The Tool Desk
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Crosh is ChromeOS’s built-in, restricted command-line tool for diagnostics. Open it with Ctrl + Alt + T, then run help to see commands available on your device. Use help_advanced for additional diagnostics. The list changes with ChromeOS version, device, update channel, administrator policy and Developer Mode, so your local help output is authoritative.
ChromiumOS describes Crosh at its Crosh documentation. Crosh is not the same as Bash, the Linux Terminal or a general-purpose repair console.
Open Crosh safely
- Sign in to ChromeOS, or use a supported guest session.
- Press
Ctrl+Alt+T. - At the
crosh>prompt, runhelp. - Use tab completion and
help <command>or<command> --helpbefore trying an unfamiliar command.
The shortcut is for ChromeOS or ChromiumOS. Pressing the same keys in Chrome on Windows, macOS or Linux does not open a ChromeOS Crosh session.
Quick command reference
| Command | Purpose | Availability and risk |
|---|---|---|
help |
Lists standard commands. | Broad; safe to view. |
help_advanced |
Shows additional debugging commands. | Varies by build and policy; safe to view, but some entries are powerful. |
ping |
Tests reachability of a gateway, IP address or hostname. | Usually available; low risk. |
network_diag |
Runs a wider network diagnostic and saves a report in Downloads. | Availability varies; report may contain private network details. |
battery_test |
Measures discharge behavior and reports battery-related values. | Usually diagnostic; not a certified health test. |
top |
Displays active processes and resource use. | Common; low risk. |
shell |
Enters a deeper ChromeOS shell. | Developer-Mode dependent; high privilege. |
arc |
Provides Android/ARC diagnostics where supported. | Device- and build-dependent; use local help. |
vmc |
Manages ChromeOS virtual machines in supported developer workflows. | Not a guaranteed standard command; policy and configuration dependent. |
Essential Crosh commands
help, help_advanced and command help
Start every session with:
help
help_advanced
help ping
ping --helphelp shows user-facing commands; help_advanced exposes more debugging tools. Neither output is a permanent universal list. If an old guide names a command that does not appear locally, do not assume it still exists or is appropriate for your Chromebook.
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ping: a layered connectivity check
ping gw
ping -c 4 8.8.8.8
ping -c 4 google.comgw represents the next-hop gateway for the default route. A useful interpretation is:
- If
ping gwfails, investigate Wi-Fi or Ethernet association, the router and the local route. - If the gateway responds but an IP address does not, the upstream Internet path may be unavailable.
- If the IP responds but the hostname fails, DNS is a likely problem.
- If all pings work but websites fail, captive-portal authentication, proxy settings, HTTPS, the browser or a particular service may still be at fault.
Ping measures ICMP replies; it does not measure Internet speed or prove that every web service works. Current Crosh syntax also supports options such as -c (count), -i (interval), -s (packet size) and -W (wait time), subject to the help shown on your build.
network_diag: a broader report
network_diag
network_diag --help
network_diag --wifi
network_diag example.comThe command checks several conditions, including name resolution, connectivity, routes and nameservers, and writes diagnostic output to Downloads. The current implementation documents options including --date, --flimflam, --link, --show-macs, --wifi and --wifi-mon. Reports can include IP addresses, MAC addresses, proxy details and other device information; redact those details before sharing a file publicly. See the network diagnostic source for the checks it performs.
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battery_test: check discharge behavior
battery_test
battery_test 60
battery_test 300In the current ChromiumOS implementation, omitting a duration runs a 300-second discharge test. A supplied number is seconds. Results can include whether the battery is discharging, remaining percentage and current full-charge capacity compared with design capacity.
Use a short test for a quick signal and a longer interval for a more useful comparison. The result is affected by workload, brightness, temperature, charger state and model; it is not a laboratory battery-health certification. The command can fail when no battery is detected, the duration is invalid, the device cannot enter the expected state or policy blocks it. Check help battery_test first.
top, free, meminfo and uptime
top
free
meminfo
uptimetop is the broadly useful option for spotting unusually high CPU activity. Depending on the build, free, meminfo and uptime may appear only in advanced help. A busy process can be a browser tab, Android app, Linux virtual machine, update or indexing job; high usage alone does not prove malware or hardware failure.
