Chromebooks are known for their simplicity and ease of use, making them popular for personal and business use. However, there may come a time when you need to change the owner of a Chromebook; whether you have recently acquired a Chromebook or need to transfer ownership to someone else, you might be wondering how to do it.
In this article, we have discussed how to change the owner of your Chromebook in a few simple and easy steps.
Who is a Chromebook’s Owner?
When setting up your Chromebook, you must make a new Google account or use one you already have. The first account you use becomes the main account, called the owner or administrator account. Only the owner can do certain things like:
- Time zone
- Sign-in permissions
- Wi-Fi network preferences
However, there’s a small caveat when it comes to changing Chromebook’s owner accounts. You can’t switch owner accounts in a Chromebook. The only way to change a Chromebook’s owner is to reset the device (via powerwash) and sign in using the new account upon restart.
If you’re using a Chromebook assigned to you through your school or work, the IT admin would typically be logged into the owner account, and you’ll have to talk to them for assistance.
Also read: How to put app icons on Chromebook’s desktop?
How to check if you’re logged in to the owner account?
When you have a Chromebook provided by your school or workplace for educational or professional purposes, your device administrator is your Chromebook’s owner. If you purchased the Chromebook, the first Google account you set up on it will automatically become the owner. To check if you are logged in to the owner account, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Click on the Clock on the Chromebook shelf, and then in the notification menu, click on the Settings icon.

Step 2: In settings, click on Security and Privacy in the sidebar and then on the right side, click on the Manage Other People option.

Step 3: If the account you are using is an owner account, then you can change the following settings, and if another account is the owner, then you will see the message ‘These settings may only be modified by the owner’ or ‘These settings are controlled by enterprise policy’.

Powerwash your Chromebook to change the owner
All your personal information and data are open to anyone accessing the Chromebook using the owner’s account. Doing a Powerwash before giving away or selling your Chromebook is crucial.
If the Chromebook is given by your school or workplace then the administrator is the owner. You can’t powerwash or change its owner.
Before doing a Powerwash, backup or sync your data (see the guide below). To Powerwash your Chromebook, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Click on the Clock on the Chromebook shelf, and then in the notification menu, click on the Settings icon.

Step 2: Click on Advanced in the sidebar to expand it.

Step 3: In Advanced options, click on the Accessibility option and then click on the Reset button on the right side of the screen.

Your Chromebook will restart; follow the on-screen instructions and sign in with your Google account.
An alternate way to powerwash the Chromebook using keyboard shortcuts
- Sign out of your Chromebook.
- Press and hold the Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R keys on the login screen.
- On the pop-up window, click on Restart.
- In the box that appears, select Powerwash > Continue.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
- Sign in with your Google account and then set up your Chromebook.
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How to sync Chromebook data and settings?
Before doing a powerwash, you must make sure that your Chromebook is set to sync with your Google account. This ensures that all your app data is securely backed up in the cloud. To check it, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Click on the Clock on the Chromebook shelf, and then in the notification menu, click on the Settings icon.

Step 2: In settings, click on the Accounts in the sidebar and then on the right side, click on the Sync and Google services option.

Step 3: Click on the Manage What You Sync option.

Step 4: Click on Sync Everything to sync all the data or Customise Sync if you want to choose which setting to sync manually.

Also read: How to shut down a Chromebook?