I plugged it into the charger earlier than breakfast and figured I might test on it later. I got here again round lunchtime, hit the facility button, and it simply began up—no drama.
Then got here the ready. The Chromebook downloaded and put in years of gathered updates, which took a number of hours. After resyncing my Google Account and Chrome profile, it labored precisely prefer it did the day I put it away. All my bookmarks, extensions, and saved passwords synced again with out points.
Chromebooks can survive years of neglect and are available again able to work. However I wanted to know if Google would preserve supporting it with safety updates and new options.
Verify your Chromebook’s precise expiration date
Google now provides 10 years of assist, not 5
The method to seek out your Chromebook’s expiration date is fairly simple: Settings > About ChromeOS > Extra particulars, then discover “Replace schedule.” Mine exhibits assist via 2029. That is eight years whole, not the 5 I used to be anticipating. Google modified their complete coverage in some unspecified time in the future. Something launched in 2021 or later will get ten years of updates. Pre-2021 fashions have an opt-in factor for prolonged assist, although you may in all probability lose some options in the event you do this. It is also value realizing that the clock begins ticking when the platform got here out, not if you purchased yours.
You’ll be able to test your particular mannequin on Google’s Auto Update Expiration policy page. Updates imply safety patches, compatibility fixes, new options. After they cease coming, your Chromebook retains working, however web sites will begin breaking, and also you’re by yourself for safety holes.
Perceive what’s altering with ChromeOS
The platform is merging with Android in 2026
ChromeOS is not going away, simply altering. Google confirmed ChromeOS and Android are merging into one factor beginning 2026. The Chromebook expertise stays the identical from what Google says, simply with Android beneath doing the precise work.
That mainly means we’ll get extra apps. Builders will not should construct for 2 separate Google platforms anymore. It can have higher AI integrations, since that is the place Google’s focus is. The entire transition is meant to occur regularly, so your Chromebook should not out of the blue break or act bizarre.
Android has far more builders and apps than ChromeOS ever did, so this may really preserve your machine helpful for longer.
Gaming assist is ending prior to different options
Steam stops engaged on Chromebooks in January 2026
After I obtained my outdated Chromebook up and working, I assumed possibly I may use mine for some mild gaming via Steam—nope. Google’s shutting down the Steam for Chromebook beta on January 1, 2026.
They launched it again in 2022, however it by no means obtained previous beta, which ought to have been an indication. When the deadline hits, your put in video games get wiped. Google’s in all probability banking on folks utilizing Android video games from the Play Retailer as a substitute, or cloud gaming via GeForce NOW and Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Gaming is not a deal-breaker for me since I’ve obtained different units for that. However in the event you use your Chromebook for gaming, this actually stinks.
Set up Linux for limitless software program entry
Ubuntu transforms your Chromebook right into a full desktop
Putting in Ubuntu or one other Linux distribution will get across the replace expiration date problem. I’ve put in Ubuntu on loads of computer systems from scratch again within the day, so I plan to check this out on my rediscovered Chromebook quickly.
Ubuntu retains getting updates perpetually, with no expiration date. Plus, you get growth instruments, LibreOffice, GIMP—just about no matter runs on a standard Linux machine.
You’ve got obtained two choices right here. ChromeOS has a built-in Linux (Beta) that Google really helps—that is the safer, simpler route. Or, you should utilize Crouton, which is extra difficult however enables you to swap between ChromeOS and Ubuntu on the fly with out restarting. Crouton wants Developer Mode enabled although, which wipes every part and makes your machine much less safe, so again up first.
Hold utilizing ChromeOS as your every day driver
It is nonetheless glorious for web-based work
Typically one of the best resolution is simply to maintain utilizing your Chromebook as is till assist expires. Mine is nice till 2029, so I’ve obtained time.
I really did a check run lately—I labored a full day on simply the Chromebook. I hooked it as much as my monitor and ran via every part: Google Docs, Google Sheets, WordPress, my undertaking administration stuff, all web-based. It dealt with it tremendous, however Chromebooks can’t do everything.
Net apps are actually the place ChromeOS shines. It boots in seconds, updates occur within the background whereas it is supported, and the battery lasts perpetually. You might preserve it as a backup machine, journey laptop computer, or give it to somebody who simply wants fundamental net apps, electronic mail, and YouTube.
Your outdated Chromebook has extra life than you suppose
That machine I wrote off as junk? It is obtained years left in it. Lookup your Chromebook’s expiration date. I wager it is additional out than you anticipate. If you wish to push past Google’s assist timeline, set up Linux. In the event you simply want a laptop computer for net stuff and Google Docs, simply preserve utilizing it.
Take a couple of minutes to determine what is smart in your scenario. You’ll be able to in all probability get much more mileage out of it than you suppose. That ~$250 Chromebook I nearly forgot about is again in rotation. And I’ve obtained a stable plan for it properly into the longer term, as my go-to travel laptop.
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