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Linux on ChromeOS

Linux on ChromeOS, sometimes called Crostini, allows you to run Linux apps for development alongside your usual ChromeOS desktop & apps. Linux on Chromebooks offers developers the best of both worlds. Built and designed with ChromeOS’ principles of simplicity and security, Linux on Chromebooks gives devs the freedom to safely run their favorite editors, IDEs, and thousands of world-class dev tools in one container.

Turning on Linux will install a Terminal that you can use to run command line tools. You can also install graphical apps like editors and IDEs that show up in the Launcher alongside the rest of your ChromeOS apps. Another useful tool, the Files app, makes it easy to create shared folders for moving files between the ChromeOS host and the Linux container.

Benefits:

  • Run the most popular developer tools
  • Set up an Android, Web, or Flutter development environment
  • Test Android or Web apps on your Chromebook or test on a separate device via USB or port-forwarding
  • Easy backup and restore of your Linux container

Once you have enabled Linux you can learn how to configure a productive desktop environment, build for Android or Web, and also work on games. We also have advanced guides to setup Flutter and other common Linux development tools.

Topics in this section

Linux setup

Instructions to enable Linux, aka Crostini, on ChromeOS for development.

Internals deep dive

Low-level technical documentation on running custom Linux containers on ChromeOS, including runtime features, security, their lifecycles, and device support.

Linux FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the Linux on ChromeOS container.

Glossary

Glossary of terms related to running Linux environments on ChromeOS.

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