The somewhat hard deadline for the Windows 10 end of life has now passed, which caused  school leadership teams and IT administrators to make important decisions regarding the trajectory of their digital learning programs. 

One possible path is that of ChromeOS Flex as a replacement for legacy Windows operating systems in order to revitalise aging hardware with a cloud-first option.

Whichever path to resolution was selected, there may be a number of devices that are now obsolete due to the hardware requirements of Windows 11. Windows 11 is the first Windows update in a number of years that has greater requirements than your more typical software update as it requires a TPM 2.0 security chip in order for a device to be compatible, along with generally more processing power requirements. 

In this blog, we’ll cover a path to repurposing legacy Windows 10 devices that may not be up to the requirements of Windows 11. Through installing a new OS on these devices, schools will be able to avoid casting thousands of functional laptops and PCs that have suddenly become obsolete into the e-waste pile, and potentially avoid wrecking budgets and sustainability goals and rather repurpose these devices.

How you may ask? Well via transitioning to the Google environment and installing ChromeOS Flex on these devices. 

However, from a device management perspective, this isn’t as simple as just installing ChromeOS Flex, but requires consideration of the complexities of changing from a Windows and Microsoft environment to a ChromeOS and Google Cloud environment. 

Yet despite the requirements of this transition, retaining and modernising old school devices in a manner that ensures they remain secure, fast, and ready for the classroom is a fantastic outcome.

To do so, your digital learning program will have to adjust to and cater for the shift from the Microsoft Education ecosystem to the Google Workspace environment. 

Let's dive deep into the pros and cons of this transition to help you make the best decision for your budget, your IT staff, and your students' learning outcomes.

What is ChromeOS Flex for schools?

In short, ChromeOS Flex for schools is a free Chrome OS installation Google that you can install on to existing Windows PCs and Macs. 

It is specifically designed to be lightweight, secure, and fast, even on older hardware that has become slow and sluggish running Windows or MacOS. By replacing the old OS, it effectively turns your legacy hardware into a high-performing, cloud-first device, similar to that of a Chromebook.

This provides a pathway to repurposing older, suddenly legacy computers and hardware, while addressing several critical pain points for schools. 

But is it the right move for you?

Let’s run through some Pros and Cons of Adopting ChromeOS Flex for your school. 

10 Pros of Adopting ChromeOS Flex for Schools

From an educational, K-12 perspective, the pros heavily focus on solving immediate and pressing budgetary and operational challenges while retaining the functionality of devices and their use for a learning environment.

1. Massive Hardware Cost Savings: This is the most significant benefit. Instead of purchasing hundreds if not thousands of new Windows 11-compatible devices, you can extend the life of your existing hardware, potentially by several years. This frees up critical budget for other educational priorities.
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2. Incredibly Fast Deployment: IT teams can deploy ChromeOS Flex for schools quickly via a simple USB installer or through remote network deployment tools. This is often much faster than a complex Windows 11 migration.
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3. Simplified IT Management: For schools already using Google, managing Flex devices via the Google Admin console is simple and familiar. It's a single, web-based console designed specifically for the education workflow, and further consolidates licence acquisition within the Google environment.
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4. Rapid Boot Times: Devices running ChromeOS Flex boot up in as little as six seconds. In a classroom setting, this is revolutionary. It eliminates the 5-10 minutes of "login and wait" time at the start of a lesson, maximizing instructional time.
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5. A Consistent User Experience: A four-year-old laptop running Flex will have the same interface and performance as a brand-new one. This consistency is invaluable for students and teachers, who won't have to deal with a mix of slow and fast devices.
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6. Enhanced Security Model: Security is foundational to the OS, with features like sandboxing, blocked executables, and automatic background updates. This model is arguably more secure than a legacy Windows environment and reduces the daily worry of malware.
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7. Drastic E-Waste Reduction: Choosing to repurpose old school computers is a powerful statement of sustainability. It prevents tons of functional electronics from ending up in landfills, aligning with the environmental goals of many school districts.
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8. Strengthens Cloud-First Digital Skills: The modern workplace is increasingly cloud-based. Transitioning to a cloud-native OS prepares students for a future of collaborative, online work, which is a core digital skill.
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9. Ideal for Shared Carts & Substitutes: The "stateless" nature of ChromeOS is perfect for shared devices. A student or substitute teacher can log in to any Flex device and instantly access their personal files and apps from the cloud.
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10. Lower Energy Consumption: A lightweight OS typically uses less power than a full-featured one like Windows. Across a fleet of thousands of devices, this can lead to tangible savings on school utility bills.

