If you’re considering a Chromebook or recently bought one, you are not limited to web apps. Google brought the Play Store to ChromeOS back in 2016, and today the vast majority of Chromebooks can run Android apps alongside everything else. That means access to millions of apps, from Netflix and Spotify to Microsoft Office and your favorite games. But not every app runs perfectly, and the experience varies significantly depending on your hardware.
Can Chromebooks Run Android Apps?
Short Answer:
Yes. Any Chromebook released in 2019 or later supports Android apps through the Google Play Store, and many older models do too.
Long Answer:
Google officially added Android app support to ChromeOS in 2016, and the rollout expanded quickly. Unless you’re using a particularly old device, your Chromebook almost certainly supports Android apps. The easiest way to check is to open your Settings, look for the “Apps” section, and see if there’s a Google Play Store option. If it’s there, you’re good to go.
For devices released before 2019, support depends on the specific model. Google maintains an official list of supported devices on the Chromium project site, though at this point the list is more relevant for identifying the handful of older devices that can’t run Android apps than for finding ones that can.
ChromeOS runs Android apps through a compatibility layer called ARCVM (Android Runtime for Chrome, Virtual Machine). This runs Android in a virtual machine alongside ChromeOS, which is why Android apps integrate with the rest of the operating system. You can pin them to your shelf, run them in windows, and switch between Android and web apps just like any other software.
How Do I Enable Android Apps on My Chromebook?
Short Answer:
Go to Settings, click Apps, and turn on the Google Play Store option. Accept the terms of service and you’re done.
Long Answer:
Enabling Android apps takes about thirty seconds. Click the time in the bottom-right corner of your screen, then click the Settings gear icon. In the left sidebar, find the “Apps” section and click on it. You should see an option for “Google Play Store” with a toggle or “Turn on” button. Once you enable it, you’ll need to accept Google’s terms of service for the Play Store.
After that, the Play Store app appears in your app launcher just like on any Android phone or tablet. You can search for apps, browse categories, and install whatever you need. Apps download directly to your Chromebook, and most will create shortcuts in your app launcher automatically.
If you’re using a school or work-managed Chromebook, your administrator may have disabled Play Store access. There’s no way around this restriction without administrator intervention, so if you don’t see the Play Store option at all, that’s likely why.
Which Android Apps Work Best on Chromebooks?
Short Answer:
Productivity apps, streaming services, and casual games run well. Apps designed for specific phone hardware or those that haven’t been optimized for larger screens may struggle.
Long Answer:
Apps built for tablets adapt best. Microsoft Office, Google’s own suite (when you prefer the app over the web version), note-taking apps like Notion and Evernote, and PDF readers already have large-screen layouts, so they fit Chromebook displays and take keyboard and trackpad input without issues.
The main reason to install Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime Video, or Disney Plus as Android apps is offline downloads, which their browser versions do not offer. You can save Spotify playlists or Netflix shows before a trip, and this offline capability is one of the best ways to use your Chromebook without internet. For music streaming specifically, see our guide to Apple Music on Chromebooks.
Slack, Discord, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams all have Android apps, though their web versions fit better into a browser-tab workflow. WhatsApp works too. The Play Store app is the same one WhatsApp offers for Android tablets, which can link to the account on your phone by scanning a QR code, and WhatsApp allows up to four linked devices per account. Choosing “Register new account” in the app instead makes the Chromebook the account’s primary device, so link it if you want to keep using WhatsApp on your phone.
Graphically demanding 3D games can struggle even on higher-end hardware, while casual games, puzzle games, and most 2D titles run well. Games designed exclusively for touchscreen controls can be awkward to play without a touchscreen, though many Chromebooks include touch displays. Even a premium convertible like the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714, with an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, struggled with demanding Android games such as Call of Duty Mobile in MergeDroid’s hands-on testing.
Apps that generally don’t work well include those requiring phone-specific hardware like cellular calling, certain banking apps that detect the “unusual” environment and refuse to run for security reasons, and apps that assume a vertical phone screen and refuse to resize properly.
Does Hardware Affect Android App Performance?
Short Answer:
Yes. RAM matters most, then the processor, then storage space.
Long Answer:
Android apps run in a virtual environment that shares system resources with ChromeOS itself. The same hardware that limits ChromeOS also limits Android apps.
Chromebooks with 4GB of RAM can run Android apps, but they slow down quickly when you switch between several apps or run anything demanding. The memory has to hold ChromeOS, the Chrome browser with its tabs, and the Android runtime, so 8GB is the practical minimum, and 16GB leaves room for heavier multitasking.
On an Intel or AMD Chromebook, Android apps that ship only ARM code go through a translation layer, while apps with x86 builds run directly. Translation costs some speed and battery life, and a few ARM-only apps do not run at all on older Intel Chromebooks. ARM processors such as MediaTek Kompanio chips run Android apps without translation, but raw processing power usually matters more than translation overhead, so a fast Intel chip typically outperforms a slow ARM chip.
Android apps and their data live on local storage, not in the cloud like web apps, so storage limits how many apps you can install. A 64GB Chromebook fills up quickly if you install several large games or media-heavy apps. Consider at least 128GB if you plan to use many Android apps, or take advantage of the microSD card slot that many Chromebooks include.
