Asus Chromebox reboots without a monitor

Support General Device Support
1

System Details

  • Device: Asus Chromebox 3 / CN65
  • OS: Debian 13.4
  • Firmware Type: Full ROM / UEFI
  • Firmware Version: Chromebox-2512.2 (01/25/2026)
  • Internal storage type: SATA SSD

Summary of the Issue

The chromebox I have gets stuck in a weird bootloop if I do not have the monitor attached. When I power the chromebox with the monitor attached it will stay powered up for a long time with no issues, but if the monitor is disconnected or powered off the chromebox will go back into a bootloop it can’t get out of.

Steps to Reproduce

  1. Keep the chromebox disconnected from a monitor

  2. Power the chromebox

  3. Watch it power up then power down again

Expected Behavior

The chromebox is expected to stay up and running without any issues. It should not just let itself go into a bootloop. This issue has begun happening on its own and there has been no explainable issue with the OS that is causing this.

2

use a HDMI dummy dongle. don’t have a software fix at this time

3

Yup, I was thinking of going that route but I had hopes of it would only be a stopgap until the cause of the problem was fixed. Taking your advise means I will have to keep it permanently.

No problem for me, these things cost maybe $5 at worst where I’m from. But damn it’s going to be a mild OCDesque problem from just looking at that thing dangling off the peripheral port.

4

there’s an open issue for it on my github, I just haven’t had time to look into it