The "Enable ADB Debugging" Maze: A Call for Architectural Clarity, Unified Nomenclature, and UI Improvements
Hello Chrome OS Enterprise Community and Google Product Team, I am an administrator and developer using a managed Chromebook for Android development. For over a month, I have been unable to toggle "Enable ADB debugging" in the Linux (Crostini) settings because it remains grayed out, despite my having full admin access. After weeks of back-and-forth with Google Workspace Support, it has become clear that this is not just a bug, but a profound architectural issue regarding how managed Chrome OS handles policy dependencies and how we navigate the Admin Console. Technical Environment & Stability Context It is important to note that my development environment is not a fresh install, but a long-running, stable workspace. I have been using the same Crostini container for over a year, and recently performed a successful dist-upgrade from Debian 12 (Bookworm) to Debian 13 (Trixie), which is the current Stable release. The fact that Crostini handled this major OS upgrade without requiring a reinstall demonstrates the high quality and robustness of the Chrome OS platform. However, this longevity raises a diagnostic question: Is the ADB toggle logic failing specifically on containers that have migrated through major versions? The Current Situation: A Maze of Hidden Dependencies Support has provided numerous potential fixes, suggesting that the "ADB" feature is not controlled by one switch, but is the result of a complex calculation involving multiple policies scattered across different menus. I have re-checked all the following solutions proposed by Support between Nov 7 and Dec 11, 2025. None have solved the issue: Date Policy Name Exact Admin Console Path Action Taken Nov 7 Developer tools Devices > Chrome > Settings > Users & browsers > Content > Developer tools Set to "Always allow use of built-in developer tools." Nov 21 Linux virtual machines Devices > Chrome > Settings > Users & browsers > Virtual Machines > Linux virtual machines Set to "Allow usage for virtual machines needed to support Linux apps for users." Nov 24 Untrusted sources Devices > Chrome > Settings > Users & browsers > Android applications > Android apps from untrusted sources Set to "Allow" (Required for sideloading). Dec 3 Developer Tools (Refined) Devices > Chrome > Settings > Users & browsers > Content > Developer tools Set to "Allow use of built-in developer tools, except force-installed extensions..." Dec 10 ADB Sideloading Devices > Chrome > Settings > Device settings > Virtual Machines > ADB sideloading Set to "Allow affiliated users of this device to use ADB sideloading." Dec 11 Unaffiliated VMs Devices > Chrome > Settings > Device settings > Virtual Machines > Linux virtual machines for unaffiliated users Set to "Allow usage for virtual machines needed to support Linux apps for unaffiliated users." The Architectural Problem Administrators are currently guessing which combination of "User Settings" and "Device Settings" will result in the feature unlocking. There is no visibility into which specific policy is overriding the others. Furthermore, the UI itself makes locating these settings inefficient. Proposal 1: A "Computed Policy View" We need a diagnostic view in the console. When an Admin looks at a locked setting (like ADB Debugging), the console should display: Status: LOCKED Blocked By: Device Policy > ADB Sideloading OR User Affiliation Check Failed. Proposal 2: A Standardized Nomenclature for Admin Options The Google Admin Console contains thousands of options. Support tickets often fail because describing the path to an option is tedious and prone to error. I propose implementing a Unique Identifier System: Menus/Tabs: assigned a 3-letter nickname. Sections/Options: assigned a numerical ID. Example: Instead of describing a long path, we could simply reference ID: DEV-CHR-DEV-VMS-042 DEV: Menu (Devices) CHR: Product (Chrome) DEV: Tab (Device Settings) VMS: Section (Virtual Machines) 042: Option (ADB Sideloading) Entering this ID into the search bar should take the admin directly to the specific toggle. Proposal 3: Collapsible Sections (Fold/Unfold UI) Currently, settings pages (like Users & browsers) are massive vertical lists. To reach a section near the bottom, an admin must scroll past hundreds of irrelevant options in previous sections. Even when using the "search on page" function, the visual clutter is overwhelming. I propose adding a Fold/Unfold feature: A "Collapse All / Expand All" button at the top of the settings page. Clickable section headers that allow us to hide large blocks of settings we are not currently editing. Conclusion We cannot manage what we cannot find or understand. The current "trial and error" approach to enabling standard developer features is hindering adoption in the enterprise sector. We need better mapping, a precise language (nomenclature), and a more efficient UI to navigate this complex environment. Best regards, Christophe RouxStability vs. Features: The Unique Philosophy of Chrome OS
