Chromebook with Linux

chromebook-ideapad-flex-5i.md

Hardware details

• Model: Lenovo Chromebook IdeaPad Flex 5i 14''
• Hardware ID: TAEKO-QSHQ
• CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 8505
  • Alder Lake
  • 1 performance core (2 threads) + 4 efficient cores = 6 threads
  • Virtualization Technology, Quick Sync, AVX2
• Storage: 64 GB eMMC

Testing

⚠️ I do not recommend this device at the moment (8th of June 2025), since I am not able to boot from the internal storage. It is possible to put /boot and the EFI partition on a USB drive and boot the system, using "Boot from file" and selecting grub or the shim file.

Tested with Debian 13 and Fedora 42.

Device	Status	Notes
Wifi	✅	Connected to 5 GHz network
Bluetooth	✅	Paired with bluetooth headphones
MicroSD	✅
Volumes button	✅
Touchscreen	✅	tested workaround probably not needed when replacing the firmware entirely
Screen rotation	✅	Screen is rotated using accelerometers on Fedora 42, but not on Debian 13 (Gnome)
Tablet mode	✅	Keyboard and touchpad disabled when screen is folded
USB A	✅
USB C	✅	known workaround
Audio	❌	not working; the known workaround is ineffective
Webcam	✅
Fingerprint	❌	work in progress

Procedure

1. Enter into recovery mode
   1. Press [ESC] + [Refresh] + [Power] (Power button is on the side)
2. Enable developer mode
   1. Press [CTRL] + [D]
   2. Confirm
   3. Boot from internal disk
3. Install the RW_LEGACY firmware and add edk2 bootloader
   1. Boot from internal disk
   2. Connect to the internet
   3. Switch to VT-2 contole: [CTRL] + [ALT]+ [Refresh]
   4. Run cd; curl -LO mrchromebox.tech/firmware-util.sh && sudo bash firmware-util.sh
   5. Install the RW_LEGACY firmware
4. Boot Linux from USB
   1. Plug your USB stick
   2. Boot from external disk using edk2