Forgot your Chromebook password and can't sign in? You can start a factory reset, called Powerwash, right from the sign-in screen. Here's the shortcut, plus recovery options for reinstalling ChromeOS if needed. Powerwash erases local user data, so back up any files you can still access before proceeding.
Reset your Chromebook from the sign-in screen
A forgotten sign-in password doesn't block Powerwash on a personal, unmanaged Chromebook, including Chromebook Plus.
Start your Chromebook and stay at the sign-in screen, or sign out if you're already signed in.
Hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R together to open the reset prompt.
Select Restart.
After the Chromebook restarts, select Powerwash.
Choose Continue to confirm the erase. You don't need the existing account password to start it.
Follow the setup prompts once the reset finishes.
Understand what happens to your files and account
Powerwash erases local user data, including files in Downloads. Back up accessible files before confirming the reset. If you can't access those files, the erase still removes the local copies.
Powerwash leaves files in Google Drive and on external storage alone. Creating recovery media is different: that process erases the USB drive or SD card you select.
Resetting the Chromebook doesn't recover a forgotten Google Account password. On a personal Chromebook, the first account used after the reset becomes the owner. Use the account intended to own the device during setup.
Use Settings if you're already signed in
This performs a factory reset from an accessible signed-in session.
Open Settings.
Select System preferences.
Select Reset beside Powerwash.
Follow the restart and erase confirmations.
Use the sign-in screen shortcut instead if a password prevents you from opening Settings.
Prepare for ChromeOS recovery
When ChromeOS itself is the problem, recovery erases the Chromebook and reinstalls the operating system.
Disconnect peripherals before entering recovery mode.
On a Chromebook with a keyboard, hold Esc + Refresh. For models that use Maximize instead of Refresh, hold Esc + Maximize.
Press Power while holding those keys.
Release Power.
Release the other keys when the recovery message appears.
On a Chromebook tablet, enter recovery by holding Volume Up + Volume Down + Power for at least 10 seconds instead.
On a model with a dedicated recovery button, press that button with a paperclip instead.
Continue with one of the recovery methods below. Entering recovery mode alone doesn't erase the Chromebook.
Recover over the internet
Select Recover using internet connection if your recovery screen offers it.
Complete the network prompts, entering the Wi-Fi password if requested. You don't need the Chromebook's existing login password.
Follow the recovery prompts to erase the Chromebook and reinstall ChromeOS.
Allow the Chromebook to restart automatically.
If your model doesn't offer internet recovery, use the USB recovery method below.
Use a USB drive for recovery
You'll need another working Chromebook, Windows PC, or Mac, an erasable USB drive of at least 8 GB, and a compatible recovery image, which isn't guaranteed for older models.
- 1.On the working computer, install Google's Chromebook Recovery Utility in Chrome. If your Windows PC or Mac lacks Chrome, select Download Chrome on Google's Chrome page and install it first.
- 2.Open Extensions > Chromebook Recovery Utility > Get started.
- 3.Enter the target Chromebook's model identifier from its recovery screen, then select Continue.
- 4.Insert the USB drive and choose it in the utility. Select Continue > Create now. This erases the selected drive. For a compatible Chromebook with an SD-card slot, prepare an SD card through the same procedure instead.
- 5.Transfer the prepared recovery media to the Chromebook in recovery mode.
- 6.Select Recover using external disk and follow the prompts to erase the Chromebook and reinstall ChromeOS.
Ask an administrator about work and school Chromebooks
If your Chromebook belongs to a school or employer and is managed by that organization, its administrator handles the reset. A local reset doesn't release organizational ownership, and forced re-enrollment still applies.
Contact the organization to arrange a factory reset or the device's release. An authorized administrator can initiate the reset without your Chromebook login password; recovery and developer mode don't remove organizational management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a hardware hard reset factory reset a Chromebook?
No. A hardware hard reset resets hardware components rather than returning the Chromebook to its factory state. Use Powerwash for a whole-device factory reset.
Can I remove just one account instead of erasing the Chromebook?
Yes, for a removable non-owner profile on a personal Chromebook. At sign-in, select the profile. Open its down-arrow menu. Select Remove this user. Confirm with Remove this user. This removes that local profile, not the Google Account itself. Removing the owner requires a full reset.
Will Safety Reset erase my apps and files?
No. Safety reset keeps local apps and data while resetting relevant settings and disabling extensions. It isn't a whole-device factory reset.
Can I make recovery media using a Linux computer?
Yes. Google provides a Linux recovery script through its Chromebook recovery help page. It's a more technical alternative to Chromebook Recovery Utility and requires a separate Linux computer and compatible recovery media.