Chromebook Features to Turn On: 5 Powerful Options

If you just got a Chromebook or feel like yours isn’t pulling its weight, there are five powerful features you should turn on right now: Linux (Crostini), Google Play Store apps, Virtual Desks, Clipboard history, and the Flags menu for experimental performance tweaks. These options unlock desktop-class apps, Android software, better multitasking, and hidden system settings that most users never touch. Below, we explain what each one does, how to enable it, and what to watch out for.

Why These Five Features Matter

ChromeOS is often described as “just a browser,” but that hasn’t been true for years. The operating system now includes multiple runtime environments that let you run Android apps, Linux software, and even full Windows programs through third-party tools. However, many of these capabilities are turned off by default or buried in menus. The five features covered here are the ones that give the biggest productivity and functionality boost for the least effort. They are all officially supported by Google (with the exception of some Flags, which are experimental), so you won’t void your warranty by enabling them.

1. Linux (Crostini) – Run Desktop Apps

Linux on Chromebooks, codenamed Crostini, lets you install and run desktop applications like GIMP, LibreOffice, VS Code, and even Steam (on supported devices). It runs in a secure virtual machine, so it won’t harm your system.

How to turn it on:

1. Open Settings (gear icon in the Quick Settings panel).
2. Go to Advanced → Developers.
3. Click Turn on next to “Linux development environment.”
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to set up your username and allocate disk space.

Once enabled, you’ll get a Terminal app and a Linux folder in your Files app. You can install apps by typing commands like sudo apt install gimp. This feature is especially useful for students, developers, and anyone who needs full-featured software that isn’t available as a Chrome app or Android app.

Important: Linux uses extra storage and RAM. If your Chromebook has only 4GB of RAM or 32GB of storage, you may want to allocate only a small portion (e.g., 10GB) to Linux to avoid slowing down the system.

2. Google Play Store – Android Apps

Most Chromebooks now support Android apps from the Google Play Store. This gives you access to millions of apps, including Microsoft Office, Adobe Lightroom, and countless games. If your Chromebook doesn’t have the Play Store enabled, here’s how to do it:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Apps → Google Play Store.
3. Click Turn on and follow the prompts.

Once enabled, you can download apps directly from the Play Store. Some Android apps are not optimized for larger screens, but Google has been improving compatibility. You can also resize app windows to make them more usable.

Tip: If an Android app doesn’t work well, try running it in a phone-sized window (via the window resize handle) or use the Linux version if available.

3. Virtual Desks – Organized Multitasking

Virtual Desks (also called “Desks”) let you create multiple separate workspaces on your Chromebook. For example, you can have one desk for work (with Google Docs and email), another for personal browsing, and a third for media. This is a built-in feature that is always available, but many users don’t know it exists.

How to use it:

• Press Shift + Search + = (or the overview key, which looks like a rectangle with lines) to see all desks.
• Click the + button to add a new desk.
• Drag windows between desks or right-click a window and choose “Move to desk.”

You can give each desk a different wallpaper to visually separate them. This feature is a huge productivity booster if you often have many tabs and windows open.

4. Clipboard History – Never Lose a Copy Again

ChromeOS has a built-in clipboard manager that remembers the last 5 items you copied. This is a lifesaver when you’re copying multiple snippets of text or images. To enable it:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Advanced → Privacy and security → Clipboard.
3. Toggle on Clipboard history.

Once enabled, press Search + V (or Launcher + V) to see your recent copies. Click any item to paste it. Note that clipboard history is cleared when you restart your Chromebook, and it does not sync across devices.

5. Experimental Flags – Unlock Hidden Performance

Chrome Flags are experimental settings that let you enable features that are still in testing. They can improve performance, battery life, or add new UI elements. To access them, type chrome://flags in the address bar. Some useful flags to consider:

• #smooth-scrolling – Enables smoother scrolling on web pages.
• #enable-gpu-rasterization – Uses the GPU to render web content faster (can improve graphics-heavy sites).
• #enable-zero-copy – Reduces memory usage by avoiding unnecessary data copies.

Warning: Flags are experimental and can cause crashes or instability. Only enable flags you understand, and if something goes wrong, go back to chrome://flags and click Reset all to revert to default settings.

Common Problems and How to Avoid Them

Enabling these features is usually safe, but you might run into a few issues:

• Linux not installing: Make sure your Chromebook supports Linux (check Google’s list of supported devices). Also, ensure you have at least 10GB of free storage.
• Android apps not showing: If the Play Store option is missing, your device may not support it. Some older Chromebooks lack this feature.
• Clipboard history not working: Some keyboard shortcuts may be different on certain models. Try pressing Search + V or Launcher + V.
• Flags causing crashes: If your Chromebook becomes unstable, disable the flag you just enabled or reset all flags.

How to Choose Which Features to Turn On

Not every feature is useful for everyone. Here’s a quick guide:

• Students: Enable Linux for coding and LibreOffice, plus Virtual Desks for organizing research.
• Creative users: Enable Android apps for photo editing (Lightroom) and Linux for GIMP or Krita.
• Casual users: Clipboard history and Virtual Desks are enough – skip Linux and Flags unless you’re curious.
• Power users: Enable everything, but be mindful of storage and RAM.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will enabling Linux void my warranty?

No. Linux is an officially supported feature on Chromebooks that have it. It doesn’t void your warranty, and you can turn it off anytime (though you’ll lose the Linux apps and files).

Can I run Windows apps on a Chromebook?

Not natively, but you can use Linux to install compatibility layers like Wine, or use remote desktop software to connect to a Windows PC. Performance varies, and it’s not recommended for heavy software.

Do these features slow down my Chromebook?

Linux and Android apps can use more RAM and CPU, especially if you run many at once. Virtual Desks and Clipboard history have negligible impact. Flags can improve performance if chosen wisely.

Are Chrome Flags safe to use?

Flags are experimental, so they can be unstable. But they are sandboxed within ChromeOS, so they won’t permanently damage your device. If something goes wrong, reset all flags.

How do I update my Chromebook to get the latest features?

Go to Settings → About ChromeOS → Check for updates. The system will automatically download and install the latest version. Most features are free and included in the OS.

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