How To Download Apks On Chrome Os

Young man using a Chromebook laptop
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If you've ever tried installing apps on your Chromebook from unofficial app stores, you know you've got to enter developer mode, which requires a factory reset. Here'south how you can become around that requirement using the Linux subsystem.

Sideloading APKs and Developer Mode

Some Android apps are not listed on Google Play. There tin be many reasons for this. Perhaps Google has barred the app because it doesn't come across Google'due south stipulations. Then again, information technology may be a self-imposed exile by the programmers. They may take a beefiness with Google and desire to sidestep the usual app delivery mechanisms. And sometimes developers release their stable, safe builds via Google Play, but brand other builds—such equally potentially unstable daily development builds—available elsewhere.

To install an Android application from an unofficial repository ways downloading an APK and installing it. APK stands for both Android Package Kit andAndroid Pair conditioningKage. Information technology's the name for a blazon of file that contains an Android app and all of its required files. Bundling the app and its dependencies into a single file makes it much easier to distribute and copy.

Installing an APK on a Chromebook used to mean switching your Chromebook into developer way. Doing so required a system reset—or powerwash—which took your Chromebook back to a brand new, clean land. It likewise presented a scary warning each fourth dimension your Chromebook booted up, and it lowered your security too.

Using your Chromebook's Linux subsystem it'due south possible to install Android apps from APK files without setting upwardly developer mode. Y'all just demand to turn on Android debugging mode—and that doesn't demand a manufactory reset.

Of class, you lot need to accept a Chromebook capable of running the Linux subsystem and running Android apps, but all contempo models should be able to do this.

Enable the Linux Subsystem

If you haven't already enabled the Linux subsystem, you'll need to do that now. Information technology'due south simple to do, but information technology does take a moment or ii to complete. Click the notification surface area (system tray) to open the Settings menu and click the cogwheel icon.

The Chromebook system menu

On the Settings folio, type "linux" into the search bar. You'll see the Linux development surround (beta) entry in the search results.

Click "Turn On" next to the Linux development environment setting on a Chromebook

Click the "Turn On" button. You'll see a notification that a download is well-nigh to take place.

Linux development environment confirmation screen on a Chromebook

Click the blueish "Next" push button. Yous'll be prompted to provide a username. Y'all can go out the disk size setting at its default value. Click the blue "Install" push.

Setting a Linux user name on a Chromebook

The download and installation process starts. It tin take a few minutes for this step to complete.

Linux download progress bar on a Chromebook

Somewhen, you'll run into the Linux terminal window with a command prompt that contains the user proper name you chose earlier.

Linux terminal window on a Chromebook

Setting Up the Android Debugging Span

When Linux has been installed, open the System menu and click the cogwheel. On the Settings page, search for "linux." Yous'll see more options this fourth dimension. Select "Develop Android Apps" then click the slider button alongside "enable ADB debugging."

The enable Android Debugging option on a Chromebook

This turns on the Android Debugging Span. It's a tool used by developers to exam their Android apps as they work on them. We're going to use the feature to sideload APKs.

Y'all'll be asked to confirm that you exercise desire to enable ADB. Click the blue "Restart and Continue" button.

Confirmation screen for turning on Android debugging on a Chromebook

When your Chromebook has rebooted, tap the "Everything" push—the one with the magnifying glass symbol on it—and type "last."

Searching for the word terminal on a Chromebook

Click on the terminal icon in the search results. A Linux terminal window volition open up. Type this command in the final window:

sudo apt install android-tools-adb -y

This installs the Android ADB system. When the installation has finished, type this command to connect the debugging bridge to an IP address and port.

sudo adb connect 100.155.92.2:5555

You lot demand to confirm you want to allow USB debugging.

Confirmation window to allow USB debugging on a Chromebook

Select the "Always allow from this calculator" bank check box and click the "OK" button.

If your terminal window doesn't display "continued to 100.155.92.2:5555", open Settings and navigate to Apps > Google Play Shop > Manage Android Preferences > Arrangement > Nearly Device. Click on the "Build Number" entry seven times.

The build number field in the about device screen on a Chromebook

This is an "Easter egg" that forces your Chromebook to consider you lot as a programmer. Reboot, and then endeavor over again.

If it still doesn't work, effort using this command:

sudo adb connect arc

Sideloading an APK

We're going to install the Firefox browser nightly developer build. This is an unstable but cutting-border-as-possible version of the Firefox browser. Nosotros're using information technology every bit a good example of an Android app that isn't available on Google Play. Don't use information technology as your daily browser; this build is for testing and experimenting, not for relying on.

Download the advisable APK for your Chromebook'due south architecture. Our exam machine has an Intel 64-bit processor, so we downloaded the "X86_64" APK. The downloaded file was placed in the "Downloads" folder.

It was called "org.mozilla.fenix_93.0a1-2015827511_minAPI21(x86_64)(nodpi)_apkmirror.com.apk." That'due south a pretty atrocious filename to have to piece of work with. Perchance it was inspired past a certain Welsh village. To make things more manageable, we renamed it "firefox.apk."

The APK needs to be located where the Linux subsystem tin can come across it. Open your file browser and elevate the APK to the "Linux files" directory.

The downloaded APK in the Linux files directory on a Chromebook

To install the APK on a Chromebook with an Intel or AMD CPU, blazon this command. Substitute "firefox.apk" with the name of your APK:

adb -south emulator-5554 install firefox.apk

If your Chromebook uses the ARM architecture, use this control instead:

adb install firefox.apk

The give-and-take "Success" in the terminal window indicates everything has gone well. Hit the "Everything" button and type firefox. You'll meet the "Firefox Nightly" icon.

Click the icon to launch the unstable version of Firefox.

The Firefox Nighhtly build running on a Chromebook

With Great Power

…comes peachy responsibility. Be careful when you are sideloading APKs. Some APKs may comprise malicious or destructive lawmaking. Exercise some enquiry before sideloading. Endeavor to locate reviews of the app—and the site you're downloading from—to run into whether it is os fide.

Every bit e'er, it pays to look before you spring.

RELATED: How to Sideload Apps on Android TV

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