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Libreboot 26.10, released October 15, makes EDK2 UEFI its default firmware payload and imports 233 Chromebook boards from MrChromebox’s coreboot distribution. The release notes say Baytrail (Kip) has been tested; other Chromebook boards still need testing, and Chromebook builds are source-only in this release.
Libreboot 26.10, released October 15 under the name “Ominous Olive,” makes EDK2 UEFI its default firmware payload and adds configurations for 233 Chromebook boards imported from the MrChromebox coreboot distribution. The project’s release notes say the Baytrail (Kip) Chromebook has been tested, while the other imported boards still need testing; Chromebook firmware in this release is available as source, with no prebuilt binaries.
The change affects more than Chromebook support. Libreboot says version 26.10 moves to EDK2 as the default payload, with EFI builds of GRUB and SeaBIOS included for backward compatibility. The project describes the change as a major design shift that could affect existing setups and advises users to read the release notes carefully before upgrading. Bare-metal SeaBIOS and GRUB payloads are deprecated and may be removed in a later release, although users can re-enable them when building from source.
The Chromebook configurations were imported from MrChromebox’s coreboot distribution. Libreboot says it generated the configurations with a new import utility and then made manual adjustments. Its changes include an EDK2 interface with Libreboot branding, a default build-time setting intended to disable Intel’s Management Engine, and changes to Intel Flash Descriptor permissions. It also includes CSMWrap for SeaBIOS compatibility, EFI GRUB, and MemTest86+ within EDK2. Some hardware-specific adjustments include native RAM initialization on Haswell Chromebooks and use of libgfxinit on Intel Chromebook generations through Kaby Lake.
Libreboot says MrChromebox remains the upstream project for Intel and AMD Chromebooks, rather than describing the release as a fork. The projects’ configurations are intended to remain behaviorally compatible, and Libreboot says MrChromebox installation scripts should continue to work with its images when used with the corresponding documentation. Regular coreboot support remains in place for non-Chromebook mainboards.
A UEFI Shift With Testing Limits
The release brings a widely used modern firmware interface to Libreboot’s supported hardware, which the project says makes Microsoft Windows compatible alongside Linux and BSD. That broadens the operating systems the firmware can boot and marks a change for users accustomed to Libreboot’s earlier GRUB- or SeaBIOS-based setup. The bundled EFI versions are intended to preserve familiar boot options, but the default payload and boot menu behavior have changed.
The Chromebook addition is substantial in coverage on paper: the project imported 233 board configurations. But that number should not be read as 233 verified, ready-to-install devices. Libreboot specifically says Baytrail (Kip) was tested and that other boards need testing. Builds are also source-only in this release, so users should check board support and build requirements rather than assume a ready-made image is available for their device.
For users, the most immediate practical question is compatibility with a particular machine and its existing setup. For developers, the release establishes an upstream relationship and import process that may make future Chromebook updates easier to incorporate. The project says it plans to keep its changes close to MrChromebox’s work while retaining Libreboot-specific modifications.
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How Libreboot Reworked Its Payloads
Libreboot is a free, open-source firmware distribution based on coreboot, intended to replace proprietary BIOS or UEFI firmware on supported computers. Its release notes describe firmware as the software that initializes hardware during startup so an operating system can load. Version 26.10’s changes are relative to Libreboot 26.01, the previous release cited in the announcement.
Before this release, Libreboot provided GRUB and SeaBIOS as coreboot payloads on supported systems. The new arrangement places EFI builds of those options within EDK2, adding UEFI while retaining routes for users who need the older boot experience. On Chromebooks, Libreboot is adapting MrChromebox’s coreboot configurations, not claiming that every model has been independently tested or that its work replaces the upstream project.
The release notes also describe firmware build-time changes, including setting Intel’s HAP bit by default and unlocking Intel Flash Descriptor regions for read-write access. These are project configuration choices; the announcement does not establish that they produce the same result on every supported machine or installation. Users should follow model-specific instructions and the full changelog before changing firmware.
“Baytrail (Kip) tested – others need testing.”
— Libreboot release notes, published by Leah Rowe
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Which Chromebook Models Are Ready
The release notes do not provide test results for the other 232 imported Chromebook boards; they say those boards need testing. The source-only status also means the announcement does not offer prebuilt Chromebook binaries for users to try. It is not clear from the supplied release information which models will receive testing next, when that work will be completed, or whether every imported configuration will ultimately be supported in practice.
The announcement warns that the payload changes may affect existing setups but does not detail every possible upgrade issue or provide a complete device-by-device compatibility assessment here. Although Libreboot says MrChromebox tooling should remain compatible, users should confirm instructions for their exact hardware and firmware state. The release notes’ claims about security, customization, and operating-system compatibility are project statements, not independent test findings in the supplied material.
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Testing and Upstream Updates
Libreboot 26.10 is available from the project’s stable 26.10 directory and its mirrors. Chromebook users who want to build firmware will need to use the source and consult the board-specific documentation; the project points users to MrChromebox documentation for installation guidance and says the related tooling should remain compatible.
Libreboot says it intends to keep the Chromebook work synchronized with MrChromebox and plans to integrate further upstream changes after this release, including CBFS-based VBT and GOP handling. The project also says additional upstream changes to libgfxinit will be incorporated after release. The next meaningful developments to watch are test reports for the imported Chromebook boards, any follow-up changes to the integration, and whether later Libreboot releases remove the deprecated bare-metal payload options.
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Key Questions
What is new in Libreboot 26.10?
It makes EDK2 UEFI the default payload and imports configurations for 233 Chromebooks from MrChromebox’s coreboot distribution. EFI GRUB and SeaBIOS options are included for backward compatibility.
Are all 233 Chromebook boards tested?
No. Libreboot says Baytrail (Kip) has been tested; the other imported boards still need testing. The count refers to imported configurations, not confirmed test results for every model.
Are prebuilt Chromebook firmware images available?
Not in this release, according to the release notes. Chromebook support is source-only, meaning users must build from source rather than download a provided binary for those boards.
Does Libreboot 26.10 support Windows?
Libreboot says the addition of EDK2 UEFI makes Microsoft Windows compatible. The supplied announcement does not provide device-by-device Windows testing results, so compatibility should not be assumed for every imported Chromebook.
What should existing Libreboot users check before upgrading?
The project warns that major design changes may affect existing setups. Users should read the 26.10 changelog carefully, verify compatibility for their hardware, and check the relevant installation instructions before changing firmware.
Source: hn
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