If your Chromebook is in ordinary ChromeOS Developer Mode, restart it and use the startup screen’s on-screen prompt to return to secure mode—on a Chromebook with a keyboard, press Space and follow the prompts. This clears local data, so back up files first. If you enabled debugging features or changed ChromeOS system files, Google’s guidance is to recover the Chromebook instead. These steps do not establish how to restore custom firmware or UEFI.
First identify what you need to restore
“Relock the bootloader” can mean different things on a Chromebook. Turning off ChromeOS Developer Mode and restoring OS verification is not the same as undoing a custom firmware or UEFI installation. Choose the path that matches what changed:
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| What changed | General path | Main consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Developer Mode only; ChromeOS is otherwise intact | Return to secure mode from the startup screen using Space and the on-screen prompts | Local data is cleared |
| Debugging features were enabled or ChromeOS system files were modified | Recover ChromeOS, using internet recovery if offered or external recovery media | ChromeOS is reinstalled and the hard drive is erased |
| Custom firmware or UEFI was flashed | Use model- and firmware-specific guidance | General ChromeOS instructions do not establish how to restore the original firmware |
| Work- or school-managed Chromebook | Contact the organization’s administrator | Forced re-enrollment may apply after a wipe |
Turn off ordinary Developer Mode
- Back up local files. Save anything you need from the Chromebook, especially files in Downloads. Returning to secure mode clears local data.
- Restart to the startup verification screen. If the Chromebook is already showing the Developer Mode startup screen, continue there.
- Choose the secure-mode option. On a Chromebook with a keyboard, press Space and follow the displayed prompts to turn OS verification back on. Do not use Ctrl+D for this: that key is associated with entering Developer Mode in Google’s enterprise wipe instructions.
- Wait for the change and restart to finish. Complete setup when prompted. If a work or school enrollment screen appears, contact the organization’s administrator.
Google’s instructions for wiping ChromeOS device data describe returning to secure mode through the startup prompt. The exact screens can vary by device.
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Recover ChromeOS if debugging features or system files were changed
A Powerwash and a ChromeOS recovery are different. Google says most debugging features may persist through a Powerwash, and directs users to perform a recovery to turn debugging off. Recovery removes and reinstalls ChromeOS and permanently erases the Chromebook’s hard drive; back up what you can before starting.
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Use internet recovery if your Chromebook offers it
Some newer models support internet recovery. If the recovery screen offers that option, follow its instructions. Availability depends on the model.
Create USB recovery media if needed
- Enter recovery mode on the affected Chromebook. For most keyboard Chromebooks, hold Esc and Refresh, press Power, release Power, then release the other keys when the recovery message appears. Some models use Esc and Maximize instead. Follow the device’s screen if its key combination differs.
- Create recovery media on another computer. On another Chromebook or a Windows or Mac computer with Chrome, open the Chromebook Recovery Utility. Select the affected Chromebook’s model and create media on a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of capacity. The process erases the drive.
- Run recovery on the affected Chromebook. Choose recovery using external media and follow the on-screen steps.
- Set up the Chromebook again. The USB drive remains recovery media until you erase it using the Recovery Utility.
Google’s Chromebook recovery instructions cover recovery mode, external media, and model-dependent availability. Older Chromebooks may not support internet recovery or may no longer receive updates. If your model does not appear in the utility or recovery errors continue, Google advises contacting the manufacturer.
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Handle a work or school Chromebook through its administrator
Ask the organization’s administrator before wiping or changing a managed Chromebook. A wipe does not necessarily remove management: the organization may require the device to enroll again. Administrators should use their organization’s enrollment process after a wipe.
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Custom firmware requires model-specific instructions
If you flashed custom UEFI or other firmware, do not assume that turning OS verification back on or reinstalling ChromeOS restores the original firmware. The general Google guidance here covers Developer Mode, debugging, and ChromeOS recovery—not a universal rollback for firmware changes. Identify the exact Chromebook model and what firmware was changed, then consult the device manufacturer or the relevant firmware project’s instructions before proceeding.
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