• Install Android Apps On Your Chromebook
• Install Android Apps On Your Chromebook Mac

Aug 14, 2019. Jun 20, 2016. Jan 25, 2018.

Android Apps for Chromebook has made Chrome OS devices much more valuable as a Windows or MacOS alternative.

There’s a good chance your Chromebook or the Chrome OS device you are considering supports Android apps.

Sep 03, 2020.

Read on, and find out what devices are supported, how to setup the device, and how to add Android apps to your Chromebook.

Which Chromebooks Support Android Apps

While it had some excellent utility for a low-end price tag, the list of Chromebook apps initially was limited to Chrome extensions and apps specifically designed for Chrome OS.

The lack of a thriving app ecosystem hindered the overall adoption because critics often compared it to a Windows-based or MacOS-based computer.

However, with a vast number of apps on Google Play and a similar device in terms of internal hardware, supporting the Android ecosystem was able to add a lot of functionality for a relatively low cost.

The initial attempts failed and didn’t work well with Android apps. After a scrapping the project for a more promising implementation, Chrome OS officially began supporting Android apps on limited devices in 2016.

Since the hardware and operating systems aren’t the same, there couldn’t be 100% support, but the people behind Chrome OS have continually added support for additional devices.

Chromebooks created after this feature was announced for the OS most likely included the necessary components. If your device was made in 2017 or after, it should come with this feature built-in.

If you have an earlier model, there is still a good possibility that your device supports Android apps. A list of devices that supoort Android apps can be found on the Chromium Projects Website.

Install Android Apps On Your Chromebook

How to Check if Your Chromebook Supports Android Apps

If you want to be able to check from your device, first check to make sure you are running Chrome OS 53 or higher. This is done by clicking on the time in the bottom-right corner > Settings > Menu > About Chrome OS.

If the device is running Chrome OS 53 or higher, you can check if the “Google Play Store” section is available in Settings. If it is, congratulations! Your device supports Android apps.

You can “Turn on” the “Install apps and games from Google Play on your Chromebook” option. In the window that comes up, you will need to agree to the Terms of Service. Once you click “I Agree”, you are ready to install some Android apps.

Additionally, an organization’s or school’s security policies may prohibit this feature. Supported devices would not have access to Android apps for Chromebook, in this case.

While in most cases, this is a great feature, some organizations may not want to expose their devices to the Android ecosystem.

If you need any additional help on your Chromebook setup, leave a comment or head over to Chromebook Help Center.

How to Install Android Apps

The process from here is rather simple because it basically mirrors what happens on an Android device. Here are the basic steps:

• Open the Google Play Store app or navigate to play.google.com
• Search for the app you want, or browse the recommended apps
• Click on the desired Android app
• Click on the Install button (or it will have a price listed if it’s a paid app)

Once downloaded, Android apps can be used and managed like your other Chromebook apps.

What to Expect from Android Apps

Generally, you should have a very nice experience with the news apps. However, most Android Apps were designed with a touch-screen smartphone or tablet in mind.

This means that some apps may not be very easy to use with a mouse and keyboard. With some Chromebooks not having touchscreens, these apps may be more trouble than they are worth.

Fortunately, this case should be few and far between, and with some of these having browser-based web apps, few users should run into this issue, if at all.

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

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):

1. Open the Chrome Web Store.
2. Browse the Android Apps & Games Collection.
   Note: If you’re not on a Chromebook, you won’t be able to see this collection.
   
3. Find an app you want to use, like Evernote, Duolingo, or CloudMagic.
4. 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.

1. Once you have chosen the channel your Chromebook will download its updates. Restart your Chromebook to see the effects of the updates.
2. 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.
   
3. 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

1. Popcorn Time – The .torrent movie streamer
2. The Humble Bundle games you purchase
3. Videoeder – Download YouTube videos
4. Amazon Underground App Store
   among others…

To start, you will need to enable developer mode, the dev channel, and the Google Play store.

Oct 18, 2017. Jun 16, 2020. Windows 10 for mac free.

1. Switch channels on your Chromebook (use the Dev Channel)
2. Navigate to your Chromebook’s settings and make sure “Enable Android Apps” is checked off. Then, click “App Settings”
   
3. Once you see the Android Settings, click “Security”
   
4. 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.
   
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
   
8. 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:

Install Android Apps On Your Chromebook Mac

• 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.