Can You Install Windows 11 on a Chromebook?

No. Google and Microsoft don’t document any supported way to install Windows 11 on a Chromebook. Guides that claim otherwise rely on developer mode and replacement firmware, which Google says it doesn’t support. The supported way to use Windows 11 from a Chromebook is to run it somewhere else and open it on the Chromebook. If your work or school gives you a Windows 365 Cloud PC, open Chrome, go to windows.cloud.microsoft, select the Devices tab, and select Connect. If you own a Windows 11 PC, connect to it with Chrome Remote Desktop. If you only need Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, use Microsoft 365 on the web.

Applies to: Chromebooks running current versions of ChromeOS, and Windows 11. Checked against Google Support, Microsoft Learn, and Microsoft Support on October 7, 2026.

Why Windows 11 doesn’t install on a Chromebook

A Chromebook is built to start ChromeOS, and its startup is locked to software that Google has signed. Tutorials that install Windows 11 “natively” all follow the same pattern. They switch the Chromebook to developer mode, replace its firmware (the low-level software that starts the computer) with firmware from a hobbyist project, and then install Windows from a USB drive. Google’s own documentation explains why that route is risky:

• It’s not supported. Google’s ChromiumOS developer documentation warns that these changes are not supported by Google and may void the warranty.
• It erases the Chromebook. Switching into or out of developer mode wipes the local data on the device.
• It weakens security. Developer mode loosens verified boot, the check that confirms the Chromebook is running genuine Google-signed software.
• It’s often blocked. On a work or school Chromebook, the administrator can block developer mode completely.

Microsoft’s side is just as clear. Windows 11 needs a compatible 64-bit processor, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability, TPM 2.0, and a DirectX 12 compatible graphics card with a WDDM 2.0 driver. Microsoft says a device that doesn’t meet the requirements may not be able to install Windows 11. Neither company documents a way to install Windows 11 on Chromebook hardware. For that reason, this guide doesn’t cover firmware flashing, developer-mode installs, VirtualBox or QEMU virtual machines inside Linux, or modified Windows images.

Choose the option that fits what you need

What you need	Supported option	Who can use it
A full Windows 11 desktop for work or school	Windows 365 Cloud PC or Azure Virtual Desktop, opened in Chrome or the Windows App	People whose organization assigns them a Cloud PC or desktop
Your own Windows 11 PC and its programs	Chrome Remote Desktop	Anyone with a Windows PC that stays on and online
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, or Outlook	Microsoft 365 on the web, or the Microsoft 365 app in the Launcher	Anyone with a Microsoft account
Command-line tools and Linux versions of apps	Linux development environment	Personal Chromebooks, and managed ones where the administrator allows it
Specific Windows apps delivered by your company	Cameyo by Google	Organizations, set up by an administrator

A Windows 365 Cloud PC is a Windows computer that runs in Microsoft’s cloud. Your Chromebook just displays it, so the Chromebook’s processor, storage, and model don’t need to meet Windows 11’s requirements. Microsoft says Windows 365 is sold to organizations and isn’t currently available for individuals.

Before you start

• A work or school account. For Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop, your administrator must assign you a Cloud PC, desktop, or apps. Microsoft says you can’t sign in to the Windows App with a personal Microsoft account.
• A supported browser. Microsoft lists Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge as supported on ChromeOS. Since June 15, 2025, the browser must be no more than 12 months old, support the AVC video codec, and have WebGL turned on. Microsoft says most current desktop browsers support AVC and have WebGL turned on by default.
• An internet connection. Everything in this guide streams from another computer or a web service, so it needs to stay online.

Open a Windows 365 Cloud PC in Chrome

This is the quickest route because nothing needs to be installed on the Chromebook. Microsoft documents the same steps for Azure Virtual Desktop.

1. Open Chrome and go to windows.cloud.microsoft. The Windows App opens in the browser tab.
2. Sign in with your work or school account. On a managed device that’s already signed in with a work or school account, you may be signed in automatically.
3. The first time, a short tour appears. Select Done at the end, or select Skip. You land on the Favorites tab.
4. Select the Devices tab to see your Cloud PCs. If your organization gave you individual apps instead, select the Apps tab. Use the search box if the list is long.
5. Select Connect on your Cloud PC, or select an app. The session opens in a new tab or window.
6. In the In Session Settings prompt, choose which local devices and features the session can use, then select Connect. Check Don’t show again if you don’t want to see this prompt next time. Depending on your organization’s settings, you may be asked for your password again.
7. Your Cloud PC’s Windows desktop appears in the browser tab, ready to use.

