How to download android apps on chromebook

One of the best things to come to Chromebooks was the introduction of the Google Play Store to access the millions of Android apps on supported Chrome OS devices. Here’s how to install Android apps on your Chromebook.

What Devices Support the Play Store?

While most new Chromebooks come with Google Play Store out of the box, some devices still don’t have support for the Play Store. Check out the Chromium Projects page to see a full list of devices that support Android apps and ones that are planned. Google continues to evaluate more devices for compatibility and updates the list as new devices are added.

If you still don’t see the Play Store app in the Launcher, your Chromebook might just be in need of a software update. Make sure Chrome OS is running the latest version and try to update your Chromebook to the most recent version.

How to Install Android Apps

To get started, you first need to open the Play Store. Click the Launcher icon, scroll down until you see the Play Store icon, and then click on it.

After the Play Store opens, type an app name into the search bar at the top, and hit the Enter key.

From the list of search results, click “Install” under the app you want to start the download.

After the app installs, click “Open.”

If you’d rather open it later, you can do so from the app drawer. Click the drawer icon, scroll until you see the application’s icon, and then select it.

How to Organize Downloaded Apps

After you download a bunch of apps, you might notice that the app drawer gets a bit cluttered. Although there isn’t a way to automatically sort the apps in the drawer, you can add them to folders and manually rearrange their order in the drawer.

How to Add Apps to Folders

To organize them into different categories for easy access, you can bundle them together inside a folder in the app drawer.

Open the app drawer, long press and drag an app on top of another app, and then drop it.

An unnamed folder gets created with the apps. To rename the folder to something a little more descriptive, click the folder, select “Unnamed,” and then type a new name.

How to Rearrange Apps

Now that you have apps organized into folders, you might want to rearrange them in the app drawer. You can place the most-used apps/folders at the very top and push the ones you rarely use to the bottom of the drawer.

Just as you did before, long press and drag an app/folder to any position in the app drawer, and then let go.

How to Uninstall Android Apps

Installing multiple Android applications on your Chromebook is bound to use up a large chunk of storage. Luckily, you can easily uninstall any applications you haven’t used in a while that are taking up that much-needed space.

Open the app drawer, right-click the application you want to uninstall, and then click “Uninstall.”

A prompt appears asking you to confirm you want to uninstall the app. Click “Uninstall.”

After the application is uninstalled, you can go ahead and install any additional apps with the freed-up space gained from removing any apps you no longer need.

The Chromebook uses Google’s browser-based operating system. It’s usually cheaper and lighter than their PC and Mac counterparts.

In the beginning, Chromebooks offered limited features and it could only run Chrome add-ons and web apps. Not anymore, as Google has recently added Android App support to the latest Chromebook models, making the device extremely popular as a result.

To run Android Apps on Chromebook, you’ll have to install Google Play Store first. Most of the recent Chromebooks come with pre-installed Play Store app, but sometimes you will have to do it manually.

In this article, you will find out how to run Android apps on your Chromebook.

My Chromebook Doesn’t Have a Play Store

If your Chromebook doesn’t have the Play Store installed, you will have to download it, but it’s possible that your Chromebook doesn’t support Android apps.

When Android apps first became available on Chromebooks, they’re not backward compatible with older models. Google updates some older models of Chromebooks to support Android, but some of the earliest models will never be able to run Android apps.

To see if your Chromebook supports Android or whether Google plans to implement the support in the future, check out this list to find all the operating systems and chrome devices that support Android apps.

Once you’ve confirmed that your Chromebook, Chromebox, or Chromebase supports Android, you can proceed to set up the Google Play Store.

Setting up the Play Store

The latest Chromebook devices all come with Play Store, but for the older versions, you will have to update your system to a proper version. Google Play Store is available on version 53 and later. To manually check for updates, you should:

1. Connect your Chrome device to the internet.
2. Select the time area on the bottom right. You will see a window with a settings icon (gear/cog).
   
3. Select Menu (three horizontal lines)
4. Go to ‘About Chrome OS’.
   
5. In the ‘About’ window, you can see the version that you are using.
6. Click ‘Check for and apply updates’ button. If a new version of the system is available, your device will automatically download and install it.
   
