Android apps on ChromeOS
In 2016, the Google Play Store was brought to ChromeOS, allowing the same apps that run on phones and tablets to run on Chromebooks without compromising their speed, simplicity or security. Because Chromebooks run a full version of the Android framework, your app is most likely running on ChromeOS devices today! That means devs can take their single Android APK and scale it to work on any ChromeOS device, allowing for even more immersive and engaging experiences on devices with bigger screens. There are a few differences between phones and ChromeOS devices (and other larger screen form-factors) that can add challenges and opportunities for different experiences such as:
- Larger landscape-first screens
- x86 architecture devices
- Free form windows and resizing
- Keyboard, mice, & trackpads as first class input methods
Learn what it takes to build a high-quality large screen app, then jump in to start adapting your app for ChromeOS.
Topics in this section
Start building
ChromeOS supports the Google Play Store and Android apps. A few tweaks to your existing Android app can enable them to run on Chromebooks.
Design recommendations
How to optimize your layouts and UI components for different screens sizes and configurations.
Mouse pointer icons
How to style your pointer icons for different use cases.
Input compatibility
How to support all of the different input types that are available to Chromebooks.
Window management
This page describes the window manager on ChromeOS.
Rendering differences
How apps render differently on Chromebooks.
Manifest compatibility
As you prepare your Android app to run on Chromebooks, you should consider the device features that your app uses.
Optimization guidelines
ChromeOS allows your app to bring new experiences and patterns to your users, but it does come with some challenges.
Camera orientations
An in-depth guide on how to handle orientations in Android camera apps.