With Linux now supported on Chromebooks, the Play Store is no longer the only place you can download apps. Now, they can run Linux applications, making it easier than ever. However, installing Linux applications on Chromebook is not as easy as installing Android applications, although the process is not too difficult once you get used to it.
In this article, we will try to help you install Linux apps on Chromebook. So, continue reading the steps given below and follow the same.
First thing first – Check your device’s Chrome OS version
The first step is to check the version of Chrome OS, see if it is capable of supporting Linux applications. Start by clicking on the avatar in the lower right corner and selecting the Settings menu. Then, click on the hamburger icon in the top left corner and select About Chrome OS where you can see the running version of Chrome OS. Linux applications can be downloaded if your computer is running Chrome OS 69 onwards.
Now, activate Linux on Chromebook
The next step is to activate Linux on your device which is quite easy and does not take much time. Though, it completely depends on the internet speed as well as the performance of your computer.
Linux is supported on Chromebooks
Open Chromebook Settings and select Linux (Beta) on the left. Then, when the window pops out, toggle the toggle button on after installation. When the download is complete, a terminal window will open, which we will talk about later.
How to download Linux apps on Chromebooks
Before we begin the process of downloading Linux apps on Chromebook, there is one more thing to do. To make sure everything runs smoothly, you need to update the package by typing the following in Terminal:
sudo apt-get update
You can then start downloading the application to your device. To do this, use the command:
sudo apt-get install app name -y
In this, the ‘App Name’ section is the name of the application you want to download. For example, if you want to download GIMP, the famous photo editing app, type the following command:
sudo apt-get install gimp -y
After typing the command in the terminal, the application will be downloaded and placed in the app menu along with the Android application.
The best Linux apps for Chromebooks
Apart from Gimp, there are many other great Linux applications that can be downloaded on Chromebook. Below is a list of some Linux apps that work perfectly with Chrome OS.
There are many Linux applications that can be installed on Chromebooks.
1. LibreOffice: It is an alternative to Microsoft Office. LibreOffice comes with a text editor, spreadsheet, presentation tool, and a few other productivity tools. You can install using below the command.
sudo apt install libreoffice libreoffice-gtk3 -y
2. Transmission: A free BitTorrent version that allows you to easily download and upload files.
sudo apt-get install transmission-qt -y
3. FileZilla: If you want to transfer files from your device to a server, FileZilla will make this process a lot faster. You can install it by using below the command.
sudo apt-get install filezilla -y
4. Evolution: If you want a separate email app rather than the web, Evolution is going to be the best option for you. You can install it on your Chromebook using the below command.
sudo apt-get install evolution -y
5. Audacity: A high-end audio recording and editing program that allows you to play with the audio files on your Chromebook.
sudo apt-get install audacity -y
That’s all folks. Hope you found this article useful to install Linux apps on Chromebook. Share your thoughts from the comment box below. And. Don’t forget to check out other articles on Chromebooks.
See More: Best Android apps for Chromebooks, Install now
See More: Best Linux Distros for Chromebooks
