To turn on developer mode on a Chromebook, you must enable the full system-level Developer Mode, which allows you to install apps from outside the Play Store and sideload unpacked extensions. This is a separate process from the browser-level toggle for Chrome extensions and developer mode, which is used for loading unpacked extensions in the browser itself, and you may also need to enable html5 in Chrome for advanced web features to function correctly.
Before you turn on developer mode on your Chromebook
This is a critical warning: enabling Developer Mode will Powerwash your Chromebook, wiping all local data, including accounts, downloads, and settings. The absolute necessity of backing up your files first cannot be overstated. Sync any important documents to Google Drive, save photos to an external drive, or copy files to a USB stick before proceeding. To verify your sync status, you can quickly check browser settings in Google Chrome before the wipe. Once Developer Mode is enabled, everything stored locally will be permanently erased.
Step 1: Boot your Chromebook into recovery mode
To begin, you must boot your Chromebook into Recovery Mode. Power off the Chromebook completely. Then, hold the Esc and Refresh keys simultaneously, and while holding them, tap the Power button to turn on your Chromebook. Release the keys once the Recovery screen appears.
Step 2: Enable developer mode from the recovery screen
- On the Recovery screen, press Ctrl + D.
- A message will appear asking you to confirm turning OS verification OFF or enabling Developer Mode. Press Enter to proceed.
- The Chromebook will begin the transition to Developer Mode. This process includes a Powerwash and can take several minutes. Do not interrupt it.
How to turn on developer mode on a ChromeOS tablet
- Boot the tablet into Recovery Mode by powering it off, then holding the Volume Up + Volume Down keys and pressing the Power button.
- On the Recovery screen, press Volume Up + Volume Down to bring up a menu.
- Navigate to "Confirm Enabling Developer Mode" using the Volume Up and Volume Down keys.
- Press the Power button to select it and start the transition.
What to expect after developer mode is on
Once Developer Mode is active, a warning screen will appear on every boot. This screen states that OS verification is off. To dismiss it, press Ctrl + D. If you do nothing, the screen will time out after 30 seconds with a warning beep, then boot normally. This is a permanent feature of Developer Mode and cannot be removed.
Troubleshooting: Developer mode won't turn on
If you are unable to enable Developer Mode and the device keeps returning to Verified Boot (Normal) Mode, it may be due to an MDM (Mobile Device Management) restriction. This can often be resolved by performing a Powerwash after logging in with a non-guest Google account. Log in with your primary Google account, then perform a Powerwash from Settings. After the reset, attempt the Developer Mode process again.
A note on Chrome browser extensions developer mode
If you only need to load unpacked extensions in the Chrome browser, you do not need to enable system-level Developer Mode. Instead, open Chrome, go to the Extensions page (chrome://extensions), and toggle on the "Developer mode" switch in the top-right corner. For full details on that separate process, refer to the Chrome Extensions and Developer Mode documentation.