7. Wait for it to finish and select ‘Restart and update’.
8. When the device updates, go back to ‘Settings’ (step 1-2).
9. Check the ‘Enable Google Play Store on your Chromebook’ box In the ‘Google Play Store’ section. (Or it might say ‘Install apps and games from Google Play on your Chromebook’)
10. Google’s terms of service window will pop up.
11. Select I agree.
12. The Play Store window will open. It’ll prompt you to accept more terms of service.

Now you can download Android Apps on your Chromebook.

How to Download Apps from the Play Store

If you’ve ever downloaded apps to any Android Device, this will be a familiar process. The Chromebook Play Store looks like the Android device version.

If the app is formatted for tablet, it will look the same. But if it isn’t, it will scale to the size of the Chromebook screen.

To install the app, follow these steps:

1. Search for an app in the search bar at the top and select it. Some apps will require installation, but others are instant apps. You can open these instant apps and check if they work normally on your Chromebook before you download them.
   
2. Select Install The app will start installing and ask you to confirm some terms of service (as applicable).
3. After that, it will appear on your Chrome OS app menu.
4. Click on the app icon to start it.

You can use these apps like how you use Chrome OS apps. You can manage window controls on the top-right of the screen. Use the arrow key at the top-left to navigate.

Useful Tips for Chromebook Android Apps

Before you start downloading all the latest apps, you might want to check out these tips:

1. Always check for new updates before you download new apps.
2. All your Android apps will sync data with all other Chromebook devices that share your account. If you are using the same app on another device (smartphone or tablet), the apps may not sync.
3. If you want the best experience, you might want to get the latest Chromebook. These devices are made with Android apps in mind. They are mostly touchscreen and have the essential components to run heavy-duty apps and games.
4. Network administrator settings can restrict you from downloading apps from the Chrome Store or Play Store. If you are using a Chromebook at work, school, or some public institution, you may have limited permissions. In that case, you should change to a different network.

It is very possible to run a wide array of apps on your Chromebook. These include web apps, Chrome apps, Chrome browser extensions, and, of course, Android apps. This means a Chromebook user has access to Android apps that millions of people across the globe love. Exciting, right?

How to Download Android Apps?

What you have to do first is to check out if your device supports Google Play. Apart from checking the list of devices that can run Google Play, you also have to update your Chrome OS to version 53 and higher.

Here is how to update your Chrome OS:

Step 1: Click on the taskbar which is located at the bottom-right corner of your screen.
Step 2: Hit the Settings.
Step 3: Click on the Chrome Menu which can be seen at the upper left part of your computer. Look for the three parallel, horizontal lines.
Step 4: Choose About Chrome OS. Now, if you can see that the OS is not updated to version 53 or higher, head on over to the Check For Updates option.
Step 5: Once done updating your Chrome OS to the required version, it is now time to launch your Play Store.

How to Install Apps From the Play Store

Here are ways to launch your Play Store:

1) Hit the Start button. This seems like a white circle. In the search menu, key in Play Store.
2) If Play Store is not included in the frequently used apps, hit the Up button so you can see more apps.

You will then see the icon of the Play Store.

Now, to install Android apps using the Play Store, use the steps below:

Step 1: When you have launched the Play Store, you can now find the search box. This is the empty box at the top of your screen.

Step 2: Key in your search criteria. You will then click the Enter key on your keyboard.

Step 3: Before downloading any app from the search results, it is prudent to go over some reviews so you will get a glimpse at how the app performs based on what other users are saying. You may also opt to check out some screenshots and the app’s brief summary. On top of that, it is also smart to check if the app you are about to install has in-app purchases to enable some functionalities or if it is absolutely free.

Step 4: Hit the Install button as soon as you have spotted a good app. You will be given a glimpse of the installation progress bar.

Step 5: Click the Open button on your screen. This means that the app has been successfully installed. Another way is to head to your apps list or app grid. You will then see the icon of your installed app.

How to Download Apps Using Google Web Store

The alternative when downloading apps for your Chromebook is using the Google Web Store. If you do not know yet, the Web Store is where people go should they wish to download apps before Google rolled out its Google Play Store. What this means is that some apps in the Play Store may not be available through the Web Store.

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Hit the Start button. This is akin to a white circle at the bottom-left part of your screen.

Step 2: Click the Up arrow on your screen once you see that the Web Store is not listed as among your frequently used apps.

Step 3: Hit the Web Store icon on your screen. You will then be redirected to this URL, , through the Chrome web browser app.