10 Cons for Shifting to the Google Ecosystem

The cons are less about the software itself and more about the operational, financial, and pedagogical impact of a full ecosystem change. This might be easier for existing mixed device programs, where Google is known, and slightly trickier for legacy Windows environments.

1. Required Licensing Costs: While the ChromeOS Flex for schools OS is free to install, it is not free to manage. To enrol and control these devices in your Google Admin console, you must purchase a Chrome Education Upgrade licence for every single device.
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2. Major Ecosystem Migration Project: This is the biggest hurdle. You cannot manage ChromeOS Flex devices with Microsoft Intune. This move requires shifting your entire device management strategy from the Microsoft ecosystem (Intune, Entra ID) to the Google Admin console.
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3. Significant Staff Re-Training: Your teachers and staff have years, if not decades, of muscle memory built around Windows, Microsoft Office, and Outlook. A full shift to Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Gmail) requires a comprehensive and patient professional development plan.
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4. Loss of "Digital Skills" Diversity: This is a key pedagogical concern. If students only learn the Google suite, they may lack experience with Microsoft Excel and Word, which remain the dominant standard in many corporate and professional environments.
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5. No Support for Legacy Windows Apps: This is non-negotiable. Any critical curriculum software, advanced Adobe Creative Suite applications, or specific video editors that are Windows-native will not run on ChromeOS Flex.
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6. High Internet Dependency: ChromeOS is cloud-first. While offline modes for Google Docs exist, the device is severely limited without a stable internet connection. This is a major equity consideration for students who may not have reliable broadband access at home.
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7. Hardware Compatibility Isn't 100%: ChromeOS Flex does not work on every old PC. Your IT team must first consult Google's official certified models list. Peripherals like old document cameras, printers, or scanners may also lack driver support.
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8. Weaker Hardware-Level Security: A key difference: Flex devices do not have the physical, Google-designed security chip found in native Chromebooks. This means they use a different, software-based solution for verified boot, which is secure but not as robust as the hardware-level chip.
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9. Complex Data Migration: Moving years of staff and administrative files from OneDrive and SharePoint to Google Drive is a massive, time-consuming, and complex technical project that cannot be underestimated.
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10. Perception vs. Reality: For some parents and community members, a repurposed laptop, no matter how fast, may be perceived as a "lesser" or "cheaper" solution than a new Windows 11 device. This can create a communications challenge for school leadership.

It is not all about choice: Unifying Your Hybrid Fleet

After reviewing this list, it's clear a likely scenario for schools is not an "all-or-nothing" switch, with one path forward being a hybrid one: new Windows 11 devices and a fleet of repurposed ChromeOS Flex devices for classrooms, classroom carts and general use.

This creates a new problem: your IT team may now be forced to manage two entirely separate ecosystems (Microsoft Intune and Google Admin), plus any iOS and Android devices should those also be part of your mix. 

This can easily result in complex, time-consuming, and inefficient work. However, considering a multi-OS device platform might help with this process. 

Mobile Guardian’s solutions are designed for education and built for multi-OS environments. As with all K-12 device management platforms, schools are required to have Microsoft Education and Google Workspace for Education licences, which is required for at-scale enrolment with the Mobile Guardian platform. 

Though these differing OS systems are required, Mobile Guardian allows for the consolidation of the user experience from multiple MDM platforms, to a single MDM platform — utilising Mobile Guardian’s easy-to-use interface. This ultimately saves teams time when managing an array of devices via our single dashboard, allowing you to manage, secure, and filter your entire set of devices, including Apple and Android devices.

Our Campus solution brings together:

• MDM (Manage): Control your new Windows 11 devices, your converted ChromeOS Flex laptops, your iPads, and Android devices, all from a single Platform.
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• Web Filtering (Safer): Apply consistent, CIPA-compliant web filtering policies across every single device, regardless of its OS.
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• Classroom Management (Learn): Provide teachers with the tools they require to create safe and focused digital classrooms, whether a student is using a Chromebook, a Windows laptop or desktop, iPad, or Android device. All students may partake in the class, together.

ChromeOS as a Replacement or Companion to Windows

ChromeOS Flex for schools is a cost effective and smooth adoption alternative to Windows. With a fantastic education offering, ChromeOS and Google solve budget, performance, and sustainability challenges. 

Of course, it's not a magic wand. There will be some challenges to overcome, however we at Mobile Guardian are here to help you navigate the complexity that comes with multi-OS environments with our on-hand support and platform.

Ready to simplify the management of your entire Windows and ChromeOS fleet? Request a helping hand and review of your environment here. 

Onwards,

Nic Norman

Team Mobile Guardian