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- Chromebook Install Android Apps In Windows 10
Sep 03, 2020. How to install Android apps on Chromebook Google Play is now officially available on the first Chromebook device, bringing millions of Android apps to the Chrome OS platform.
Chromebooks became a lot more useful a few years back when Google announced they will support Android apps. Running Android apps on Chromebooks enhances the overall experience, giving owners the chance to use the same apps they do on their phones as well as play popular mobile games.
If you’re wondering whether or not you have a Chromebook that runs Android apps and want to know how to set them up, you’ve come to the right place. You’ll find everything you need to know about the topic in this post.
More:What is a Chromebook and what can it do?
Which Chromebooks support Android apps?
If your Chromebook was released in or after 2017, there’s a good chance it can run Android apps. There are two ways to check this. The first one is to head to the Chromium website where you’ll find a list of all the Chromebooks that support the Google Play Store. It’s a long list, so using the search feature most browsers support is a good idea. For example, press F3 if you’re using the Chrome browser on a desktop and enter the model name of your Chromebook to see if it shows up.
In case you don’t know the model name of your device or just don’t want to search through the Chromium website, you can easily check for Google apps support in the settings of your Chromebook. You can do that by clicking the settings cog in the status area located in the bottom-right corner of the screen and then selecting the “Apps” option from the left menu. After that, you should see a Google Play Store option if you can run Android apps on Chromebook. If it isn’t there, you’re out of luck.
If you need some more help we have a comprehensive list of Chromebooks that support Android and Linux apps. We update it regularly, so check it to see if your Chromebook is on the list.
Here:These are the Chromebooks that support Android and Linux apps
Don’t have Google Play? It’s not all lost yet
A lot of older Chromebooks — released in or before 2017 — didn’t ship with Android app support. However, some of them did receive access to the Play Store via a software update. So in case you have an older device and are not seeing the Play Store on it, updating to the latest version of the OS may change that.
To get started, make sure you’re connected to the internet and then click on the settings cog in the status area located in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Then click About Chrome OS on the bottom of the left column and select the Check for updates option. Once the update finishes downloading (if there is one available) click Restart.
Once that’s done, all you have to do is follow the instructions listed above on how to check if a Chromebook supports Android apps. If you still don’t see the Google Play Store option in the settings, your device doesn’t support Android apps.
How to enable Google Play Store on your Chromebook
If your Chromebook supports Android apps, you should see the Play Store in the app drawer on your device. But in case you don’t see it, you’ll have to enable it first. It’s easy and won’t take more than 30 seconds of your time.
To enable Google Play on your Chromebook, go to settings on your device, click the Apps option on the left side, and then click the Turn on button next to the Google Play Store option. That’s all there is to it — you should now see the Play Store in the app drawer of your Chromebook.
How to download apps on Chromebook
Chromebook Install Android Apps In Mac Pro Book
I’m sure most of you know how to download apps on Chromebooks, but I’ll explain the process anyway for those who are new to Chromebooks and Android apps in general. In short, the process is more or less identical to downloading apps on your Android phone or tablet.
More:The best Chromebooks you can buy
After you enable the Google Play Store in the settings and see it in the app drawer, open it and start browsing or search for an app of choice. Once you find it, click on it, hit the Install button, and wait for your device to do its things. Downloading generally doesn’t take very long, although this depends on a few things including the speed of your internet and the size of the app.
Once the app is installed, it will show up in the app drawer on your device, where you can click it and then start using it.
Chromebook Install Android Apps On Linux
Bonus tip: Not all apps are optimized for Chromebooks
While a lot of Android apps — especially the more popular ones — are optimized for Chromebooks, a lot of them still aren’t. An optimized app will work in full-screen mode, making it easy to use. These apps work just like standard Chromebook apps you get from the Chromebook app store.
Apps that aren’t optimized, however, show up in a phone screen format, which only takes up a portion of your screen. They can still be used, but the experience isn’t the best. You can check out how an unoptimized app looks like on a Chromebook in the screenshot above.
Easy, right? And in case you want to check out more Chromebook-related guides, you can find a few of them below.
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.
Contents
Install Android apps from the Chrome Web Store
Chromebook Install Android Apps Windows 10
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.”
Chromebook Install Android App
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!
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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…
To start, you will need to enable developer mode, the dev channel, and the Google Play store.
- 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.
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Here are a few of my notes and opinions on the status of Android apps on Chromebooks so far:
Chromebook Install Android Apps In Windows 10
- 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.