On some Chromebooks, you can now download Android apps from the Chrome Web Store and the Google Play Store. Yes, that’s right, the same apps that run on phones and tablets can now run on Chromebooks without compromising their speed, simplicity or security. In this guide I will demonstrate 3 simple ways to run Android apps on Chromebook.
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Oct 09, 2019. Note: If you’re using your Chromebook at work or school, you might not be able to add the Google Play Store or download Android apps. For more information, contact your administrator. Step 1: Get the Google Play Store app 1. Update your Chromebook software. To get Android apps on your Chromebook, make sure that your Chrome OS version is up to. For my understanding, Chrome Book is more than just a browser, so I am wondering, if it is possible to install Android Studio on Chrome Book. Credit to @navigaid As of now, Android Studio is ChromeBook is in preview. Aug 14, 2019.
Install Android apps from the Chrome Web Store
Install Android apps on your Chromebook - Acer Community Can I install Android Apps from the Google Play Store on my Chromebook? Google is providing Android App store support for selected Chromebook models.
You can now run Android apps on your Chromebook with the App Runtime for Chrome (Beta). This feature works on most Chromebooks running Chrome OS version 37 and higher.
On your Chromebook (won’t work if you’re not using Chrome OS):
- Open the Chrome Web Store.
- Browse the Android Apps & Games Collection.
Note: If you’re not on a Chromebook, you won’t be able to see this collection. - Find an app you want to use, like Evernote, Duolingo, or CloudMagic.
- Add the app to your Chromebook like you would with any other app.
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At the time of writing, this is the easiest way to install Android Apps on Chromebook. This method is also very limited. Not all developers have opted to port their apps to the Chrome Web Store. To have a greater selection of Android apps to install, use the next method:
Install Android apps from the Google Play Store
The first Chromebooks that will support the feature are the Acer Chromebook R11 C738T, ASUS Chromebook Flip and Google’s Chromebook Pixel (2015). The Chromebook Flip is up and running now on the developer channel. Other Chromebooks, Chromeboxes and Chromebases will be able to run Android apps when the feature becomes available later this year. To view a full list of compatible Chromebooks, click here. Another resource you can use is this Chromebook Comparison Chart at StarryHope and check “Android Apps Available Now.”
You will need to enable the “dev channel” on your Chromebook to do this. Enabling the dev channel is a way to get the latest features before they roll out to everyone. Keep in mind that choosing to enable experimental features may result in crashes and bugs.
- Once you have chosen the channel your Chromebook will download its updates. Restart your Chromebook to see the effects of the updates.
- Now you will enable Android apps. Go back to your Chromebook settings and just a little way down the screen, there’s an option for “Android Apps” with a little checkbox. Check this option off to enable it.
- Google Play will launch and walk you through a setup very similar to the setup on Android devices. It will only take a few minutes and then that’s it, you’re in!This slideshow requires JavaScript.
You might be wondering, what if you want to install Android apps from “Unknown Sources” like you would on your Android phone or tablet? Well you can do that on a Chromebook as well.
Install and sideload Android apps from an .apk
Not every app will have an Android app in Google play. Some apps are available from outside Google Play as .apk files, and you can install them on your Chromebook with a bit of extra work.
Examples of apps that are not on Google Play
- Popcorn Time – The .torrent movie streamer
- The Humble Bundle games you purchase
- Videoeder – Download YouTube videos
- Amazon Underground App Store
among others…
Tomato hacked client 1.8 downloadnt 1 8 download. To start, you will need to enable developer mode, the dev channel, and the Google Play store.
IMPORTANT: Putting your Chromebook in developer mode will wipe your storage. Back up any files before enabling developer mode.
- Switch channels on your Chromebook (use the Dev Channel)
- Navigate to your Chromebook’s settings and make sure “Enable Android Apps” is checked off. Then, click “App Settings”
- Once you see the Android Settings, click “Security”
- Enable installation of Android apps from “Unknown Sources.” If you do not see this option you are not in developer mode. Use this guide to enable developer mode on your Chromebook.
- Download the APK file you want to install to your Chromebook’s Downloads folder (not your Google Drive).
Note: Be careful in which applications you choose to sideload. Only install applications from sources you trust as you can be susceptible to malware from pirated apps or games. - You will need an Android File Management app to install your .apk files. You cannot just simply double click the APK you download (unfortunately). Download a file management application from the Google Play store onto your Chromebook. I recommend Solid Explorer or ES File Explorer.
- Launch the file manager app you installed, go to your “Downloads” folder and click the APK you want to install then select “Package Installer” when the prompt appears.
