Chromebook Recovery Utility
The facts below are what the maker publishes about Chromebook Recovery Utility, checked and dated. Our editors have not written about it yet.
The facts
Each one read from Chromebook Recovery Utility's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Alternative creation method
- Google also provides a ChromeOS Flex installer image for users comfortable creating bootable USB drives with dd or third-party utilities.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Alternative method
- Google also provides a ChromeOS Flex installer image for creating bootable USB media without Chrome browser, using dd or another utility.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Data disclosure
- The Chrome Web Store listing says the developer disclosed that the extension does not collect or use user data.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Erase USB contents
- Creating the installer erases all contents on the USB drive.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Format media
- The utility can erase recovery media so the USB drive can be reused.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Installer selection
- The utility’s workflow lets users select Google ChromeOS Flex as the manufacturer and ChromeOS Flex as the product.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Google’s installation guide describes ChromeOS Flex installation as a process for admins installing it on Windows, Mac, or Linux devices.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- Google states that it processes no personal data as part of the service.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Product limit
- Google only guarantees ChromeOS Flex functionality on certified device models; performance, functionality, and stability on non-certified devices are not guaranteed.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Chromebook Recovery Utility burns a recovery image onto a separate device, such as a USB drive or SD card, for recovering a ChromeOS device.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Recommended method
- Google recommends Chromebook Recovery Utility for creating the ChromeOS Flex USB installer.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Recovery media
- The utility creates recovery media by selecting a model, choosing a USB drive, and creating the installer.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- Google directs users to the ChromeOS Flex Help Community and says support for certified devices is available to Chrome Enterprise, Chrome Education, or Google Workspace customers, depending on subscription.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Target users
- Google describes the direct installer-image method as intended for admins comfortable creating bootable USB drives with command-line or third-party utilities.checked 11 Oct 2026
- USB erasure
- Creating the installer erases all contents on the USB drive.checked 11 Oct 2026
- USB formatting
- Google recommends using Chromebook Recovery Utility to erase and reuse a ChromeOS Flex installer USB drive.checked 11 Oct 2026
- USB requirement
- The ChromeOS Flex installation guide says the USB drive must have at least 8 GB of storage.checked 11 Oct 2026
- USB requirements
- The ChromeOS Flex installation guide requires a USB drive of 8 GB or more and notes that some Sandisk and other drives might not work as installers.checked 11 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Browser extension
- Google’s installation guide says to add Chromebook Recovery Utility from the Chrome Web Store as a Chrome extension.checked 11 Oct 2026
- ChromeOS Flex installer
- The utility can create a USB installer for ChromeOS Flex from ChromeOS, Windows, or Mac using the Chrome browser.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Supported creator devices
- The guide lists ChromeOS, Windows, and Mac devices with Chrome as devices for using the utility.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Supported extension devices
- The Chrome Web Store listing says the extension can be used on M55+ Chromebooks, Windows, and Mac devices, and that recovery media creation on a Googlebook is unsupported.checked 11 Oct 2026
Alternatives to Chromebook Recovery Utility
- 1
UNetbootin
Free planOpen sourceLinuxmacOSSelf-hostedWindows7.1Free plan - 2
USBImager
Free planOpen sourceLinuxmacOSWindows7.1Free plan - 3
balenaEtcher
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.8From $1,720 a year - 4
FlashBoot
Free planWindows6.5$29.95 one-time - 5
WinToUSB
Free planWindows6.5$44.95 one-time - 6
Unraid USB Creator
LinuxmacOSWindows6.4$49 one-time