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
To jump in to how you can start building Android apps for ChromeOS, learn more here. Read below for more information on resources we have and topics to keep in mind.
Get started with ChromeOS
Publish
Publishing your app for ChromeOS devices can seem challenging or confusing, but it is the same APK that you ship for phones and tablets. For more information check out our resources on publishing through the Play Store for ChromeOS including optimizing for x86 if you use the NDK.
Optimize
ChromeOS allows your app to bring new experiences and patterns to your users, but it does come with some challenges. Read what is involved to optimize your app or check out a blog post for more information on what your app on ChromeOS and other larger screen devices involves.
Design
There are design considerations to keep in mind on larger screen devices, and we’ve created some recommendations and guidelines to keep in mind when thinking about how your app looks and behaves on ChromeOS.
Build
There are a few ways to develop for ChromeOS, you can build directly on your ChromeOS device using the Linux for ChromeOS or you can connect your ChromeOS device to your main workstation and develop that way.
Topics in this section
Start building
ChromeOS supports the Google Play Store and Android apps. Learn how a few key tweaks to your existing Android app can enable them to run on Chromebooks and expand your app's reach.
Design recommendations
How to optimize your layouts and UI components for different screens sizes and configurations.
Input compatibility
How to support all of the different input types that are available to chromebooks.
Mouse pointer icons
How to style your pointer icons for different use cases.
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
This document describes some actions that you can take to optimize your Android apps for ChromeOS devices.
Camera orientations
An in-depth guide on how to handle orientations in Android camera apps.
Testing
This table outlines tests the ChromeOS team has used to evaluate Android apps for ChromeOS.