Install Android apps on your Chromebook

You can download and use Android apps on your Chromebook with the Google Play Store app.

Currently, the Google Play Store is simply available for some Chromebooks. Learn which Chromebooks support Android apps.

Important: If you employ your Chromebook at work or school, you may not exist able to add the Google Play Store or download Android apps. For more information, contact your administrator.

Tap here to see an interactive tutorial

Pace 1: Get the Google Play Store app

Important: To become Android apps on your Chromebook, brand sure your Chrome Bone version is upwardly to date. Learn how to update the operating system of your Chromebook.

  1. At the bottom correct, select the time.
  2. Select Settings .
  3. In the "Google Play Store" department, next to "Install apps and games from Google Play on your Chromebook," select Plow on.
    Tip: If you can't discover this option, your Chromebook doesn't work with Android apps.
  4. In the window that opens, select More.
  5. Agree to the Terms of Service.

Step 2: Go Android apps

You can detect and download Android apps on your Chromebook.

Your Chromebook doesn't automatically download the same Android apps that are on your phone or tablet, then you must download them again. Also, some apps don't work with some Chromebooks, so you can't download them.

Tip: The Google Play Store and any Android apps that y'all download are only available for the account that signed in first. To use them with a different account, sign out of your accounts and sign in with the account you want to use.

Update your app version, permissions, or settings

Install app updates

If y'all go a notification that says "Updates available" on the bottom right of your screen, select Update or Update all.

If you don't get this notification:

  1. In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher and thenUp arrow .
  2. Select Play Store Google Play.
  3. To update your apps, follow the on-screen instructions.

Modify permissions

Change app permissions

After y'all install an Android app, you tin control which capabilities or data the app can find or use, known as permissions:

  1. At the lesser right, select the time.
  2. Select Settings .
  3. In the "Google Play Store" section, select Google Play Store.
  4. Select Manage Android preferences.
  5. In the "Device" section, select Apps.
  6. From the list of apps, select an app and then Permissions.
  7. Turn permissions on or off.

Share or unshare your location

Of import: If you employ your Chromebook at work or schoolhouse, yous may not be able to choose whether to share your location.

When you cull to use Android apps on your Chromebook, you can make up one's mind to allow Google know your location.

  1. At the bottom correct, select the time.
  2. Select Settings .
  3. In the "Google Play Store" department, select Google Play Store.
  4. Select Manage Android preferences.
  5. In the "Personal" section, plough Location on or off.
  6. Optional: To plow location permissions on or off for a specific app, select the app, so select Permissions. Then turn Location on or off.

Support & sync your apps

Back upwards & restore your app information

By default, Chromebooks automatically dorsum up and restore Android app data. This mode, if y'all motility to a new Chromebook, you lot tin can restore your Android app information.

To turn backup and restore on or off:

  1. At the bottom right, select the time.
  2. Select Settings .
  3. In the "Google Play Shop" section, select Google Play Store.
  4. Select Manage Android preferences.
  5. In the "Personal" section, plough Back up my data on or off.

Tip: If your Chromebook has sync turned off, but backup and restore turned on, it can all the same back up your Android apps. If y'all have more than than i Chromebook, your Android apps and their data might not sync across your Chromebooks fully.

Sync your apps across Chromebooks

By default, your Chromebook syncs the Android apps on your Chromebook across your other Chromebooks. If your Chromebook doesn't sync your apps, cheque your sync settings and select Sync everything or plough on Apps syncing. Learn how to change your sync settings.

Learn how Chrome OS handles your Android app data

What Android apps tin observe

  • Apps tin download files to and read files from your Chromebook's downloads location. To alter this setting, yous tin can open the permissions page of an app, then plow off Storage.
  • Some Android apps that take permission to know your location might as well employ Bluetooth on your Chromebook.
  • If you browse privately, but click on a link within an app, the link opens in a regular browser tab, not a private one.
  • If you plow off the Google Play Store on your Chromebook, your Android app data and settings are erased from your device.
  • Yous can review other Android app privacy and security settings which come with using Android apps. Some of these settings might non apply or show up on your Chromebook.

What Google can find

When y'all opt in to use the Google Play Store, some system apps and features may send Google information about how you apply those apps.

If you lot opt to send Google data about the usage and functioning of your Chromebook, Google gets diagnostic and usage data about your app activity. Google also receives crash reports. Whatever crash reports Chrome sends to Google may besides include some sensitive information about your Android apps.

Resize your apps

Of import: You tin only resize new apps that you download.

To make Android apps evidence up on your Chromebook as they do on your tablet or Android phone, you tin can change the size of the app.

  1. On your Chromebook, open up an Android app.
  2. At the elevation, select the Down pointer and select:

Tip: To set a custom size for the app, y'all can select Resizable .

Developers: Optimize Android apps for Chromebooks

To brand the apps you develop work more efficiently on Chromebooks, acquire how to optimize your Android apps.

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