Chromebook Plus devices provide the best Android app experience because Google requires minimum specifications: at least 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, and a capable processor. These requirements ensure that any Chromebook Plus certified device handles everyday Android apps without the memory stalls of 4GB budget models.
What Are the Limitations of Android Apps on Chromebooks?
Short Answer:
Some apps aren’t optimized for large screens, and apps that need phone hardware or that block virtualized Android, such as some banking apps, won’t run.
Long Answer:
Android apps open in resizable windows on ChromeOS, but not all apps handle resizing gracefully. Some apps lock to phone-style portrait orientation. Others resize but don’t properly adapt their layouts, leaving awkward spacing or tiny text. A few apps refuse to run at all if they detect a non-standard environment. Google has improved resizing support, and most popular apps work properly, but you’ll occasionally encounter apps that clearly weren’t designed with Chromebooks in mind.
Android app notifications land in the ChromeOS notification tray and do not behave exactly as they do on a phone. Some apps may not deliver notifications as reliably as they would on a phone, particularly if ChromeOS puts the Android runtime to sleep to save battery.
Apps that require cellular modems, phone call capability, or sensors that Chromebooks lack will either refuse to install or fail to work. Most Chromebooks have no GPS receiver, so location-based apps get an estimate from your Wi-Fi network or IP address, which is less precise than phone GPS. Some camera-intensive apps may not work correctly with Chromebook webcams.
Security-sensitive apps, particularly some banking apps and corporate security tools, may refuse to run because they detect the virtualized Android environment. These apps are specifically designed to reject “rooted” or non-standard Android environments for security reasons, and ChromeOS’s implementation can trigger these protections. There’s no reliable workaround for this limitation. If you’re curious how ChromeOS handles security more broadly, our guide on antivirus for Chromebooks covers the platform’s built-in protections.
Which Chromebooks Are Best for Running Android Apps?
Short Answer:
Chromebook Plus models meet Google’s minimum hardware specs, and the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 OLED and the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 are good picks for Android apps.
Long Answer:
If Android app performance is important to you, Chromebook Plus certification is the most reliable indicator of a good experience. Google created the Chromebook Plus tier specifically to ensure minimum hardware standards that support features like Android apps, Linux development, and AI capabilities.
Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14" OLED
- ✓14-inch OLED touchscreen
- ✓MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910
- ✓16GB RAM
- ✓fanless
- ✓ChromeOS updates through mid-2034
- ✗No HDMI or SD card reader
- ✗glossy screen reflects in bright rooms
- ✗some Linux apps have ARM compatibility issues
The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 OLED pairs a 14-inch OLED touchscreen with the MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 and 16GB of RAM. At 2.78 pounds it is easy to carry, and the OLED panel covers 100% of DCI-P3, which suits streaming apps. Because the screen is touch-enabled, phone-style Android apps that expect taps and swipes work the way they were designed to.
Lenovo Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 14
- ✓360-degree convertible with a 14-inch touchscreen
- ✓USI 2.0 stylus support
- ✓256GB storage on this configuration
- ✓ChromeOS updates through mid-2034
- ✗Core 3 N355 is modest for demanding games
- ✗8GB RAM is soldered
- ✗heavier than the OLED at 3.31 lbs
For touch-first Android apps, the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 is the better value. Its 360-degree hinge folds the 14-inch WUXGA touchscreen into a tablet, so apps built for a phone or tablet behave as intended, and the screen takes USI 2.0 stylus input for note-taking apps. The 8-core Intel Core 3 N355 covers productivity apps and casual games. For demanding titles, the better route on any Chromebook is cloud gaming through services like GeForce NOW.
For budget-conscious buyers, look for any Chromebook Plus model, which guarantees 8GB RAM minimum and a processor capable of handling Android apps properly. Avoid Chromebooks with only 4GB RAM if Android app usage is important to you, because apps reload when you switch between them.
What About the Future of Android Apps on ChromeOS?
Short Answer:
Android apps remain central to Google’s laptop plans. Googlebook OS, the Android-based system that grew out of Google’s Aluminium project, runs Android apps natively and reached its first laptops in October 2026.
Long Answer:
Google has improved how Android apps run on Chromebooks since the Play Store arrived, including the move to the ARCVM virtual machine. Court documents from the antitrust case against Google described a project called “Aluminium” that brings Android and ChromeOS closer together. Google announced the result in May 2026 as Googlebook, a line of Android-based laptops whose operating system, later named Googlebook OS, runs Android apps natively instead of in a virtual machine. The first Googlebooks reached US stores on October 4, 2026, and our Googlebook explainer covers what changes for Chromebook owners.
Chromebooks keep receiving updates through their Auto Update Expiration date or mid-2034, whichever comes first, according to a Google admin help page. The Play Store is part of ChromeOS on current Chromebooks, and Google has not announced any end to Android app support on them.
Choosing a Chromebook for Android Apps
If you’re shopping for a new Chromebook with Android apps in mind, check our Chromebook Comparison Chart to filter by RAM, processor, and Chromebook Plus certification. And if you’re concerned about how long your Chromebook will receive updates and support, our guide to Chromebook Auto Update Expiration lists how long each model gets updates.
