Platform-specific support
Chromebook troubleshooting
Chromebooks that will not start, keep signing out, run out of storage or need a recovery, with the order of fixes from a restart to a powerwash.
A Chromebook keeps almost everything in your Google account, so most fixes are quick. Restart it, then check for an update under Settings, About ChromeOS. If the Chromebook is slow, close tabs and extensions you do not use and check Task Manager (press Search and Esc) to see what is using memory. A hard reset, done by holding Refresh and pressing the power button, restarts the hardware without erasing files.
Chromebook keeps signing out or returning to the login screen
Unexpected sign-outs can be a crash, storage pressure, managed-session policy, account token problem or power interruption. Determine whether the whole device restarts.
Open record Chromebook · startupChromebook will not turn on but the charge light is on
A charge light proves some adapter power, not that the battery, display or system completed startup. Remove accessories and try the model’s hardware reset before recovery.
Open record Chromebook · Android appsAndroid apps on Chromebook behaves incorrectly or produces the wrong result
Open record Chromebook · Android appsAndroid apps on Chromebook is not working
Open record Chromebook · Android appsAndroid apps on Chromebook is unusually slow or delayed
Open record Chromebook · Android appsAndroid apps on Chromebook keeps disconnecting or working intermittently
Open record Chromebook · Android appsAndroid apps on Chromebook stopped working after an update, outage or hardware change
Open record Chromebook · Android appsAndroid apps on Chromebook works in one app, account or port but not another
Open record Chromebook · accountChromebook account and settings sync behaves incorrectly or produces the wrong result
Open record Chromebook · accountChromebook account and settings sync is not working
Open record Chromebook · accountChromebook account and settings sync is unusually slow or delayed
Open record Chromebook · accountChromebook account and settings sync keeps disconnecting or working intermittently
Open record Chromebook · accountChromebook account and settings sync stopped working after an update, outage or hardware change
Open record Chromebook · accountChromebook account and settings sync works in one app, account or port but not another
Open record Chromebook · displayChromebook external monitor behaves incorrectly or produces the wrong result
Open record Chromebook · displayChromebook external monitor is not working
Open record Chromebook · displayChromebook external monitor is unusually slow or delayed
Open record Chromebook · displayChromebook external monitor keeps disconnecting or working intermittently
Open record Chromebook · displayChromebook external monitor stopped working after an update, outage or hardware change
Open record Chromebook · displayChromebook external monitor works in one app, account or port but not another
Open record Chromebook · LinuxChromebook Linux development environment behaves incorrectly or produces the wrong result
Open record Chromebook · LinuxChromebook Linux development environment is not working
Open record Chromebook · LinuxChromebook Linux development environment is unusually slow or delayed
Open record Chromebook · LinuxChromebook Linux development environment keeps disconnecting or working intermittently
Open record Chromebook · LinuxChromebook Linux development environment stopped working after an update, outage or hardware change
Open record Chromebook · LinuxChromebook Linux development environment works in one app, account or port but not another
Open record Chromebook · updatesChromeOS update behaves incorrectly or produces the wrong result
Open record Chromebook · updatesChromeOS update is not working
Open record Chromebook · updatesChromeOS update is unusually slow or delayed
Open record Chromebook · updatesChromeOS update keeps disconnecting or working intermittently
Open record Chromebook · updatesChromeOS update stopped working after an update, outage or hardware change
Open record Chromebook · updatesChromeOS update works in one app, account or port but not another
Open recordTroubleshooting a Chromebook
If it will not start, charge it for 30 minutes first, then try the hard reset. A Powerwash (Settings, Reset settings) erases local data and returns the Chromebook to a fresh state; because your files sync to Google Drive, it is a safe last resort for a signed-in account. Note the model and the end-of-support date, since Chromebooks stop receiving updates after a set number of years and an unsupported model can lose features.
Chromebooks fix themselves more often than other computers because the system is rebuilt from the cloud. The usual order is: restart, update ChromeOS in Settings, About ChromeOS, sign out and in again, then a hard reset by holding Refresh and pressing the power button. A powerwash returns the Chromebook to factory state and removes local files and accounts, but the data synced to your Google account returns when you sign in again.
If a Chromebook will not boot, a recovery on a USB drive made from another computer with the Chromebook Recovery Utility reinstalls ChromeOS. Managed school and work Chromebooks may block some settings, and fixing those means contacting the administrator. Storage problems are solved by clearing downloads and offline files. Battery and charger faults should be tested with another charger.
What does a Powerwash do?
It erases the Chromebook's local data and resets it to a fresh sign-in; files saved to Google Drive stay in your account.
Does a Chromebook powerwash delete my files?
It deletes local files and settings. Files saved to Google Drive and synced data come back when you sign in again.