Aging laptops often end up in drawers or landfills when their operating systems no longer receive updates. Google and refurbished electronics marketplace Back Market are looking to change that with a new initiative announced at the MWC 2026 event.
The companies have announced a pilot program that will distribute USB drives pre-installed with ChromeOS Flex, giving older laptops an easier way to run a modern operating system again.
What is ChromeOS Flex?
For the uninitiated, ChromeOS Flex is Google’s lightweight, secure, cloud-based operating system that can be installed on old Windows and Mac PCs. The system focuses on web-based computing and moves much of the processing, updates and security management to the cloud.
This approach allows older hardware to continue to perform everyday tasks such as surfing the Internet, streaming content, creating documents, and using web-based computing.
How ChromeOS Flex helps keep older computers useful
The aim of this project is to make it easier for people to revive older machines without complicated installation steps. Instead of creating a bootable drive yourself, users receive a ready-to-use USB stick that can be used to quickly install ChromeOS Flex on compatible devices.
The initiative is aimed at consumers, businesses, schools and remanufacturers who want to extend the life of outdated hardware.
Because it relies heavily on cloud processing, ChromeOS Flex can perform well even on older hardware that struggles with modern desktop operating systems.
Once installed, devices gain access to a familiar ChromeOS interface, automatic updates, and built-in security features.
You can connect the USB drive, start the computer and follow the instructions to install the system.
Once installed, the laptop functions similarly to a Chromebook. It can handle everyday tasks like web browsing, streaming, and working with online productivity tools.
The initiative also addresses a growing environmental problem. More than 62 million tons of e-waste were generated worldwide in 2022, and much of that came from devices that were replaced before the hardware actually failed.
By giving old laptops a new operating system and a second life, Google and Back Market hope to reduce e-waste while helping users keep their devices usable longer.
