Moving from Windows to Chromebook

The 5 year refresh cycle has come up for a number of clerk computers in my stake. FM is telling me that Windows is no longer an option and has issued Chromebooks. As an STS, I need to set these up.

Is it true that only bishops, clerks, and technical specialists can log into the computer with their own account? It seems strange that councilors and the Executive Secretary are excluded.

What have you done to accommodate doing ward programs on the computer since it may be done by a "program specialist" and not a clerk?

In the past, I've brought over a number of files from the old computer to the new one. I'm not that familiar with Chromebook, and since everyone seems to be using their own account, is there a location I can save those files short of having an external drive?

Has anyone come up with a write up to introduce the new computer? With Windows I had it down to a science where I could swap it out and everything was the same, right down to the desktop icons. This change-over is going to be a bit more disruptive.

Thanks in advance!

I haven't looked at the handbook recently, but it was always my understanding that clerk computers were to be used exclusively by the clerk and Bishop (and kept secured in the clerk's office). I suspect the STS is provisioned for support, but since the system is secured in the clerk's office, would require a clerk or Bishopric member to be present for access?

It's sad to see Windows crash and burn, but the writing for that has been on the wall for quite some time/MSFT didn't nose dive over night. Personally, I doubt GOOG is any better, but they may have offered better flexibility/control-- or price from what had been in place.

mdigi wrote: Fri Jun 19, 2026 4:37 am I haven't looked at the handbook recently, but it was always my understanding that clerk computers were to be used exclusively by the clerk and Bishop

I'm not able to find anything like that in the current Handbook or the website. I do remember past language that indicated the clerk had primary access to be able to do their jobs. There was even a time when home computers were less common that it said that with the bishop's permission and as time available, the computers could be used for family history.

I'd think a bigger question is who is responsible for the sacrament program? I don't think it was ever intended to be a clerk's responsibility.

russellhltn wrote: Fri Jun 19, 2026 1:29 pm I'm not able to find anything like that in the current Handbook or the website. I do remember past language that indicated the clerk had primary access to be able to do their jobs. There was even a time when home computers were less common that it said that with the bishop's permission and as time available, the computers could be used for family history.

Interesting. These days I would think the church would need to keep the clerk computers secure/encrypted as they are routinely used to exchange confidential information. (In the past that was all done via courier services)
Alas [and gratefully], I'm not the church legal department

russellhltn wrote: Fri Jun 19, 2026 1:29 pm I'd think a bigger question is who is responsible for the sacrament program? I don't think it was ever intended to be a clerk's responsibility.

I can't swear to this, but it almost seems like I was once in a leadership meeting where the question of "who is responsible for the bulletin" was raised and the area seventy said something to effect of the bulletin not being a requisite part of the meeting: it didn't matter if you had one or not. That was probably at least 10 years ago.

In practice, it's been the tradition of my present ward to have the Ward Executive Secretary "Send Message" out an email to members on Saturday with a short spiritual quote from a leader in the last general conference, meeting times [Sacrament, 2nd Hour], Zoom link for the meeting, and then a big wall of near-term announcements, standing announcements and often PDF attachment associated with a near-term announcement. No details about speakers or hymns (which I believe are available via Gospel Library app) are provided. No printed programs are distributed at building, but announcements, hymns and speakers are announced from the podium as usual.

As a youth (back before computer technology had caught on mainstream), I was given the assignment of preparing the weekly Sunday Ward Bulletin on my family's PC. I did that for about 4 years, until I left for college. There may be others in your ward who would be a reliable resource for that task if the secretary is swamped?

My adventure in church Chromebook continues to be "interesting".

Out of the box, there's no RJ-45 jack. So, you either use WiFi or you'd have to buy a wired network "dongle".

Computers that FM purchased though CDW come already assigned to a unit. If your FM is like mine, they'll deliver a year's worth in one shipment. Check the outside label or the one on the underside of the machine to make sure you're matching the unit with their assigned computer. (Which does raise a question of what would have happened if I gave a unit a wrong machine. Would the unit leaders be allowed to log in?)

The guest account was on the machines I tried. (But more on that in a minute.)

Logging in using a church account seems to force you to turn on Two Factor Authentication (2FA) for your account.

The computers are touchscreen, which might be nice - depending on your computing habits.

As shipped, I couldn't find any kind of word processing software. The Web Store appeared completely locked down. The Play Store was likewise locked down, but did allow "Collabora Office" software. However, the software is designed for mobile use and completely refuses to go larger than about half screen (both in height and width). I was also unable to get it to print after setting up the printer. (I tried two different machines in two different offices with two different models of printer.)

I noticed that after installing Collabora, it didn't appear in the guest account.

When I went to set up a second machine, I noticed the "installed printer" followed my account to the new machine - despite it being on a different network. I'm concerned that setting up printers is per-person, not per machine.

