For Android app developers, ADB & Fastboot are one of the most important tools to have on your computer – and while ADB has been compatible with Chromebook for a long time, it previously required going through some hurdles and installing a third-party set of scripts named crouton , which basically allowed a Linux environment to be ran inside the Chrome OS, so that ADB could be ran from inside the Linux environment.

But with the latest Chrome OS 67 update, ADB is now officially supported from developer mode on Chromebooks with an x86_64 chip. Its an incredibly easy process with a simple script that does the bulk of the work for you – the only drawback is that you need to power-wash ( completely wipe / factory reset) your Chromebook, so create backups of all your important data before proceeding.

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Start by making sure your Chromebook is running an x86_64 chipset. You need to hit CTRL + ALT + T to launch a crosh terminal, and type uname -m.

If the crosh terminal displays x86_64 , you can proceed.

Now we need to put your Chromebook into developer mode – be warned that this will make your Chomebook less secure, as developer mode disables a few security features like verified boot, and enables the root shell by default. This is also going to perform a data wipe / factory reset on your Chromebook, so make backups before proceeding! You’ve been warned!

To enable developer mode, you need to go to the list of Chromium OS devices page on Chromium.org , and find your specific Chromebook device in the list. Click on your Chromebook’s specific model name and it will bring you to a general instructional wiki specifically for your device – as the method for enabling developer mode is pretty much unique across Chromebook devices, we can’t give a one-for-all step-by-step tutorial here for this process.

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After developer mode has been enabled on your Chromebook, we can now proceed to download and run the script for getting ADB & Fastboot tools setup. But first we should take a look at crosh, the Chrome OS shell terminal. Remember that you press CTRL + ALT + T to open it.

By default, crosh is in sandbox mode, so you need to elevate your privileges to access the deeper commands. So, launch a crosh terminal, and type shell.

At this point you should create a sudo password, which will give you back some security we sacrificed in enabling developer mode. To do this type:

Sudo su

Chromeos-setdevpasswd

Exit

After you do this, sudo commands will require password input from now on.

We’re now ready to download the scripts, which is done through the terminal. The scripts we’ll be running will do two things specifically that save you a lot of time in the long run:

The script will download the appropriate binaries and automatically move them to the correct location ( usr/local/bin).

The script will then download and install the ADB & Fastboot wrapper, which saves you the time of typing commands when you want to run ADB.

To begin the script download and install process, type the following commands into your crosh terminal:

curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nathanchance/chromeos-adb-fastboot/master/install.sh | bash

Alternatively, if you want to avoid piping from curl to bash, you can use this other command:

cd ${HOME}/Downloads; curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nathanchance/chromeos-adb-fastboot/master/install.sh -o install.sh

For the last command, you need to inspect it with more or vim, then run:

chmod +x install.sh; bash install.sh

Now to verify everything went successfully – in the crosh terminal, type:

Adb –version

Fastboot –version

This should display that those were installed to /usr/local/bin – if you have a problem, try rebooting your Chromebook. This goes the same if you don’t get an ADB notification on your Android device when connecting to your Chromebook’s USB ports – try rebooting both your Chromebook and your Android device together.

How to Fix “Printer is in an error state” Issue?

  • Common Chromebook printing issues include printer incompatibility, network connection problems, and outdated software or firmware.
  • Solutions involve checking printer compatibility, ensuring both devices are on the same network, adding the printer manually, updating software, or using a USB connection.
  • If issues persist, restart devices, troubleshoot the wireless connection, and update printer firmware; contacting support may be necessary for unresolved problems.

We’ve all been there—you need to print something important, and your Chromebook isn’t cooperating. Don’t worry; you’re not alone. Printing issues with Chromebooks are common but usually easy to fix.

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Samsung Chromebook | Unsplash

    1. Check Printer Compatibility
    1. Connect Both Devices to the Same Network
    1. Select Your Printer
    1. Add Your Printer Manually
    1. Restart Devices
    1. Check Printer Settings
    1. Update Chrome OS
    1. Update Printer Firmware
    1. Use a USB Connection (if applicable)
    1. Troubleshoot Wireless Connection
    1. Check for Print Quality Issues
    1. Contact Support

In this guide, we’ll take you through straightforward steps to get your Chromebook working with your printer again. Let’s tackle this together, one step at a time.

But before we get into the solutions, let’s identify some common causes of printing issues on Chromebooks.