Step 4: Key in the app criteria you are looking for through the search box that is located at the top-left part of your screen.

Step 5: Click your Enter button once done typing in the search criteria.

Step 6: Prior to downloading any app from the Google Web Store, it is also a very idea to get a sneak peek of the app’s details, including its description.

Step 7: Hit the Add to Chrome button to download your desired app.

Step 8: As soon as you are done clicking the button, you will be prompted with a dialog box asking you to confirm if you wish to add the app. If you agree, then choose the Add extension option beside the Cancel button.

Step 9: You will then see a notification saying that the app has been added to Chrome. To confirm if the app has been really added, you will see a green banner saying the app has been Added and you will also see the button asking you to Rate your downloaded app.

Now, you are all set to use the app.

Conclusion

As you can see, it is straightforward when it comes to downloading apps on your Chromebook. With this step-by-step guide, downloading your desired app will certainly be as easy as ABC.

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.

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.

Is your Chromebook on the list of supported devices?:

1. Got to the Chromium website.
2. The list of Google Play Store supported devices is long. To find it quicker press Ctrl + F (if you are using Windows).
3. Type in your Chromebook’s model.
4. If your device name is found, it means you should have access to the Google Play Store.

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.

Check if your Chromebook supports the Google Play Store on your device:

1. Turn your Chromebook on and log in.
2. Click on the status bar in the bottom-right corner of the user interface.
3. Click on the Settings cog.
4. Select Apps.
5. If your Chromebook supports the Google Play Store, you will see a Google Play Store option. This means you can run Android apps on your Chromebook.

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.

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 in there, updating to the latest version of the OS may change that.

How to update your Chromebook:

1. Turn your Chromebook on and log in.
2. Make sure you’re connected to the internet.
3. Click on the status bar in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
4. Select the Settings cog.
5. Hit the About Chrome OS option.
6. Click on Check for updates.
7. Follow instructions until update finalizes.

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.

How to enable the Google Play Store on your Chromebook:

1. Turn your Chromebook on and log in.
2. Click on the status bar in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
3. Select the Settings cog.
4. Click on the Apps option.
5. Hit 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

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.

How to download Android apps on your Chromebook:

1. Turn your Chromebook on and log in.
2. Open the app drawer.
3. Find the Google Play Store app and open it.
4. Search or browse for your app of choice.
5. Click on Install.
6. Let your device do its thing.

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.

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.

Chromebooks can now download and install Android apps from Google Play, and it works pretty well. But not every Android app is available 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.

This will only work if your Chromebook has Google Play and Android app support. At the time of this writing, that means you need an ASUS Chromebook Flip on the dev channel, with Android apps enabled.

Step One: Put Your Chromebook Into Developer Mode

If you’re used to Android, you know that you need to enable the “Unknown Sources” option to install apps that aren’t available in Google Play. However, this option is hidden and not normally available on Chrome OS.

To access this option, you’ll need to put your Chromebook into developer mode (which is different than being on Chrome’s dev channel–you need to do both to sideload Android APKs). This is the same switch you need to flip if you wanted to install a more traditional Linux desktop–like Ubuntu–alongside Chrome OS. Follow our guide to putting your Chromebook into developer mode to disable OS verification.

Note that this will wipe your Chromebook’s storage, so you’ll have to set it up from scratch afterwards. However, practically everything on Chrome OS is synced online anyway, so that shouldn’t take too long.

Developer mode also means you’ll see a scary warning screen every time you boot, and you’ll have to press Ctrl+D to skip it. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any getting around this limitation. Perhaps Google will lift this limit in the future and allow sideloading APKs without disabling the OS verification feature.

Step Two: Enable Unknown Sources

You’ll now need to enable apps from “Unknown Sources” on the Android settings screen on your Chromebook. To access it, open the Chrome OS settings screen and click the “App Settings” link under Android Apps.

Android’s Settings screen will open in a window on your Chromebook. Click or tap the “Security” option.

Enable the “Unknown Sources” option under Device Administration. You’ll see a warning telling you to be careful about what you download and install.

If you don’t see the Unknown Sources option here, your Chromebook isn’t in developer mode. This option only appears here when your Chromebook is in developer mode, so try going through Step One again.

Step Three: Install the APK File

Now you can install an app from an APK file. First, download the APK file to your Chromebook and save it in your Downloads folder.

