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How to Turn On Developer Mode on a Chromebook

Turn on Developer Mode on a keyboard-equipped Chromebook with the recovery key sequence, and learn what the data wipe and reduced boot protection mean before you begin.
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On a keyboard-equipped Chromebook, shut it down, hold Esc and Refresh, then press Power. At the recovery screen, press Ctrl+D, then Enter when prompted to turn OS verification off. After the Chromebook restarts and shows “OS verification is OFF,” press Ctrl+D again to continue. This transition erases local data and reduces verified-boot protection, so back up first and proceed only if you accept those trade-offs.

What Chromebook Developer Mode does—and what it is not

Developer Mode changes the Chromebook’s boot security state. Verified boot becomes less strict, which allows root access and booting custom images that are not signed by Google. The ChromiumOS project warns that “Putting your device into developer mode inherently makes it a little less secure.” ChromiumOS Developer Mode documentation also cautions that system modifications are unsupported, may cause hardware, software, or security issues, and may affect warranty coverage; that warning concerns modifications, not an automatic warranty void simply from entering the mode.

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This is different from the ChromeOS Dev update channel, which delivers earlier software updates, and from the Linux development environment or Android Debug Bridge (ADB) debugging. Google documents Linux as a separate Settings feature and lists Stable, Beta, and Dev as software channels. Linux development environment and ChromeOS update channels.

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Before you turn it on

  • Back up local files. The transition wipes local device data. Google says a Powerwash erases local hard-drive contents such as files in Downloads; files in Google Drive and on external storage are not deleted by that reset. See Google’s reset guidance.
  • Check whether the device is managed. A school or work administrator may block Developer Mode. Forced re-enrollment can also prevent it during the managed-device wipe sequence. Do not try to bypass those controls; contact the administrator.
  • Use the right instructions for your device. The steps below apply to keyboard-equipped Chromebooks. Tablets use a different interface and button sequence, and there is no single activation sequence established here for every tablet model.
  • Consider the security trade-off. Developer Mode relaxes verified boot. Enable it only if you need the access it provides and understand that changes to the system can introduce security or reliability problems.

Turn on Developer Mode on a keyboard-equipped Chromebook

  1. Shut down the Chromebook.
  2. Enter recovery. Hold Esc and Refresh, press Power, and release the keys when the recovery screen appears.
  3. Start the mode transition. Press Ctrl+D. When the screen says “To turn OS verification OFF, press ENTER,” press Enter to confirm. The Chromebook clears local data and restarts.
  4. Continue booting in Developer Mode. When the “OS verification is OFF” screen appears, press Ctrl+D.

The exact wording or appearance of the screens can vary by Chromebook model and ChromeOS version. The warning screen at startup is expected after changing the verified-boot state.

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If the key sequence does not work

If Ctrl+D has no effect or the device says Developer Mode is blocked, the Chromebook may be managed or subject to forced re-enrollment. Contact the school or work administrator rather than attempting to bypass the restriction. If you are using a Chromebook tablet, stop here and consult the instructions for that exact model; the keyboard sequence above is not for tablets.

Return a keyboard-equipped Chromebook to normal mode

To restore normal verified mode on a keyboard-equipped device, reboot and press Spacebar at the firmware screen, then follow the on-screen confirmation. This mode transition wipes stateful data again. If you modified system files, a recovery may be needed before normal operation is restored.

ChromiumOS documentation describes a different tablet procedure: select Enable OS Verification with Volume-Up and Volume-Down, then confirm with Power. Follow model-specific instructions for a tablet rather than applying the keyboard directions.

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When Chromebook recovery may be needed

Google’s recovery process removes and reinstalls ChromeOS and permanently erases the Chromebook’s local hard drive. Some newer models support recovery over the internet; other recovery paths use external recovery media. Check the instructions for your specific Chromebook at Google Chromebook recovery. A USB flash drive is optional preparation for devices that use external recovery media; it is not required to turn on Developer Mode.

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