These Chromebooks can now dual-boot Windows 11 and Chrome OS

(Image credit: Future)

What you need to know

It's now possible to dual-boot Windows 11 and Chrome OS onto select Chromebooks.
At the moment, only three models support dual-booting, and they all run AMD Ryzen 3000-series CPUs.
The functionality is limited because it requires an SSD rather than an eMMC.

Many of the best Chromebooks are also available as Windows laptops, but why purchase two devices when you can have just one? That's the idea behind a project that allows users to dual-boot Windows 11 and Chrome OS onto a single device (it also works with Windows 10). Reddit user coolstarorg shared that three models are currently capable of running both operating systems: the HP Chromebook 14b, HP Chromebook Pro 645 Enterprise, and Lenovo Yoga C13. They added that the ASUS Chromebook Flip CM5 could also be supported with a little extra effort.

Here are the features that work:

Windows Boots
NVMe SSD is bootable and functional
Keyboard
Keyboard Backlight
Trackpad (Elan verified, Synaptics has drivers available that should work)
Touch screen (HID and Elan have drivers available)
Graphics Acceleration
HDMI and USB-C video output
Brightness Control
Sleep/Wake and Power management
Audio (Speakers, Headphones, Microphones)
WiFi + Bluetooth
Webcam
USB-A and USB-C ports
SD Card Slot

If you dual-boot Windows onto one of the supported Chromebooks, you won't be able to use a fingerprint reader to sign in to Windows Hello.

While the ability to dual-boot Windows and Chrome OS onto a device is an attractive option, it's important to note that this functionality isn't officially supported. As such, you should only follow the how-to guide if you know what you're doing.

There are alternatives to running Windows or Windows applications on Chromebooks as well, such as Cameyo and Parallels Desktop.

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.