You might expect that you can simply double-click or load an APK file from Chrome’s Files application, but that doesn’t work. You’ll just see an error messaging saying “This file type is not supported.”

You’ll need an Android file management app to install APKs. Launch Google Play and install a file management app. We like Solid Explorer, but there are many other options. (For some reason, Android’s built-in file manager app won’t let you open and install APK files.)

Launch the file manager app you downloaded, enter your “Download” folder, and open the APK file. Select the “Package Installer” app and you’ll be prompted to install the APK, just as you would on a Chromebook.

Apps you install from APK files will work just like an Android app you download from Google Play, gaining their own windows, launcher shortcuts, and taskbar icons.

As on an actual Android smartphone or tablet, you should be careful which apps you sideload in APK form. There are malicious apps out there, and sideloading a pirated app or game is a common way to get Android malware. Only download and install apps from sources you trust.

Chrome OS is a web-based operating system from Google, which leverages Google Chrome-based web apps to run most functionality. It primarily runs web apps and thus only comes with a web browser, a media player and file manager. Another USP of Chrome OS is that it can run full Android apps on Chromebooks. The support for millions of Android apps is what made this genre of laptops a hit. Unfortunately, Chrome OS is only able to install apps from Google Play Store, and installing apps .apk from third-party sources is a no-no on this platform. And even if someone tried to install apps from unknown sources i.e., downloading .apk and installing on the Chromebook, they would have to enable developers mode. What is wrong with the developer’s mode, you ask? It sacrifices your security by disabling essential security features of the Chromebook. Finally, with the Chrome OS 80 update, Google has added a way to install third-party android apks without enabling developer mode on the Chromebook.

In this article, I will show you how you can sideload Android apps from third-party sources without the developer mode.

In this article

How to Sideload Android Apps APK on Chrome OS Chromebook Without Developer Mode

The very first step to install APKs on Chromebook without developer mode is to switch your Chrome OS from stable to Dev channel. To do that, go to Settings > About Chrome OS > Additional Details. Here change the channel from stable to Dev. Go back to the ‘About Chrome OS‘ page and check for updates. Download the update and wait for the updates to install. Now that you are on Dev channel Chrome OS, we can go ahead and follow the steps to sideload Android apps on Chromebook.

But before we go, you must be wondering what the difference between Dev channel and developer mode is. While developer mode sacrifices on security to allow developers to do testing, Dev channel is a beta version of the OS with features that Chrome is testing. Dev channel can be buggy sometimes, but it is secure as the stable version on Chromebook.

Setting Up Chromebook to Install Third-Party Android Apps Without Developer Mode

1. Open Settings > Linux (Beta) and turn on Linux for your Chromebook.

2. Exit the Settings app and relaunch the app. Navigate to Linux > Develop Android Apps and enable the toggle for ‘ADB Debugging.’

3. Restart your Chromebook. When it starts back on, you will get an ADB prompt, click on “Allow.“

4. Open the terminal app from your app drawer and run the following command to install ADB tools on your Chromebook. When it asks to allow installation, press “Y.”

5. The next step is to connect Linux with the Android system on your Chrome OS. Execute the following command to do so.

Note- Your Chromebook must be connected to a WiFi network for the following command to work.

6. If everything went well, a pop-up window would open up, asking you to “Allow USB Debugging.” Enable “Always Allow” by ticking the checkbox right next to this option and then click the “OK” button.

“adb start-server“

You are now done with the setting up processes for installing apks on Chromebook Chrome OS without the developer mode. All you need now is to install apk on your Chromebook.

Install Android Apps APK on Chromebook

7. Download the Android APK from the web that you want to install on Chromebook. Move that downloaded APK to the “Linux files” folder. We will be using the terminal command to install the APK. So go ahead and rename the downloaded APK to something short and easy to type.

8. Open the terminal app and run the following command. Make sure to change youtube.apk to your app name.

9. Open app drawer on Chrome OS, and you should find the app you just installed.

You will find no difference in performances as it is using ART or Android Run Time framework and not Linux container. That basically means that these third-party apps have full access to the computing power of your Chromebook, just like any other app from Play Store.