  • Printer Incompatibility: Chromebooks have built-in drivers that may not be compatible with all printer models. Older printers or those requiring specific drivers may not work.
  • Network Connection Problems: Both the Chromebook and printer must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network for wireless printing to work. Issues with the network configuration can prevent successful connections.
  • USB Connection Issues: Problems with the USB cable or the USB ports on either device can cause printing failures when using a USB cable.
  • Outdated Chrome OS: Running an outdated version of Chrome OS can lead to compatibility issues with printers.
  • Outdated Printer Firmware: Older printer firmware may not work well with the latest Chrome OS versions, causing printing problems.
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Chromebook Supported Printers by Epson

Now that you know the probable causes, check out the solutions below to fix the issue:

1. Check Printer Compatibility

Before attempting any fixes, ensure your printer is compatible with Chrome OS . Visit your printer manufacturer’s website to find information about your specific printer model and its compatibility with Chrome OS or Chromebook.

You can also check the list of ‘Certified “Works with Chromebook” printers’ on the Chromebook Help forum by Google . If your printer is listed, proceed to the next step. If not, you might need a compatible printer .

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List of Printers Compatible with Chromebooks by Google | See Full List onChromebook Help

How This Helps: Ensuring printer compatibility with Chrome OS is crucial, as not all printers work seamlessly with Chromebooks. If incompatible, consider purchasing a different model verified to work with Chrome OS.

2. Connect Both Devices to the Same Network

  1. Turn on your printer and connect it to your Wi-Fi network. Refer to your printer’s manual for instructions. Connect Your Printer to Wi-Fi | WikiHow
  2. On your Chromebook, click the time in the bottom right corner to open the quick settings menu. Opening the quick settings menu on your Chromebook by clicking the time in the bottom right corner
  3. Ensure your Chromebook is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your printer. If not, click the Wi-Fi icon and select your network. Ensure the Wi-Fi toggle is on and connected to the same network as your printer

How This Helps: Both devices need to be on the same network to communicate effectively. If they’re not, the Chromebook won’t find the printer, leading to printing failures.

3. Select Your Printer

  1. Press Ctrl + P on your Chromebook to open the print dialog. Press Ctrl + P to open the print dialog on your Chromebook
  2. In the print dialog, click the “Destination” dropdown and find your printer in the list. Select it and proceed to print. In the print dialog, select your printer from the ‘Destination’ dropdown
  3. If your printer is not listed, click “See more” at the bottom. If your printer isn’t listed, click ‘See more’ at the bottom

How This Helps: Selecting the correct printer is essential for printing. If the wrong printer is selected, or if the printer is not visible, the print job won’t proceed. This step ensures the Chromebook recognizes and is set to use the correct printer.

4. Add Your Printer Manually

  1. If your printer is not showing up, click on the time in the bottom right corner to open the quick settings menu. Opening the quick settings menu on your Chromebook by clicking the time in the bottom right corner
  2. Click the gear icon ⚙️ to open Settings . Open the Settings Menu
  3. Scroll down and click “Advanced” to expand advanced settings. Click on Advanced
  4. Under “Printing” , click “Printers” . Click on Printers
  5. Click on Add Printer icon Click Add Printer Icon
  6. Enter the following information about your printer: Name: Give your printer a recognizable name. Address: Enter your printer’s IP address. Print a network configuration page from your printer to find this. Protocol: Select “Internet Printing Protocol (IPP)” . Fill in Your Printer Details
  7. Click “Add” to save the printer settings. Click Add to Save the Printer

How This Helps: Manually adding your printer can resolve issues where automatic detection fails, allowing the Chromebook to communicate with the printer directly using its IP address.

5. Restart Devices

  1. Turn off your printer and wait for about 30 seconds.
  2. Turn your printer back on and wait for it to fully power up. Turn off your printer, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on and wait for it to fully power up | WikiHow
  3. On your Chromebook, click the time in the bottom right corner and select “Sign out” . Click the time and select ‘Sign out’
  4. Sign back in to your Chromebook and check if the printer is now recognized.

How This Helps: Restarting both devices can clear temporary glitches or connectivity issues. This simple step often resolves many common problems.

6. Check Printer Settings

  1. Click the time in the bottom right corner and select the gear icon ⚙️ to open Settings . Open the Settings Menu
  2. Scroll down and click “Advanced” to expand advanced settings. Click on Advanced
  3. Under “Printing” , click “Printers” . Click on Printers
  4. Ensure that your printer is listed correctly with the right name and IP address.
  5. If necessary, remove the printer by clicking on the three-dot menu next to it and selecting “Remove” .
  6. Add the printer again manually using the steps in Section 4 .

