Why Google needs to keep Linux support in the new Android-based ‘Aluminium’ project
Why Google needs to keep Linux support in the new Android-based ‘Aluminium’ project
Publish Date: 2026-04-21 16:23:00
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When we talk about ChromeOS being re-baselined to the Android kernel—known internally as Project “Aluminium”—the conversation almost always revolves around AI. But for a core group of ChromeOS enthusiasts, there is a lingering fear right now: what happens to Linux support?
For years, the ability to run Linux apps has been the secret sauce that allows users to turn a standard Chromebook into a genuine development machine. It’s the primary reason many power users out there can rely on a Chromebook as their full-time computer. So, as we look ahead to this underlying shift to an Android foundation, we have to wonder if Linux will actually make the jump to the new OS.
The legacy ChromeOS split
As we covered earlier this year, Google has confirmed that they are sticking to their 10-year support promise. However, because Project Aluminium has higher technical requirements, not every device will get the new software. Older or budget-friendly Chromebooks that aren’t eligible for the Aluminium update—or devices where users simply choose not to migrate—will continue to run “legacy” ChromeOS until they reach their Auto Update Expiration (AUE).
Because of this split, we already know that Linux support isn’t completely vanishing overnight. If your device stays on legacy ChromeOS, you will still have access to the Linux container just like you do today. But that creates an interesting crossroads for Google.
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