Google is preparing a desktop version of Android called Aluminium OS and plans to start testing it with trusted partners by the end of this year. Wider rollout is slated for 2028, according to court filings in the US v. Google antitrust case viewed by The Verge.
The filings describe Aluminium OS as a ChromeOS-like experience built on the Android platform. Google intends for Aluminium OS to replace ChromeOS entirely, and official support for ChromeOS is scheduled to end in 2034.
What Aluminium OS looks like?
Documents portray Aluminium OS as a hybrid that blends Android’s platform with ChromeOS-style features. An included infographic notes a dedicated launcher and compatibility with Android apps and Android APIs.
Unlike the phone-first Android, Aluminium OS is designed for windowed applications and more traditional desktop workflows. The system is expected to support more mature desktop-class apps, such as a full-featured Chrome browser with extension support.
Why Google is making the switch
According to the filings, ChromeOS has not seen a major update since 2023 and is currently in maintenance mode with no new features planned. Google still needs to keep ChromeOS available for at least a decade because of its entrenched use in places like U.S. schools.
That requirement helps explain the 2034 end-of-support date, but it also suggests there may be no direct upgrade path from ChromeOS to Aluminium OS. The new system will likely run only on new hardware.
Timing and the I/O preview
Google could show an official Aluminium OS demo as soon as this year’s Google I/O, though the timeline in the filings leaves open the possibility that a public reveal might not happen until next year.
For now, trusted testers are expected to get early access by the end of this year, with a broader deployment beginning in 2028 as Google phases Aluminium OS in and retires ChromeOS by 2034.
