How to Share Folders Between Chrome OS and Linux on Chromebook

The built-in Linux development environment on Chrome OS (codenamed Crostini) allows developers, students, and system administrators to run native desktop Linux applications, compilers, and command-line tools on a Chromebook. However, because the Linux environment operates inside a sandboxed, isolated container for security reasons, it does not have unrestricted access to your Chrome OS files, Google Drive directories, or connected USB drives by default.

In this guide, you will learn how to share folders between Chrome OS and Linux, locate mounted shared paths inside the Linux terminal, manage read/write permissions, and unmount folders when no longer needed.

How File Sharing Works in Chrome OS Linux

When you share a Chrome OS folder with Linux, the operating system mounts the directory into your Debian container using the 9P virtual filesystem protocol. This enables:

• Bidirectional Editing: Files saved in the shared folder from a Linux code editor (like VS Code or Sublime Text) are immediately visible in the Chrome OS Files app, and vice versa.
• Cloud Integration: You can share Google Drive folders or Play Store Android storage with Linux, allowing command-line tools to interact with cloud documents directly.
• Selective Access: You control exactly which directories the Linux environment can view, preserving the sandbox isolation of your primary operating system.

How to Share a Chrome OS Folder with Linux

Sharing a folder requires no terminal commands and can be completed directly from the native Files app.

1. Open the Files app on your Chromebook.
2. Navigate to the directory you wish to share (e.g., inside My files, Downloads, or Google Drive).
   • Tip: For optimal organisation, create a dedicated folder such as Development or Projects inside My files.
3. Right-click (or two-finger tap on the trackpad) on the folder.
4. Select Share with Linux from the context menu.

A notification will appear in the bottom-right corner confirming: “Folder shared with Linux”. A small penguin icon will appear next to the shared folder in the Files app sidebar to indicate active sharing.

Accessing Shared Folders in the Linux Terminal

All folders shared from Chrome OS are mounted inside a standardized system directory in your Linux container:

/mnt/chromeos/

Navigating to Shared Directories

Launch the Terminal app on your Chromebook and open your Linux shell. To view your shared mounts:

# List all shared Chrome OS mount points
ls -la /mnt/chromeos/

Depending on which folder you shared, you will find it mapped under specific subdirectories:

• My files / Downloads: Folders shared from your local Chromebook storage appear under /mnt/chromeos/MyFiles/. For example, if you shared a folder named Projects, access it via:

  cd /mnt/chromeos/MyFiles/Projects

• Google Drive: Folders shared from Google Drive appear under /mnt/chromeos/GoogleDrive/MyDrive/.

  cd /mnt/chromeos/GoogleDrive/MyDrive/

• External USB Drives: Removable flash drives or SD cards appear under /mnt/chromeos/removable/.

  cd /mnt/chromeos/removable/

Creating a Convenient Symlink

Typing /mnt/chromeos/MyFiles/Projects repeatedly can be tedious. You can create a symbolic link (symlink) directly into your Linux user home directory (~):

# Create a symlink named "workspace" in your home directory
ln -s /mnt/chromeos/MyFiles/Projects ~/workspace

# Now navigate to your shared folder instantly
cd ~/workspace

Managing and Removing Shared Folders

If you no longer need the Linux container to access a specific directory, or if you want to audit active shares:

1. Open Settings on your Chromebook.
2. Select About Chrome OS in the left sidebar, then click Linux development environment.
3. Click Manage shared folders.
4. You will see a comprehensive list of all folders currently shared with Linux.
5. To revoke access, click the X (Remove) button next to any folder.

Alternatively, in the Chrome OS Files app, right-click the shared folder and select Manage Linux sharing to quickly revoke permissions.

Troubleshooting Common Permissions and File Issues

Files Appear Read-Only in Linux

If you cannot write or modify files inside a shared folder from Linux:

• Check that the folder is not stored on a write-protected USB drive.
• Verify that the file is not currently locked or actively syncing in Google Drive.
• Ensure your Linux user account owns the files by checking permissions with ls -l. Files created from Chrome OS are automatically mapped to your container’s default user ID (usually 1000).

Performance Considerations for Large Projects

The 9P mount layer introduces slight filesystem latency compared to the native container storage. For performance-critical workflows—such as compiling large C/C++ or Rust codebases, or running massive npm install node_modules operations—store active source repositories directly inside the Linux files root directory (~/) rather than over a shared 9P mount.