Installing Linux
Thanks to recent advancements in the chrultrabook community, Linux works really well on most Chromebooks.
Tips
Only Linux kernel 6.6 or newer is supported.
Recommended Distributions
Warning
Old (>1 year) LTS releases may have issues and are not supported.
One possible workaround for Debian 12 (Bookworm) and Ubuntu is using a custom kernel. In case of Debian, the audio script will automatically install it for you. Note that not all issues can be solved with a custom kernel, as the rest of the software on the system is still old.
Recommended distros as of December 2024 (in no particular order) are:
- Arch Linux or EndeavourOS
- Fedora or Ultramarine Linux
- openSUSE Tumbleweed
- Pop!_OS
Installation
- Create a bootable Linux USB. See here for a guide.
- Plug the USB Drive into the Chromebook.
- Turn on the Chromebook, press ESC at the POST screen (when the coreboot logo appears), and select your USB to boot from.
- Install as you would on any other computer.
NOTE
If you are using RW_LEGACY firmware, if after pressing Ctrl+L you reach the "Additional Firmware Menu" screen, you will need to press 2 to boot from a USB.
See this page for more information about RW_LEGACY booting.
Fixing Audio
You will likely have audio issues after installing Linux. Run the following script to fix them.
Prerequisites
- Python 3.10 or newer
- Git
Caution
Using AVS on a device with max98357a will blow your speakers. You have been warned.
How to run the script
- Open a terminal.
git clone https://github.com/WeirdTreeThing/chromebook-linux-audio.git
cd chromebook-linux-audio
./setup-audio
For more information please see WeirdTreeThing's repo