How to Run a Windows App on a Chromebook
Google’s Chrome cloud OS has evolved into an impressive computing platform now that it is compatible with Android apps, and more recently, Linux apps.
But what about Windows apps, you ask? What happened to all the upcoming Windows compatibility rumors? They’re still spreading, but you don’t have to wait for them to be true in order to run Windows apps on your Chromebook. All you need is the Crossover app and some time to experiment.
Crossover is a free application (for now) that runs Windows programs inside a virtual machine. It’s easy to use, and while a full version is available for Linux that is also compatible with Chrome OS, the Android version of Crossover is much more user-friendly. If you’re curious about the newness of launching Windows apps on your Chromebook, or perhaps you’re desperate to launch your frequently used favorite app, keep reading.
What is a crossover?
Crossover is a kind of free virtual machine available on the google play store . It is in beta testing, although the app’s home page displays a giant “Trial” banner. ( Codeweavers says you will be able to pay for the full version of Android “soon.”) The Android / Chrome OS version of the app is still experimental, but uses the same underlying technology as the macOS and Linux versions.
Since Crossover has had time to incubate on other platforms, its Android version is pretty robust. Every Windows application launched through Crossover can run on a different version of Windows as needed, and you can even add critical components such as font libraries.
Please note that Crossover can only run 32-bit applications due to limitations in Android Chrome OS environment. (Crossover runs 64-bit applications on macOS and Linux.)
How to install a crossover
Before you can install Crossover from the Google Play Store , you need to make sure your Chromebook is capable of handling Android apps and is fast enough to run the virtual machine. Codeweavers suggests using the app on Intel-based Chromebooks.
To make sure your device can run Android apps downloaded from the Play Store, go to your Chromebook’s settings menu. If everything is ok, you will see a Google Play option with an external link to Android Chrome OS settings. If you are using an older version of Chrome OS, you may need to enable developer mode to access Android apps.
How to install a Windows app using Crossover
There are two ways to install Windows apps using Crossover. The first is to install the executable through the Crossover database of known applications. You can access it using the search bar on the main page of the application. Enter the name of the program you want to install and Crossover will display the corresponding results on the screen. Some of the applications you can find include Microsoft Office 2006 and 2010, older versions of Adobe Photoshop, FileZilla, and 7-Zip. (You may need to purchase a key to use some of these apps.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, try installing a Windows application using the Install Unlisted Application option instead, which allows you to point directly to the installer file. After you enter the name of the application in the search bar, click on the option in the lower right corner. In the next window, select “Find an Installer” to navigate to the installation file. Follow the installation instructions as they appear.
By installing the Windows app using either of these methods, you will be able to launch the app from the Chromebook’s app bar or from the main Crossover landing page.
There is a third way to launch Windows applications, but you should only try it if you were unable to use the first two. It involves creating a kind of “shell desktop” so you can manually run the installer file. As before, click “Install an application not listed” after entering the name of the program, then select the “Create Empty Environment” option. This will install the components required to run the Windows application.
Once the virtual environment is ready, a dialog box will appear. Click on the Launch File Explorer option in the drop-down menu, then navigate to your device’s file system to select the .exe file you want to launch.
You will also want to use this method if you need to run your application on top of another version of Windows. To access this setting, click on an app on the main crossover page, then select Wine Configuration from the drop-down menu. The Applications tab will appear with an option at the bottom to change the Windows version for that application. You can choose a version of Windows before Windows 3.0, or you can join the rest of us of the current age with Windows 10. By default, Crossover sets compatibility for each application based on information in its database.
How to use Windows apps on Chrome OS
As mentioned, you can launch the app from the Chromebook’s app bar or from the main Crossover landing page. If the app crashes (it does), Crossover will pop up a pop-up notification with a force close option, which helps reduce your device’s cache memory.
Using Windows apps through Crossover is relatively straightforward, but expectations should not be overestimated. Not all Windows apps work with this specific version of Crossover. I tried to install the Windows version of Spotify and Adobe Creative Cloud, but neither were successful. I then installed Steam, which allowed me to chat with friends using its chat app, although it crashed frequently due to not being able to load some of the ad pop-ups.
Some apps won’t even let you install software because it’s a virtual machine, and while Codeweavers offers direct access to legacy programs like Microsoft Office 2010, you still need a valid key to unlock the experience. Even if you manage to run an application like this, you might have to fill in any missing components by searching all over the Internet.
I was actually able to run Windows apps on the Google Pixelbook. 7-Zip flawlessly extracted the zips to the Downloads folder and I enjoyed running the old Ski Free classic. FileZilla allowed me to access my FTP server, while Gimp was a great option to use with the Pixelbook touchscreen. I was also able to run several lesser known applications such as Bulk Rename Utility , which has a heavily outdated interface but effectively renames hundreds of files in a single batch.
These examples explain why you will face the challenge of launching Windows apps on your Chromebook: to help you be more productive on Chrome OS. After all, there isn’t always an Android app or Chrome extension that can do the job. And while Crossover isn’t the exact equivalent of running full Windows apps on Chrome OS, it at least helps bridge some of the gaps as Google continues to build its cloud operating system.