If you’re looking to unlock the full potential of your Chromebook, whether it’s to install different Linux distros, run custom code, or tinker with the system under the hood, then enabling Developer Mode is your first step.
But heads up: this isn’t a casual switch you can flip on and off. Developer Mode gives you root access, which means more freedom, but also more responsibility.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to enable Developer Mode on your Chromebook, what to expect during the process, and the precautions you should take.
What You Should Know Before You Start
Before diving in, here are a few important things to keep in mind:
- Data Wipe Warning: Enabling Developer Mode will powerwash (factory reset) your Chromebook. This means all local files and user accounts will be wiped.
- Security Trade-Off: ChromeOS’s Verified Boot is disabled in Developer Mode, which makes your device more vulnerable to threats.
- No Support: Google won’t offer support for issues on devices running in Developer Mode. You’re on your own (but hey, that’s what we’re here for).
Make sure to back up any important files to Google Drive or an external drive before proceeding.
How to Enable Developer Mode on Chromebook
On a Chromebook, you have two options to access advanced features. You can switch to the Developer Channel to try out the latest ChromeOS features before they’re officially released. This gives you early access to experimental tools and updates.
If you’re looking to go even deeper, like running custom code or installing Linux distro, you can enable Developer Mode through the ChromeOS recovery process to unlock the full potential of your device. Let’s discuss both the methods.
1. Using Settings
If you just want to test and try out developer features on your Chromebook, you can simply switch the ChromeOS channel to the Developer Channel. Here’s how:
1. Click on the App Launcher and open Settings.
2. Go to the About ChromeOS tab and select Additional details.

3. Click on the Change channel option, choose the Developer – Unstable channel from the prompt, and click the Change channel button.

4. After that, go back to the About ChromeOS section. Your device will start updating to the Developer Channel.
5. Once the download is complete, you’ll see an option to restart your Chromebook. Just restart your device to apply the changes.
2. Using Recovery mode
If you want to go further and unlock the full potential of your device, you can enable Developer Mode on your Chromebook using Recovery Mode.
However, make sure to back up and save your important files first, enabling Developer Mode will wipe all your locally stored data, and this cannot be restored.
Here’s how to enable Developer Mode:
1. Turn off your Chromebook completely.
2. Press and hold the following keys together: Esc + Refresh, then press the Power button.

3. Release the Power button when the screen turns on, and you see the recovery screen.
4. Press Ctrl + D, or use the arrow keys to navigate to Advanced Options and press Enter.

Note
On some Chromebooks, you may be required to disable OS verification first. If prompted, press Ctrl + D, then press Enter.
5. On the next screen, select Enable Developer Mode and press Enter.
6. Use the arrow keys to select Confirm, then press Enter.

7. Your Chromebook will restart and display a You are in recovery mode screen. Select the Boot from internal hard disk option and press Enter
8. Press Ctrl + D to dismiss the warning message.
Your Chromebook will now begin transitioning into Developer Mode. This process may take several minutes.
Once Developer Mode is enabled, you’ll have access to the ChromeOS shell and can install or run programs that aren’t officially approved by Google. However, keep in mind that this increases the risk of security vulnerabilities and may impact your device’s stability.
How to turn off Developer Mode
If you ever want to switch back to the standard Chromebook experience, it’s easy to disable Developer Mode and return to Secure Mode. Here’s how:
1. Turn off your Chromebook, then power it back on. You’ll see a screen that says You are in Developer Mode.
2. Use the arrow keys to select Return to secure mode, then press Enter. Alternatively, press the Spacebar on your keyboard to re-enable OS verification.

3. On the confirmation screen, press Enter again to confirm the step.

4. Your Chromebook will shut down and begin transitioning from Developer Mode back to Secure Mode.
Once the process is complete, your device will restart and prompt you to go through the initial setup process, just like when you first got it.
After setup is complete, Developer Mode will be disabled, and your Chromebook will be running in Secure Mode, ready for safe and stable use.