- Congrats! Your app should now be installed. Apps you install via an APK file should work just like the apps you download from Google Play in terms of performance, windows, and taskbar icons.
My experience with Android apps on Chromebook
My experience with Android apps on Chromebook so far has been great. The apps work great, they’re fast, feel native, and it just feels right to have Android on a Chromebook.
Here are a few of my notes and opinions on the status of Android apps on Chromebooks so far:
- Not all apps are optimized for mouse, so using them without a touchscreen can be less intuitive and user friendly. I expect that with time and with the official release of the Google Play Store on Chromebooks these apps will be more mouse friendly.
- As with anything currently in development there are bugs. This is true for Chromebooks that can switch between laptop and tablet mode. Some Android apps might not fill or display correctly on the screen.
- Currently not all Android apps will work on Chromebook but I am sure the bugs will be ironed out within the next few months.
- I expect more and more developers to streamline their apps to work seamlessly across Laptops, Tablets, and Phones to create a more complete Google ecosystem. Streamlining across devices is also happening on Windows 10 and with Apple and I am excited for what is to come.
Thanks to Linux support on Chromebooks, the Play Store isn’t the only place you can download apps from. A lot of Chrome OS devices can run Linux apps, which makes them all that more useful.
Installing a Linux app isn’t as simple as installing an Android app, although the process isn’t hard once you get the hang of it. The good news is that when done correctly, you’ll feel like a computer wiz since there’s a bit of code involved.
Here:What is a Chromebook and what can it do?
First, check your Chrome OS version
The first step is to check your Chrome OS version to see if your Chromebook even supports Linux apps. Start by clicking your profile image in the bottom-right corner and navigating to the Settings menu. Then click the hamburger icon in the upper-left corner and select the About Chrome OS option. The version of Chrome OS you’re running will appear.
Read next:The best Android apps for Chromebooks
If you’re running Chrome OS 69 or later, you can download Linux apps. If not, you’re out of luck. But in this case, make sure to check if there are any software updates available that may bump you up to one of the Linux supporting versions of the operating system. To do so, just click the Check for updates button on the About Chrome OS page you should already be on and then let your Chromebook do its thing.
Alternatively, you can check our list of Chromebooks that support Linux apps.
Enable Linux on Chromebook
Now that you’ve figured out that your Chromebook supports Linux apps, the next step is to enable Linux on your machine. It’s easy to do and won’t take a lot of time overall, although this depends on how fast your internet speed is as well as the power of your Chromebook.
Open the Settings on your Chromebook and select the Linux (Beta) option on the left side. Then click the Turn on button followed by Install when a new window pops up. Once the download is completed, a terminal window will open that’s used to download Linux apps, which we’ll discuss in detail in the next section.
Read next:The 8 best Chromebook deals you can get right now
How to download Linux apps on Chromebooks?
Here’s the part you’ve been waiting for. But before we get into exactly how to download Linux apps on Chromebooks, there’s one more thing to do. To make sure everything runs smoothly, you have to update your packages by entering the command below into the terminal window.
- sudo apt-get update
Once that’s done, you can start downloading Linux apps on your device. To do so, you have to use the command “sudo apt-get install app name -y”, in which you change the “app name” part with the actual name of the app. For example, if you want to download the popular image editor called Gimp, you would use the following command:
- sudo apt-get install gimp -y
Once you enter the command into the terminal window, the app will be downloaded and placed in the app drawer along with your Android apps.
Install Android Apk On Chromebook
The best Linux apps for Chromebooks
In addition to the already mentioned Gimp, there are a number of other great Linux apps available to download. We’ll let you discover them on your own, but just to get you started and give you a little taste of what to expect, we’ve listed a few popular Linux apps below along with commands you can use to download them.
LibreOffice: An alternative to Microsoft Word, LibreOffice includes a word processor, a spreadsheet program, and a presentation tool, among other things.
- sudo apt install libreoffice libreoffice-gtk3 -y
Transmission: This is a free BitTorrent client that allows you to easily download and upload files.
- sudo apt-get install transmission-qt -y
FileZilla: If you want to move files from your device to a server, an app like FileZilla makes the process a lot faster.
- sudo apt-get install filezilla -y
Evolution: In case you want to use a desktop mail client instead of a web-based one, the Evolution Linux app is for you.
- sudo apt-get install evolution -y
Audacity: This is an advanced audio editor and recorder that comes in handy when you want to play around with various audio files.
- sudo apt-get install audacity -y
Related:The best Android apps for Chromebooks
Install Android Apps On Chromebook
Which app was the first one you installed? Let us know in the comments! Also feel free to check out our other Chromebook-related guides below.