Google Play Store has officially allowed its users to use the Android apps over their Chromebooks using its services. At the moment Google Play Store services are being offered for the selected Chromebooks only that we will mention in this article.
Why use Android Apps on Chromebook?
Chromebooks have been earning popularity because of their simplicity, speed, and security. It has replaced the need for Macs in most of the countries. Just like most of the new features and functions, now the Chromebooks users can even enjoy dealing with Android apps just like using Android apps on their Mac or Windows via Android emulator or Android player.
With the launch of Google Play Store, it is now possible to install the Android apps in the Chromebooks and expanding the hardware platform and getting more features. This new support by the Google Play Store can be used for all purposes whether for education use, personal or for professional purpose. There is a great advantage for developers as well as now they can test their app in the Chromebook as well.
How to Install Android Apps on Chromebooks
Now it is time to discuss how the general users and developers can install the Android apps on the Chromebooks. Before starting with this experiment, make it sure the latest version of Chrome OS is installed into your Chromebooks otherwise you will not be able to get real benefits from all this effort.
Suppose you have updated the software of Chromebook and it is using Chrome OS 53 or higher one.
Step 1: Install Google Play Store
First, you need to get the Google Play Store application to be installed into you Chromebook so that later on you can download and install the applications in your Chromebook.
- Sign-in to the Google Play Store
- Click settings and in the Google Play Store section, Enable the Google Play Store on Your Chromebook. (In case there is no such option then that means your Chromebook do not support this new feature)
- After turning on the Enable the Google Play Store on Your Chromebook, a new window Get Started will appear, and you will be promoted to Agree to Terms and Conditions. Click Agree to proceed further.
- It will ask confirmation for current Google Account if already being used on the device. Click the Sing in for next step.
- Now the Google Play Store opens with a new box demanding for Accept first for next step.
Step 2: Download and Install Android Apps
Now it is time to download and install the Android apps from the Google Play Store. Here it is important to mention that some of the apps you will not be able to download and this will also not work in the Chromebook as well in case you find the APK file from somewhere else.
Benefits for Developers for Using Chromebooks to Access Android Apps
With the launch of each new service, Google also takes into consideration what will be for the developers in its new service and how the new service will give them benefits. Here are some of the benefits that the developers will be going enjoy with the combination of Chromebook and Google Play Store.
- Multi Window Size – Viewing applications in three different window sizes for getting best viewing and testing experience
- Multitasking – Support for multitasking for most of the Android apps in moveable windows along with the desktop All these will be packed in the interface just like Chrome OS.
- Smart Work – Support for mouse and keyboard all with touch input as well that will enhance the productivity too.
- Notifications – Getting Android notifications on the Chromebooks
- File Sharing – File sharing system between the Android apps and Chrome by means of Files app
- Experiencing Games and Graphics Based Apps – Enhancement in the performance of games and designed based application because the view of these will be excellent in Chromebooks.
- Optimizing Apps – Optimizing Android apps by means of updating the manifest file and following some other simple procedures
- Rendering Apps – Support for multi-window mode will make the developer able to render the Android apps on Chrome OS into layouts that is best for form factor purpose.
- Updating Apps – Updation of NDK libraries will become easier for those applications that are being backed by Android NDK libraries and their target SDK version must be 23 or higher.
- Apps Testing – This new facility is also great because the developers can now test their application in the Chromebook as well. For this, they only need to enter into developer mode and enable the unknown sources. This will make them able to test their app in a more systemized way.