Sure, Android is packed with features, but its standard version doesn’t have a desktop mode. In this regard, a recent feature of Google’s mobile operating system guarantees the possibility of running ChromeOS with Android in a very simple way. We are talking about Android Virtualization Framework (AVF) , an option introduced with Android 13 and which allows you to run everything securely and privately. Google thus offered the execution of Chromium OS (i.e. the open source version of ChromeOS) on Android smartphones via AVF. In this sense, a special version of Chromium OS, known as ferrochrome, was run in a virtual machine on the Pixel 8. The Big G company, however, later stated that it was just a demonstration demo. In this regard, Mishaal Rahman provided some additional details. In particular, the developer published images that would show how Google is still trying to implement ChromeOS on Android. Specifically, the company is reportedly working on a “1-click” solution to run the operating system in a virtual machine on Pixel devices. The application would be called Ferrochrome launcher and would allow you to configure and launch an ARM64 build from the Chromium operating system via the VM launcher application.
As of today, this is a still immature project, where everything can only be configured manually. Google’s plans are therefore not yet clear, even if the Mountain View giant’s desire to choose ChromeOS as the default desktop mode for its Pixels seems quite clear. Google, in fact, would try to lay the foundations to introduce a cross-platform experience on Android devices, starting with its Pixels. Additionally, thanks to advanced virtualization features, Android 15 could truly revolutionize the world of operating systems by introducing ChromeOS to smartphones. In this sense, the launch of Ferrochrome would represent a first and important step. As for Google’s precise timeline and plans for ChromeOS running on Android, everything still needs to be clarified. You’ll have to wait a bit.
