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 only available for some Chromebooks. Learn which Chromebooks support Android apps.

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

Tap here to see an interactive tutorial

Step 1: Get the Google Play Store app

Important: To get Android apps on your Chromebook, make sure your Chrome OS version is up to date. Learn how to update the operating system of your Chromebook.

  1. At the bottom right, select the time.
  2. Select Settings .
  3. In the "Google Play Store" section, next to "Install apps and games from Google Play on your Chromebook," select Turn on.
    Tip: If you can't find 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: Get Android apps

You can find and download Android apps on your Chromebook.

Your Chromebook doesn't automatically download the same Android apps that are on your phone or tablet, so 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 you 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 you get 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.

Change permissions

Change app permissions

After you install an Android app, you can control which capabilities or information the app can find or use, known as permissions:

  1. At the bottom 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

Important: If you use your Chromebook at work or school, you may not be able to choose whether to share your location.

When you choose to use Android apps on your Chromebook, you can decide to let Google know your location.

  1. At the bottom 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 "Personal" section, turn Location on or off.
  6. Optional: To turn location permissions on or off for a specific app, select the app, then select Permissions. Then turn Location on or off.

Back up & sync your apps

Back up & restore your app data

By default, Chromebooks automatically back up and restore Android app data. This way, if you move to a new Chromebook, you can restore your Android app data.

To turn backup and restore on or off:

  1. At the bottom 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 "Personal" section, turn Back up my data on or off.

Tip: If your Chromebook has sync turned off, but backup and restore turned on, it can still back up your Android apps. If you have more than one 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, check your sync settings and select Sync everything or turn on Apps syncing. Learn how to change your sync settings.

Learn how Chrome OS handles your Android app data

What Android apps can find

  • Apps can download files to and read files from your Chromebook's downloads location. To change this setting, you can open the permissions page of an app, then turn off Storage.
  • Some Android apps that have permission to know your location might also use 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 turn off the Google Play Store on your Chromebook, your Android app data and settings are erased from your device.
  • You can review other Android app privacy and security settings which come with using Android apps. Some of these settings might not apply or show up on your Chromebook.

What Google can find

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

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

Resize your apps

Important: You can only resize new apps that you download.

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

  1. On your Chromebook, open an Android app.
  2. At the top, select the Down arrow and select:

Tip: To set a custom size for the app, you can select Resizable .

Developers: Optimize Android apps for Chromebooks

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

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