My chromebook won’t stop flashing an update message

[Lexiii07]

My hp chromebook 360 won’t stop flashing turning on and off projecting a message saying “your system is applying a critical update please do not turn off” and nothing i do is helping. I’ve tried factory resetting and recovery mode, but the computer won’t stay on long enough to do anything. i’m really trying to not bring it in somewhere since this is my computer from like 3 years ago and my backup so i’m not really too upset but would still like to know if i can fix it somehow

[Max3Aj]

@Lexiii07, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 

It sounds like your HP Chromebook x360 is stuck in a loop showing a “Your system is applying a critical update” message and won’t stay on long enough to complete recovery or reset steps. This issue can sometimes occur due to a corrupted update or system file.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to try and resolve this:

Perform a Hard Reset

This clears temporary memory and can sometimes break the update loop.

1. Turn off the Chromebook (hold the power button if needed).
2. Press and hold the Refresh key (⟳) and tap the Power button.
3. Release both keys when the Chromebook starts up.

Create a Recovery USB

Since your Chromebook won’t stay on, you’ll need to use another computer to create a recovery drive.

1. On another computer, go to the Chromebook Recovery Utility (Chrome Web Store).
2. Install the extension and launch it.
3. Click “Get Started”, then enter your Chromebook model (e.g., HP Chromebook x360).
4. Insert a USB drive (8GB or larger) and follow the prompts to create the recovery media.

Enter Recovery Mode on Your Chromebook

1. Turn off the Chromebook.
2. Press and hold Esc + Refresh (⟳), then press the Power button.
3. Release all keys when you see the recovery screen.
4. Insert the recovery USB you created and follow the on-screen instructions.

This will reinstall ChromeOS and should bypass the update loop. 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Select "Yes" on the bottom left to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support