Hello, There is a distinct difference in how Google manages Android versus Chrome OS, and as a developer, I think it is important to recognize why the Chrome OS strategy is superior for productivity. The Android Approach: Android is a commercial product first. It focuses on features, consumer appeal, and running on everything. The priority is "It works now." The Chrome OS Approach: Chrome OS started small and humble. It has grown slowly, not by chasing trends, but by building a foundation of trust and robustness. I see this robustness daily in the Crostini environment. Recently, upgrading my VM from Debian 12 (Bookworm) to Debian 13 (Trixie) was a pleasure—a real upgrade requiring no reinstallation. This level of stability is rare in the OS world. It proves that Chrome OS is engineered with a long-term vision of quality. The Risk The current rumors about new operating systems or "Android on PC" threaten to undermine this stability. If Google tries to make Chrome OS behave too much like Android—rushing features at the cost of stability—we lose the "high quality" segment. My Request Chrome OS is currently the best bridge between desktop computing and Android mobile development. I urge Google to maintain this "slow and steady" strategy. We don't need a flashy OS; we need a trustable one. Keep building the high-quality, robust platform that Chrome OS has become.Chrome OS + Crostini: The Missing Bridge to Android Development
Hello Community, I recently read an article about connecting a Windows PC to an Android phone, which got me thinking: we need a similar focus on connecting Chrome OS (via Crostini) to Android devices. Since both Android and Chrome OS are Google products, the integration should be seamless. If Google wants to grow Chrome OS adoption, developers are the ideal first target. However, making it easy for developers to build Android apps on Chrome OS must be a priority, and currently, there are significant friction points. The Technical Blockers My Android development on Chrome OS has been halted for over a month due to persistent issues: ADB Debugging on Managed Devices: My managed Chromebook (I am the admin) has the "Enable ADB debugging" toggle locked. Despite a month of searching, I haven't found a fix. Connection Instability: Both USB and Wi-Fi debugging work intermittently and then fail. I have tested this with a modern Android 15 phone and an older Lollipop tablet; the connection fails on both, pointing to an issue on the Chromebook side. USB File Transfer: There is a known issue transferring files from Crostini to USB devices (requiring a workaround of copying to the Chrome OS files app first). The Strategic Picture Google should not depend on Microsoft Windows for Android development. Chrome OS is already a high-quality product—I use it daily. For example, upgrading my Crostini VM from Debian 12 (Bookworm) to Debian 13 (Trixie) was a pleasure and required no reinstallation. This stability proves Chrome OS is a serious development platform, not just a "cheap" alternative. Addressing the "Aluminum OS" Rumors There is a current campaign discrediting Chrome OS, citing rumors about a new "Aluminum OS." I believe these rumors are misinterpreted. Rather than dropping Chrome OS, it appears Google is aiming for the high-quality device segment. Regardless of naming conventions, Google is walking securely, step-by-step, from a browser to a full OS. Conclusion I strongly advise Google to continue its efforts in making Chrome OS a high-end development platform. The community is involved and patient (a major quality of developers!), but we need these bridge issues—specifically ADB debugging and USB file transfers—solved to fully unlock the potential of the ecosystem.
Celebrating World Earth Day! Share your experiences
Hello everyone, I wanted to take a moment to highlight that today, April 22nd 2025, is World Earth Day. In recognition of this, I'm sharing a video I found last year (August 2024) that offers an interesting look at the packaging redesign process for Pixel. While sustainability hasn't been a common topic of conversation here in the AE Customer Community much yet, I know from speaking with several of you that it's a consideration for many. I thought today would be a good opportunity to start a relaxed discussion around sustainability and generally the circular economy at work. I'd love to hear any tips, experiences (including challenges), and even the small, collective actions you take that can make a significant difference (at work or in your personal life). For example, thinking on devices - do you have any particular habits to extend the lifespan of your devices? Perhaps you have a minimum requirement for the number of operating system updates you look for, or maybe you have a specific process for recycling or reusing devices at the end of their life. Or perhaps if you work from home you make sure you turn screens and TVs off standby mode to reduce electricity. Looking forward to hearing your insights, ideas and generally how you feel/would like to see sustainability in technology will evolve over time. Thanks so much, Lizzie
[Community tips] How do you manage the removal of devices at the end of their life at your company?
Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing well. We talk here in the community quite a lot about setting up company devices and managing devices whilst they are in use, but something we haven't gone into too much detail is what do you do with your devices once they have come to the end of their life at your company? I imagine you have to consider quite a few things; such as if you are removing devices how do you get new devices seamlessly back into use? What do you do with the old devices? Do you return them to your OEM or another company to be reused? There is a large sustainability factor here that you may also consider, as well as many other things. It would be great to hear how do you manage this? Do you have a set timeframe that you look to refresh devices? Any tips or challenges that you have discovered? Looking forward to hearing from you. Lizzie