The church account used to log into the computer doesn't grant any rights to Google services. However, I found I was able to add my personal account under my login so I could access things like Google docs and whatnot. And I could print from Google Docs. However, adding the account felt more like a discovered loophole then a planned operational practice.

mdigi wrote: Fri Jun 19, 2026 4:39 pm Interesting. These days I would think the church would need to keep the clerk computers secure/encrypted as they are routinely used to exchange confidential information. (In the past that was all done via courier services)

You mean like https? I know the Windows machines had BitLocker turned on. Past directives said anything confidential was to be on external drives and locked in a cabinet when not in use.

mdigi wrote: Fri Jun 19, 2026 4:39 pm I can't swear to this, but it almost seems like I was once in a leadership meeting where the question of "who is responsible for the bulletin" was raised and the area seventy said something to effect of the bulletin not being a requisite part of the meeting: it didn't matter if you had one or not. That was probably at least 10 years ago.

In practice, it's been the tradition of my present ward to have the Ward Executive Secretary "Send Message" out an email to members on Saturday with a short spiritual quote from a leader in the last general conference, meeting times [Sacrament, 2nd Hour], Zoom link for the meeting, and then a big wall of near-term announcements, standing announcements and often PDF attachment associated with a near-term announcement. No details about speakers or hymns (which I believe are available via Gospel Library app) are provided. No printed programs are distributed at building, but announcements, hymns and speakers are announced from the podium as usual.

While printed programs are not required, it's still a common practice. It's also a good way to cut down on the number of accouchements over the podium. Something that's going to be even more important with shorted class times in the near future.

mdigi wrote: Fri Jun 19, 2026 4:39 pm As a youth (back before computer technology had caught on mainstream), I was given the assignment of preparing the weekly Sunday Ward Bulletin on my family's PC. I did that for about 4 years, until I left for college. There may be others in your ward who would be a reliable resource for that task if the secretary is swamped?

Except the secretary isn't listed as having access outside of the guest account.

When the Wards in my Stake had their WIndows computers replaced with Chromebooks my FM just left the Chromebook in the clerks office without letting any of our Stake Tech Specilists know and they weren't enrolled, so I had to enroll them before they started using them.

I've been printing out some of the How-To Chromebook Articles and the FAQ from the following Church Tech Wiki page https://tech.churchofjesuschrist.org/wi ... _Computers for the Clerks and Bishopric can refer to.

My FM provided a keyboard/mouse and a dock to plug in the USB dongle for the Keyboard and mouse, network port and also plug in the external monitors as they have hight adjustable stands and makes it easier to multiple people to view when doing tithing, auditing etc. especily when the first couple of chromebooks we received had a smaller resolution than 1920x1080p. I've just warned the clerks that if the monitors die then they may not be replaced anymore.

I did provide some feedback to my FM about the initial dock that was sent out that didn't have USB power passthru so the clerks could charge the Chromebook while using the dock and the latest batch of Chromebooks came with a dock that does have USB power passthru.

russellhltn wrote: Thu Jun 18, 2026 3:19 pm FM is telling me that Windows is no longer an option and has issued Chromebooks.

Last year we were given an option. That may have changed.

russellhltn wrote: Thu Jun 18, 2026 3:19 pm Is it true that only bishops, clerks, and technical specialists can log into the computer with their own account?

Yes. Everyone else uses a temporary Guest account that goes away when they log out.

russellhltn wrote: Thu Jun 18, 2026 3:19 pm What have you done to accommodate doing ward programs on the computer since it may be done by a "program specialist" and not a clerk?

Collabora Office. Keep in mind, though, that the person who does the program will be a Guest and none of their information or files will save on the Chromebook. They will need to use a flash drive if that is the approach the unit decides to use.

russellhltn wrote: Thu Jun 18, 2026 3:19 pm In the past, I've brought over a number of files from the old computer to the new one. I'm not that familiar with Chromebook, and since everyone seems to be using their own account, is there a location I can save those files short of having an external drive?

Only the bishop, clerk, and STS will be able to save files in their own accounts. The files do not share. All other users are guests and their session disappears when they log out. Also, be aware that anyone, and I mean anyone, is able to delete a user account, including the permanent ones. So a saved file, even in a specific leader account, is liable to disappear without warning.

russellhltn wrote: Thu Jun 18, 2026 3:19 pm With Windows I had it down to a science where I could swap it out and everything was the same, right down to the desktop icons.

This is a thing of the past. The STS or clerk logs in and gets a permanent account. That person sets up the printer and Wi-Fi so that anyone else who logs in as a guest is able to print. And then you are done.

The Chromebook is intended to be a tool to access the website, including LCR, and it is not expected to be used for much else.

russellhltn wrote: Thu Jun 18, 2026 3:19 pm The church account used to log into the computer doesn't grant any rights to Google services. However, I found I was able to add my personal account under my login so I could access things like Google docs and whatnot. And I could print from Google Docs. However, adding the account felt more like a discovered loophole then a planned operational practice.

Not a discovered loophole. Directions are in the online instructions for working with Chromebooks.

A couple of tips:

The power brick is wrapped in black protective paper. It took me awhile to spot and remove that. I expect that leaving it on causes the power supply to run hotter and possibly have a shorter life.

Plugging the receiver for the wireless keyboard/mouse into the extender can cause some major lag. It's best to install directly into the laptop.