If the Devices and Apps tabs don’t appear, you haven’t been assigned anything yet. Microsoft hides those tabs when there are no resources of that type, so contact your administrator.

Use the Windows App from Google Play

If you prefer an app to a browser tab, Microsoft offers the Windows App for Android and ChromeOS. It connects to Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, and Microsoft Dev Box. It needs ChromeOS 126 or later on a Chromebook that its manufacturer still actively supports.

1. Open the Google Play Store on your Chromebook, then install and open Windows App.
2. The first time, tap Got it at the end of the tour, or tap Skip.
3. When you’re prompted to add a connection, tap Sign in. You can also tap the + icon on any tab.
4. Sign in with your work or school account. Your resources appear on the Devices or Apps tab.
5. Tap your Cloud PC or app. A prompt titled Make sure you trust the remote PC before you connect appears. Turn on the local resources you want the session to use, then tap Connect.
6. If you’re asked for access to your camera, microphone, location, or files, allow or deny each one based on what you need in Windows.

Connect to your own Windows 11 PC with Chrome Remote Desktop

If you already have a Windows 11 PC at home, Chrome Remote Desktop lets you use it from your Chromebook. Your programs and files stay on the PC, and the Chromebook shows its screen. The PC has to be turned on and connected to the internet while you use it.

Set up the Windows PC

1. On the Windows 11 PC, open Chrome and go to remotedesktop.google.com/access.
2. Under Set up Remote Access, click Download.
3. Follow the on-screen directions to install Chrome Remote Desktop. You may need to enter the computer’s password to give Chrome Remote Desktop access.

Connect from the Chromebook

1. On the Chromebook, open Chrome and go to remotedesktop.google.com/access.
2. Click Access and select your Windows PC.
3. Enter the PIN for that computer, then select the arrow to connect. The PC’s Windows 11 desktop opens in the tab.

To end the session, close the tab or select Options and then Disconnect. Microsoft also lists remote PC connections in the Windows App for Android and ChromeOS. That route uses the Remote Desktop feature built into Windows. Our guide to setting up Remote Desktop on Windows 11 covers which editions can host it and how to set it up.

Use Microsoft 365 apps without Windows

Many people look for Windows on a Chromebook only to run Office. Microsoft says you can’t install the Windows or Mac desktop versions of Microsoft 365 on a Chromebook. It also says the Android versions of Office, Outlook, OneNote, and OneDrive aren’t currently supported on Chromebooks. The supported route is the web versions.

1. Open Chrome and go to microsoft365.com for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and OneDrive, or outlook.com for Outlook email and calendar.
2. Sign in with a personal Microsoft account or the account tied to your Microsoft 365 subscription. A free account lets you view files and do basic editing. A subscription adds the advanced editing features.
3. Bookmark the page or create a shortcut so you can open it like an app.

ChromeOS can also open Office files straight from the Files app. To set that up, select the Launcher, select Explore, go to Microsoft 365, and select Set up. Then follow the instructions to connect the Files app to Microsoft OneDrive. After that, opening a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file in Files lets you choose Microsoft 365. If the file isn’t in OneDrive, ChromeOS asks to move it there first. You can choose Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides instead, in which case the file moves to Google Drive. Google notes that neither option edits these files offline.

Use Linux apps instead of Windows programs

If you need developer tools or a program that has a Linux version, ChromeOS includes a Linux development environment. It runs Linux (Debian) apps, not Windows programs, and it’s turned off by default.

1. Select the time at the bottom right of the screen, then select Settings.
2. Select About ChromeOS, then Developers.
3. Next to Linux development environment, select Set up.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions. Setup can take 10 minutes or more. When it finishes, a Terminal window opens where you can install software with APT.

Google lists some current limits. Cameras aren’t supported, and neither is hardware acceleration such as GPU and video decoding. That’s one reason the Linux environment isn’t a substitute for Windows 11. Some tutorials install VirtualBox or QEMU inside Linux to run Windows. Neither Google nor Microsoft documents that setup, so it isn’t covered here.

Options for organizations: Cameyo and Parallels Desktop

Cameyo by Google is Google’s virtual application delivery platform. Instead of a whole Windows desktop, it delivers individual apps to managed devices, including as installable web apps (PWAs). An administrator sets it up from the Google Admin console under Devices > Chrome > Virtual Apps. If your company uses it, your IT team will tell you which apps are available.

Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS was the Google-documented way for organizations to run Windows locally on a Chromebook. It required Chrome Enterprise Upgrade or Chrome Education Upgrade licenses, an Intel Core i5 or i7 Chromebook with at least 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, and a Windows image and license supplied by the organization. Google’s admin help now says the product is being discontinued. Parallels says it supports existing customers only until April 21, 2026, and points ChromeOS customers to its cloud-based Parallels DaaS service instead. As of this update, Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS isn’t an option for new setups.