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Network troubleshooting recipe
- Run
ping gwto test the local path. - Run
ping -c 4 8.8.8.8to test an external IP path. - Run
ping -c 4 google.comto include DNS resolution. - Run
network_diagfor route, nameserver and broader connectivity checks. - Save the report for support, but remove personal, account, IP, MAC and proxy information before posting it.
Advanced command discovery
Current ChromiumOS source registers commands such as ipaddrs, route, connectivity, tracepath, cras, storage_test_1, storage_test_2, tpm_status, syslog, uname, uptime, arc and others. This is a source-level inventory, not a promise that each command is exposed or executable on consumer devices. Verify every item with help_advanced and command-specific help. The registry is maintained in the ChromiumOS Crosh source.
Android and ARC diagnostics
Where arc is available, local help may expose subcommands for Android-network ping, DNS, HTTP, proxy inspection, network listing, socket and traffic statistics, tracing, CPU and memory information. Try:
help arc
arc --helpExact subcommands vary with Android runtime and ChromeOS build. Do not copy syntax from an unrelated device.
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Why shell is unavailable
On a normal verified Chromebook, Crosh commonly returns ERROR - unknown command: shell. The deeper shell is enabled in Developer Mode, not as a routine prerequisite for help, ping, network_diag, battery_test or top. A managed Chromebook may also block Developer Mode or relevant commands.
Developer Mode provides root-capable access but relaxes verified-boot protections. Switching into or out of it performs a mode-transition wipe of the stateful partition. Back up local files and follow the official Developer Mode guidance; do not use it merely to obtain a longer command list.
Crosh, Linux Terminal and ChromeOS Diagnostics are different
| Tool | Best use | What it is not |
|---|---|---|
| Crosh | Restricted ChromeOS diagnostics and support workflows. | Not a full Bash shell or Linux container. |
| Linux Terminal (Crostini) | Running Linux commands and applications inside a Linux environment. | Not the ChromeOS host shell. |
| ChromeOS Diagnostics | Graphical checks for battery, CPU, memory and connectivity. | Not a replacement for every support-specific Crosh report. |
chrome://diagnostics, chrome://system, chrome://version |
Browser-internal status and diagnostic pages. | Not Crosh commands. |
For ordinary users, the graphical Diagnostics app is usually safer and easier. Use Crosh when a support workflow requests command output or the graphical tools do not expose the needed detail.
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Commands that deserve a warning
Do not experiment with these merely because they appear in advanced help:
crossystemcan change boot-related settings when used with assignment arguments.battery_firmwarecan affect firmware-update workflows; the source warns not to disconnect power during an update.rollback, storage tests, recovery and mode transitions can cause downtime or erase data.sudo, TPM, cryptohome, enrollment, policy, cellular and firmware commands may require deeper access, be blocked or damage a managed workflow.
Crosh is primarily diagnostic, not a universal repair console. If ChromeOS is corrupted, use the official Chromebook recovery procedure; recovery reinstalls ChromeOS and permanently erases local data.
Common failures
The shortcut does nothing
Confirm that the device is actually running ChromeOS or ChromiumOS. Keyboard layouts, unusual tablet controls, managed sessions and restrictions can also prevent Crosh from opening. The shortcut does not create Crosh in desktop Chrome.
A command is unknown
Run help, then help_advanced, and check help <command>. Availability changes by release, channel, hardware, policy and mode; an old list is not evidence that the command should exist today.
You need to fix rather than diagnose
Use ChromeOS settings, the Diagnostics app, your administrator’s support procedure or official recovery guidance. Do not bypass school or workplace controls.
Quick Recap
Close Crosh
Run:
exitYou can also close the Crosh tab or window.
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