Photos: Andy Wolber/TechRepublic

Since the earliest days of the initial CR-48 in 2010, Chromebooks accept delivered a fast, uncomplicated and secure computing experience. Plough it on, open a Chrome browser tab and you're working with spider web-based apps. These days, many apps also work offline, and many Chromebooks allow you also install and run Android and Linux apps, besides.

Run across: Inquiry: Video conferencing tools and deject-based solutions boss digital workspaces; VPN and VDI less popular with SMBs (TechRepublic Premium)

If you've used Windows laptops, you're no incertitude well aware of the biggest differences between the 2 types of devices: Windows updates have more time than Chrome updates, and software installation and updates remains a routine part of your Windows experience.

But with a little work, y'all can tweak your Windows 10 organization to work a chip more similar a Chromebook. The following tips will aid you purchase a Windows machine intended primarily for web apps, configure your arrangement to motorcar-start Chrome and minimize resources required for legacy installed Windows apps. If y'all become ambitious and have the right hardware, you lot might even choose to erase your Windows system and replace it with Chrome Os. The tips are ordered roughly in increasing order of complexity and commitment to turning your Windows system into a Chrome OS device.

Before you buy a Windows organization, read these considerations

If you're buying a Windows system that you desire to work similar a Chromebook, be aware that Windows and Chrome OS utilise hardware resources differently. A Windows laptop with the same RAM and storage specs equally a Chromebook performs quite differently.

SEE: How to run Windows or Mac apps from your Chromebook (TechRepublic)

For a Windows organization on which you will mostly run Chrome, look for:

  • Fast SSD storage to minimize boot times.
  • Equally much RAM as possible to support enough of open browser tab activity.
  • Wi-Fi 6 or newer to ensure fast network connections.

Traditional hardware needed for a loftier-performance PC, such every bit a fast processor or graphics card, is much less of import for web apps. Network speeds, RAM and SSDs tend to have a much more significant touch when you run Chrome on Windows than a loftier-finish CPU or GPU.

The other affair you might consider is an upgrade to your internet connection speeds. A faster plan from your Internet service provider, an updated modem, and a fast Wi-Fi router (or mesh network) all will help better internet speeds.

Bones tips: Utilize Chrome and Bulldoze for desktop

The simplest manner to make a Windows 10 system work more like a Chromebook is to install Chrome and Google Bulldoze for desktop (Effigy A). Chrome lets you admission spider web apps just as you would on a Chromebook. Drive for desktop lets y'all scan files on Google Drive with a Windows File Explorer-similar interface—much like the Files app on a Chromebook.

Additionally, you lot may install Chrome extensions, manage bookmarks and customize Chrome settings to suit your personal preferences.

Figure A

On Windows, install 2 essential apps: Chrome (to admission the web) and Drive for desktop (to access files on Google Drive).

Intermediate tips: Auto-launch and use spider web apps

Adjacent, configure Chrome to run automatically when your arrangement starts. Assuming you have Chrome already installed on your system, use Microsoft's instructions to re-create-and-paste a shortcut to Chrome in your organisation's Startup binder (Figure B). Any fourth dimension you reboot or start your computer, Chrome volition launch.

Effigy B

Configure Windows to starting time Chrome automatically by adding a shortcut to your Startup items binder.

You besides might create shortcuts to specific sites or web apps you utilise often. For example, to create a shortcut to TechRepublic, open TechRepublic.com in Chrome, select the three-vertical dot menu (in the upper right) | More tools | Create shortcut, then edit the name of the shortcut (if you lot like) and select Create. This process places an icon of the website on your desktop. Double-click or tap on the shortcut to open directly to the shortcut site. Once you have a shortcut, yous may right click on it to pin it to the organization tray, add it to the Starting time Bill of fare or, alternatively, drag-and-drop information technology anywhere in your Windows file system.

