Google and Back Market launch ChromeOS Flex Kit to revive old PCs and Macs

Google, in partnership with Back Market, launches ChromeOS Flex USB Kit to modernize PCs and Macs reaching Windows 10 end-of-support. The free, energy-efficient OS extends device life, reduces e-waste, and makes older computers fast, secure, and sustainable.

Hyderabad: Hundreds of millions of computers faced a critical challenge last October when Microsoft Windows 10 reached its end of support, leaving devices vulnerable to security risks and obsolescence. Users were faced with a choice: buy a new computer or continue using an outdated, potentially unsafe system.

To offer an alternative, Google has partnered with Back Market, a leader in refurbished electronics, to launch the ChromeOS Flex USB Kit. The kit allows users to install ChromeOS Flex, a fast, secure, and free operating system, on their existing PCs or Macs. Back Market provides simplified guides and video tutorials to make the installation process straightforward, although ChromeOS Flex is also available for free download from Google’s website.

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“Just because an operating system reaches its end-of-support doesn’t mean the hardware is obsolete,” a Google spokesperson said. “ChromeOS Flex helps extend the useful life of devices, offering a sustainable alternative to buying new computers.”

Google has already extended software support for Chromebooks to 10 years and Pixel phones to seven years, and ChromeOS Flex is another step toward sustainability. Using existing hardware reduces e-waste and carbon emissions from manufacturing new devices. On average, ChromeOS consumes 19% less energy than other comparable operating systems.

Priced at around $3 (€3), the ChromeOS Flex USB Kit is reusable, and Google’s partnership with Closing the Loop further reduces electronic waste, helping make older devices safer, faster, and greener.