Conclusion- Install Android APK on Chrome OS Without Developer Mode

This was our detailed guide to sideload Android apps APK on Chromebook without developer mode. This method of installing third-party apps on Chrome OS is much more secure than installing it via developer mode. Developer mode is for developers to test different apps. They are advanced users and very less likely to get attacked. But for an average person using Chromebook for their day to day to tasks, it is not advised to enable developer mode just to install APKs. Please remember that Dev channel is a beta version and maybe buggy sometimes. Just be aware of that. I hope you liked this article and found this post helpful. If you did, please share this post on your social media wall. If you have any questions or getting some error while following our guide, leave a comment. We will try to solve it. THANK YOU!

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One of the advantages that Chromebooks — well, most Chromebooks — offer is the ability to run many of your favorite Android apps alongside Chrome OS windows. In fact, a lot of the more popular Android apps have been optimized for Chrome OS, so they will look perfectly at home on your Chromebook.

Google has a long list of the Chromebooks that can run Android apps, but it’s not difficult to check to see if yours is one of them by doing the following:

• Go to Settings
• Click on the “Apps” link on the left-hand menu

• In the main window, look for “Google Play Store.” (It should be near the top.) If it’s there and it invites you to “Install apps and games from Google Play on your Chromebook,” then you’re ready to go.

It is possible that your Chromebook is capable of running Android apps, but the feature has not yet been enabled. Not a problem — it’s very simple to fix.

• As before, go to “Settings” > “Apps” > “Google Play Store” (if you’re not there already). You will see a button to the right of the “Google Play Store” label that says “Turn on.” Click on that.

• Before you can do anything, you’ll get the usual terms of service document that you must scroll through and approve. Read it if you like, then approve it.

That’s it! Now all you have to do is look for the familiar Play Store logo in your Launcher, either by clicking on the Launcher icon in the lower-left corner of the screen or using the Launcher button on your keyboard just above the left Shift key. That will take you to the Play Store where you can search for and install your favorite Android apps on your Chromebook.

Android apps you’ve installed will also appear on the Launcher, just like any other Chrome OS app. For example, when I installed the Spotify Android app on a PixelBook, the Spotify icon appeared in the Launcher alongside all the previous apps.

Note: The first time you go to the Google Play Store, you may get a pop-up that asks you to “Complete account setup” by adding a payment option. Don’t panic. If you don’t want to add any kind of payment info, you don’t have to. Just hit “Skip.”

You can even select many of the same options for the Android apps that you would if they were on your phone. Click on “Manage Android preferences” (which is just above the “Google Play Store” link you were at before) to choose whether you want notifications, if Do Not Disturb should be activated, etc.

One warning: Android apps that have been optimized for use on a Chromebook — which means many of the most popular apps — will look and act like normal Chromebook apps. However, apps that have not been optimized will basically appear in a phone screen format, so they won’t be quite as usable — although they should, with possibly a few exceptions, still work.

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Apart from speed and ease of use with exceptional battery life, one of the best things about owning a Chromebook is knowing you can now install and run your favourite Android apps (though not all) on your PC.

This development is highly welcomed as you can easily synchronise app data across devices.

How to Install Android Apps on Your Chromebook?

Step 1: Check if your Chromebook is running Android apps. Check, by tapping or clicking on the status area or the Settings cog. Next, you click About Chrome OS at the top of your screen to display the information.

Step 2: Check for updates. To do this, in the About window, tap or click the Check for and apply updates button. Download the updates if available and restart the device.

Step 3: Once your Chromebook is updated, go to the status area and click the Settings cog, navigate to the Google Play Store section, and check Enable Google Play Store on your Chromebook. Agree to Google?s terms of service to continue.

Step 4: The Google Play Store app will open, and you’ll accept additional terms and conditions to proceed. Once you’ve done this, you can proceed to step 5.

Step 5: To install an Android app, locate it in the Play Store, click on its entry, and click the Install button.

Step 6: The app should start installing and may pause to ask about any required authorisations. Accept them if requested. Installed apps will show in your Chrome OS apps tray. Click on the app’s icon to run it.

You can manage the Android apps the same way you handle the Chrome OS Apps as both apps are in the same window.

Android apps coming to Chromebooks might very well be the defining moment for Google’s Chrome OS platform. In our usage of Android apps on Chromebook, we have found Chromebook’s functionality to have multiplied innumerably. However, there’s one catch, that is, many apps on the Play Store aren’t compatible with the Chromebook. For instance, apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Uber, Inbox by Gmail, Chromecast, PayPal and more are incompatible because of various reasons like the fact that Play Store treats the Chromebook as an Android 6.0 tablet, the lack of GPS on Chromebooks etc.