Meet: ten apps that make Chromebooks feel like a real desktop (TechRepublic)

Some sites, such as Gmail, Google Photos, Google Maps and Twitter, display an install icon in the omnibox, to the left of where the favorite star appears. This indicates that the site may be installed as a progressive web app. Unlike a shortcut, which simply links to a site, a PWA downloads information to allow the app and data to work locally. Typically, a PWA will offering some features and functions that work fifty-fifty when a network connection isn't available. When you're on a website that offers a PWA, select the Install + icon and follow the instructions to install the site'southward PWA (Figure C).

Figure C

Install progressive spider web apps, such as Twitter, Gmail and Google Photos.

The final tweak in this phase is to switch your system default apps to Google alternatives. For instance, yous could change the default browser from Edge to Chrome, or after you take installed Gmail equally a PWA (as detailed higher up) change the default postal service app from Microsoft Post to Gmail (as shown in Figure D).

Figure D

Afterward you've installed the Gmail app, change the default Windows E-mail awarding to Google Chrome, as shown here.

Avant-garde tip: Remove installed Windows apps you no longer demand

Once you've switched from installed apps to web apps in Chrome, uninstall every bit many Windows apps and programs every bit possible. The greater the number of apps installed on your system, the greater the likelihood that 1 or more of them will either run in the groundwork or crave an update. So select Start menu | Settings | Apps, click or tap on an app you no longer demand then Uninstall (Effigy E). Some apps volition require a reboot equally part of the removal process. Regardless, when yous're done uninstalling apps, restart your organisation.

Figure E

Review Windows Apps & Features and uninstall those you no longer need to reduce the number of applications you may have to update.

One matter that will never be quite like a Chromebook is the Windows Update procedure. While you might tweak settings (Start menu | Settings | Update & Security | Windows Update | Advanced options) to download updates and schedule reboots outside active hours, the process takes time. Chrome OS downloads updates and typically lets yous become back to piece of work in less than a minute after a restart. Windows updates, to put information technology politely… accept longer.

Custom configuration: DNS, Android and Linux

The remaining changes or tweaks are all optional, and in many cases non needed. A change of your DNS settings to point to Google's DNS addresses may marginally help meliorate responsiveness equally you use Chrome and Google apps. Various ways to install and run Android apps gives you admission to the large library of mobile apps that frequently piece of work well on Chromebooks. And, but as on many modernistic Chrome Bone devices, Windows tin be configured to run Linux apps, likewise. (However, in almost every case, if yous really rely on Linux or Android, you may be amend off buying a Linux calculator or Android device, respectively.)

Committed: Erase Windows, install CloudReady

If yous really decide you want to leave Windows and switch to Chrome OS all the fourth dimension, there is a Google-owned manner to exercise and so: CloudReady. Neverware's CloudReady is a Chrome OS distribution that erases your Windows installation and replaces information technology with Chrome Os. Chrome enthusiasts and notably, some schools, sometimes employ CloudReady to extend the life of aging Windows laptops. Google bought Neverware in belatedly 2020 and continues to brand the complimentary Home Edition (Figure F) available aslope other editions designed for organizational use.

However, before yous erase your Windows setup and replace information technology with CloudReady, brand sure your arrangement, your network, and your device will work. Remember, when you install CloudReady, you erase your current Windows organization, then make sure yous accept backed up all of your Windows system data, including the OS, apps, files and photos.

Figure F

If your hardware supports it and you no longer need Windows, install CloudReady to run Chrome Os on your device. (Backup your Windows organisation and data offset, since this procedure erases your device.)

What'southward your experience?

Typically, when I help people who apply Windows get started with Google Workspace, I install Chrome and configure shortcuts (e.g., to Gmail, Agenda and Docs) on the desktop and in the Start Menu. I as well walk through how Drive for desktop lets people select files to ever be synced for offline use.

Yet different people accept unlike goals when wanting to make a Windows 10 machine more like a Chromebook. If yous use a Windows x system, simply rely heavily on Chrome and Google apps, what tips or techniques have yous found virtually helpful? What additional apps or settings that make the Windows ten experience a chip more Chrome OS-like practise you recommend? Let me know, either in the comments below or on Twitter (@awolber).