Windows 10 reached end-of-life in October 2025, leaving users with ageing computers that no longer receive security updates. However, losing software support does not automatically render hardware obsolete. Google's ChromeOS Flex offers a free alternative that allows users to install Chrome OS on existing hardware, delivering a lightweight operating system that runs more efficiently than Windows on lower-end machines and effectively extends the useful life of older PCs.

ChromeOS Flex requires relatively modest hardware: an Intel or AMD processor manufactured after 2012, 4GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. The installation process takes approximately one hour and utilises the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension in Chrome to create bootable media on an 8GB USB flash drive. Users boot from the flash drive, select from options to test or fully install the operating system, and complete a setup wizard. Google maintains a list of ChromeOS Flex-certified models with defined support windows, though uncertified hardware can also run the system; however, support duration varies significantly depending on hardware configuration.