Thankfully, you can always sideload Android apps through APK files but Chromebook natively does not support these files. The good news is, there’s a way to install APK files on Chromebook and that’s what we are about to tell you. So, without further ado, let’s get on with it, shall we?

Note: To install APKs, you will have to enable “Unknown Sources” and the option is only available on Chromebooks with developer mode enabled. To do it, check out our detailed post on how to enable developer mode on Chromebook.

The Play Store is available on the Chrome OS 53 update through the developer channel and it’s only available for Chromebook Flip, as of now. So, before you try to install any APK files, check out our post on how to get Play Store. If you have the aforementioned Chrome OS build, here are the steps to install APK files on Chromebook:

1. Firstly, you will need a file manager Android app from the Play Store. So, open up Play Store and install the file manager you want. We used Solid Explorer in our test.

2. Then, download the APK files of apps you want to install from APKMirror.com. Meanwhile, go to Chrome OS Settings and click on “App Settings” in the Android Apps section.

3. The Android like Settings page should open up. Here, go to Security and turn on “Unknown sources”.

4. Once the APK file is downloaded, open the file manager app and go to the Downloads folder. Here, open the APK file and you should see the usual app installation interface from Android. Press “Install“.

5. The app installation might take a little longer than usual but the good news is, all the APKs we tried to install, did install without any fuss. Once the app is installed, tap “Open” to start using the app.

Note : While most of the apps install via the APK files route, not all of them work. For instance, Instagram works fine but apps like Uber, which require location services don’t work.

Use Android Apps that are incompatible on the Play Store

Well, that was pretty easy, right? So, basically, you can now easily install apps that are incompatible with the Chromebook on the Play Store. So, install your favorite Android apps on your Chromebook with ease and do let us know your experience. Sound off in the comments section below and stay tuned for more articles related to Android apps on Chromebook, as we discover more about it.

• TAGS
• Chrome OS
• Chromebook

22 COMMENTS

How to install Dragon Raja on chromebook? It doesn’t work in this way, is there some other way?

It did not work I can’t even find the app settings tab. This is the only reason i went into developer mode. The alternate way in some copy-pasted replies don’t work either.

Totally worthless instructions. There is no “Unknown Sources” settings in my Toshiba Chromebook Settings. Why post this when its totally misleading?

thank you so much, it actually worked

hey how do i get to chromeOS settings?? there is normal settings on my chromebook, but it shows none of what you talk about

yes, this is 2020 and this was made long time ago so its not the same. press search/launcher button> enter in ‘settings’> apps> google play store> manage android settings> apps> special app access> install unknown apps.
there is no longer a toggle and you have to download the apk first, go back to there and install it.

Doesn’t work on my HP 2 in 1 Chromebook as I still get the message to “turn on Chrome developer mode….”. I still have to go the Linux route, figures–leave it to HP.

There is nothing like Apps Setting option in HP-CHROMEBOOK

Hey Beebom,Is there any way to install app on chromium os by cloudready.

How do you get XAPK files onto your chromebook?

I had tried this process on my Acer chromebook 15 and works out nicely! So happy, now that I can run not only regular google play apps but APK app files as well!

this is gargabe. there is no such thing as unknown sources

Where in ChromeOS settings is there a section for “App settings”?

Utter bollocks. If you can’t write instructions properly, don’t bother.

Shit instructions. A “Geek”? My arse

yes, this is 2020 and this was made long time ago so its not the same. press search/launcher button> enter in ‘settings’> apps> google play store> manage android settings> apps> special app access> install unknown apps.
there is no longer a toggle and you have to download the apk first, go back to there and install it.

I have gone to developer mode manually but is still greyed out. Can you please tell me what is wrong?

Ditto. This info is simply wrong.

“Unknown Sources” is greyed out on my new Asus Flip C302CA with latest Chrome OS and with Android Beta Channel enabled. Because it is greyed out, I cannot turn it on.

Did you set your Chromebook to developer mode through a powerwash?

did you find out how to enable the “Unkown sources” when they are greyed out?

Can you do a similar exercise with the Asus Chromebit?

um hi im trying to do this on my school chromebook and i downloaded the apk file but i don’t have where it says manage apps can you give me a step by step guide on how to do the rest. Thank you if you reply.

please i have followed your procedure but the app setting is not showing. what should i do. thank you