How to Install Android Apps from APK Files on Chromebook – Android apps coming to Chromebooks might thoroughly be the defining moment for Google’s Chrome OS platform. In our utilization of Android apps on Chromebook, we’ve observed 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 example, 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 and so on.
Luckily, you can always sideload Android apps via APK documents however Chromebook natively does no longer 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 can have to allow “Unknown sources” and the selection is most effective to be had 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 its simplest to be had for Chromebook turn, as of now. So, before you try to install any APK files, take a look at out our post on a way to get Play keep. when you have the aforementioned Chrome OS build, right here are the stairs to install APK files on Chromebook:
- First, 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.
- 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.
- The Android like Settings page should open up. Here, go to Security and turn on “Unknown sources”.
- 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“.
- The app installation might take a slight 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.
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