How This Helps: Verifying and correcting printer settings ensures that the Chromebook is properly configured to communicate with the printer. Discrepancies in the printer name or IP address can lead to connection issues.

7. Update Chrome OS

  1. Click the time in the bottom right corner and select the gear icon ⚙️ to open Settings . Open the Settings Menu
  2. Scroll down and click “About Chrome OS” . Click ‘About Chrome OS’
  3. Click “Check for updates” . Click on ‘Check for Updates’
  4. If an update is available, it will start downloading automatically. Once downloaded, click “Restart” to install the update.

How This Helps: Keeping Chrome OS updated ensures you have the latest features, bug fixes, and compatibility improvements. Updates can resolve issues affecting printing functionality.

8. Update Printer Firmware

  1. Visit your printer manufacturer’s website and search for your specific printer model.
  2. Look for a “Support” or “Downloads” section and find the latest firmware update for your printer.
  3. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer to download and install the firmware update on your printer.
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Canon G1330 Support Page

How This Helps: Printer firmware updates can fix bugs and improve compatibility with newer operating systems, including Chrome OS. This is essential for ensuring that your printer functions correctly with your Chromebook.

9. Use a USB Connection (if applicable)

  1. Ensure your printer is turned on and ready to print.
  2. Connect your printer to your Chromebook using a USB cable.
  3. A notification should appear on your Chromebook, asking if you want to set up the printer. Click “Set up” to proceed.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the USB printer setup.
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Connect your Chromebook to the printer via USB | WikiHow

How This Helps: Using a USB connection can bypass network issues entirely, allowing you to print directly from your Chromebook. This method is often more reliable when wireless connections fail .

10. Troubleshoot Wireless Connection

  1. On your printer, ensure Wi-Fi is enabled and connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.
  2. Power cycle your printer by turning it off, waiting for 30 seconds , and then turning it back on.
  3. Power cycle your Wi-Fi router by unplugging it from the power source, waiting for 30 seconds , and then plugging it back in.
  4. Wait for the router to fully power up and reconnect your Chromebook and printer to the Wi-Fi network.
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Power Cycle Your Wi-Fi Router

How This Helps: Troubleshooting the wireless connection ensures that both devices are properly connected to the network. This can resolve issues caused by network interruptions or misconfigurations.

11. Check for Print Quality Issues

  1. Check the ink or toner levels in your printer. Replace any cartridges that are low or empty.
  2. Clean the printer heads by following the instructions in your printer’s manual. This can help resolve issues with blurry or faded prints.
  3. Run a test print from your printer to ensure that the print quality is satisfactory.
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Check your printer’s ink or toner levels

How This Helps: Addressing print quality issues ensures that your documents print clearly and correctly. Low ink or clogged print heads can lead to poor print results, which may be mistaken for connectivity problems .

12. Contact Support

If the steps above didn’t fix the printing issue on your Chromebook, don’t stress. You can always reach out to your printer’s customer support—they might have more specific tips based on your printer model. If you’re still stuck, try posting your problem on the Chromebook Help Forum or contact Google support for extra help.

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Chromebook Help

Follow these solutions, and you should fix most printing problems on your Chromebook. Ensure your printer and Chromebook are compatible, double-check that everything’s connected to the same network, keep your software updated , and if all else fails, try connecting in a different way. You’ve got this!

If your printer shows as “offline,” first check if it is powered on and connected to the same network as your Chromebook. Restart both the printer and Chromebook. If it’s still offline, try unplugging the printer for a minute, then plug it back in. Also, check the printer’s network settings to ensure it is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.

If you can print some documents but not others, the issue may be related to the specific file type or format. For example, PDFs can sometimes have compatibility issues. Try opening the document in a different application or converting it to another format. Other than that, check the printer settings to ensure they are configured correctly for the document type.

To clear the print queue, open the Chrome browser and type chrome://devices in the address bar. Under the “Printers” section, find your printer and click “Manage.” From there, you can clear the print queue by selecting “Clear spooler.” This can help resolve issues with stuck print jobs.

If your printer is connected but won’t print, check for any error messages on the printer itself. Ensure that there are no paper jams, and that ink or toner levels are sufficient. Restart both the printer and Chromebook, and verify that the correct printer is selected in the print dialog. If the problem persists, consider updating your printer firmware.

Yes, you can print from a Chromebook without a Wi-Fi connection by using a USB cable to connect the printer directly to the Chromebook. This method allows you to bypass network issues and print directly from your device.