How to check it worked, and how to undo it

• Cloud PC: after you select Connect, a Windows desktop opens in a new tab or window. Your Cloud PC keeps running in Microsoft’s cloud, so you don’t need to remove anything from the Chromebook. If you installed the Windows App, you can uninstall it like any other Play Store app.
• Chrome Remote Desktop: your PC’s screen appears in the Chrome tab, and you can control it. To stop allowing connections, go to remotedesktop.google.com/access and select the Disable remote connections icon next to the computer. Then remove Chrome Remote Desktop from the PC’s installed apps.
• Microsoft 365 in Files: to change which app opens a file type, right-click the file in Files, select Open with, and choose another app.
• Linux: go to Settings > About ChromeOS > Developers > Linux development environment. Under Remove Linux development environment, select Remove. Back up any Linux files you need before you remove it.

Troubleshooting

You can’t sign in with your Microsoft account

The Windows App accepts only work or school accounts for Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop. A personal Outlook.com or Hotmail account won’t show any Cloud PCs. Because Windows 365 isn’t currently sold to individuals, use Chrome Remote Desktop with your own PC instead.

No Devices or Apps tab appears

Your administrator hasn’t assigned you a Cloud PC, desktop, or app yet. Ask them to assign one to your account.

The session won’t start in the browser

Update Chrome so it’s no more than 12 months old. Microsoft doesn’t support mobile browsers, so use the Chromebook’s desktop Chrome. If your network blocks the connection, your network administrator needs to allow the endpoints Microsoft lists for Azure Virtual Desktop.

Chrome Remote Desktop can’t reach the PC

Check that the PC is on, awake, and online. Google says some antivirus software and firewalls block it. Outbound UDP traffic, inbound UDP responses, TCP port 443, and TCP and UDP port 3478 need to be allowed. On a work or school network, the computer may not accept remote connections. If you use a managed Google Account, your administrator may control access.

The Linux option is missing

On a managed Chromebook, the administrator may not allow Linux. Google’s advice is to contact your administrator. On a personal Chromebook, restart it and check again under About ChromeOS > Developers.

Developer mode is blocked

If a work or school Chromebook won’t enter developer mode, the administrator has blocked it. Don’t try to get around that. Use a Cloud PC or Microsoft 365 on the web instead.

Frequently asked questions

Can I dual-boot Windows 11 and ChromeOS on a Chromebook?

Not in a supported way. Dual-boot guides depend on developer mode and replacement firmware. Google says those changes aren’t supported and may void the warranty, and switching modes erases local data.

Can I run Windows 11 in a virtual machine on my Chromebook?

Not as an individual through any route Google or Microsoft documents. The only Google-documented local option was Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS, which was limited to organizations, and Parallels’ support for it ended on April 21, 2026. A Windows 365 Cloud PC gives organizations a similar result without running Windows on the Chromebook itself.

Can I buy Windows 365 for personal use?

Microsoft says Windows 365 isn’t currently available for individuals. Windows 365 Business is aimed at companies with up to 300 users, and Windows 365 Enterprise is for larger organizations.

Do I need a powerful Chromebook to use a Cloud PC?

No. The Cloud PC runs on Microsoft’s servers, so the Chromebook only needs a supported, up-to-date browser (or ChromeOS 126 or later for the Windows App) and a steady internet connection.

Can I use Word and Excel on a Chromebook for free?

Yes, in the browser at microsoft365.com. A free Microsoft account covers viewing and basic editing. A Microsoft 365 subscription unlocks advanced editing.

Can the Linux environment run .exe files?

Google documents the Linux environment for Debian Linux apps and tools. It doesn’t document running Windows programs there, so look for a Linux or web version of the app, or use a Cloud PC or remote PC instead.

What about Windows 10 on a Chromebook?

The same limits apply. See whether you can install Windows 10 on a Chromebook for the details.

Next step: if you have a work or school account, try windows.cloud.microsoft in Chrome first. If you don’t, set up Chrome Remote Desktop on your Windows PC and connect from the Chromebook.

Sources: Microsoft Learn: Get started with Windows App, Microsoft Learn: What is Windows 365?, Microsoft: Windows 11 specifications, Microsoft Support: Microsoft 365 on a Chromebook, Google: Chrome Remote Desktop, Google: Set up Linux on your Chromebook, Google: Open and edit Office files, ChromiumOS: Developer mode, Google: Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS.