To downgrade a Google ChromeOS update on managed devices, you can utilize the Google Admin console. The process involves setting a target ChromeOS version and rolling back to that version. This functionality is primarily intended for enterprise or educational environments managing ChromeOS devices.
Here's how you can do it:
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Access the Google Admin Console: Sign in to the Google Admin console (admin.google.com) using an administrator account.
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Navigate to Devices: Go to Devices > Chrome > Settings > Devices.
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Select the Organization Unit: Select the organizational unit (OU) containing the devices you want to downgrade. This allows you to target specific groups of devices. If you want to apply the change to all devices, select the top-level organizational unit.
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Find Auto-Update Settings: Within the Device Settings, locate the "Auto-update settings" section. You might need to scroll down or use the search function.
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Allow Updates: For "Allow devices to automatically update OS version," select "Allow updates." This enables the downgrade process.
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Set Target Version: For "Target version," choose the specific ChromeOS version you want to downgrade to. This is the version your devices will revert to.
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Roll Back to Target Version: For "Roll back to target version," select "Roll back OS." This initiates the downgrade process to the specified target version.
Important Considerations:
- Data Loss: Downgrading can potentially lead to data loss. It's crucial to back up any important data before initiating the rollback.
- Compatibility: Ensure the target ChromeOS version is compatible with the hardware and software used on the devices. Downgrading to an incompatible version can cause instability or malfunction.
- Testing: Before rolling back a large number of devices, test the downgrade process on a small group to verify that everything functions correctly.
- Managed Devices Only: This method is designed for devices managed through the Google Admin console. You cannot directly downgrade the operating system of a personal Chromebook through these steps. For personal Chromebooks, recovery may be a more viable but complex solution, which can be found on Google’s support pages.
- Time to Completion: The time it takes to complete the downgrade varies depending on the device and network conditions.
In summary, downgrading Google ChromeOS updates is performed via the Google Admin console using the "Auto-update settings" to specify a target version and initiate a rollback. Remember to consider potential data loss and compatibility issues before proceeding.
