How to Install Flatpak on a Chromebook

To install a Linux application on a Chromebook, we generally use the Linux terminal or native .deb files, which can typically be installed with a simple double-click. Besides this, you can also use the Snap Store to install Linux apps on a Chromebook. However, another method to install Linux applications on a Chromebook is via Flatpak.

Flatpak is a universal package management system that allows you to install and run applications in a sandboxed environment. It provides its own set of essential packages and tools, making it a powerful alternative to traditional package management methods. With Flatpak, you gain access to the Flathub repository, which offers a wide range of popular Linux applications.

How to Install Flatpak on a Chromebook

Before installing Flatpak, ensure that your Chromebook supports Linux and that it is enabled. To check this, go to Settings, click on About ChromeOS, and look for the Linux development environment. If it is not already enabled, turn it on, set up a username, and allocate disk space for the Linux container. Once Linux is enabled, update the environment by opening the Terminal and running the command: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

After completing the update, you can proceed with the steps to install Flatpak on your Chromebook.

1. Once Linux is enabled, open the Terminal and enter the following commands to install Flatpak.

sudo apt install flatpak

Note: If you get a question; “Do you want to continue?”. Here, press the Y key to continue the installation process. It should not take that long to install.

2. After that, you need to add the Flathub repository, which is the main source for Flatpak applications. To do this, run:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

3. Sometimes you might encounter an error message stating ‘Permission Denied.’ In that case, you need to execute a sudo su. That should give you root directory access. Then, type down these commands one after another:

sudo su

sudo apt install flatpak

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

4. If you need to install a GUI application, it is essential for easily finding, installing, and managing Linux apps on Chrome OS. To do this, enter the following commands one by one:

sudo su

sudo apt install gnome-software-plugin-flatpak

5. If you’re unsure whether you did it correctly, look for a folder named Linux Apps in the App Drawer. Open it, and you should have access to a fully functional GUI store for Linux apps. Now, use the search bar to find an app, and you should be able to install and use it.

Installing Flatpak Packages on Chromebook

When you install Linux apps using the Flatpak GUI, each app gets pulled from the Flatpak repository. Sometimes, the GUI doesn’t work quite right. If that happens, you can use the terminal instead to install Linux apps on your Chromebook. Just follow these steps:

1. Open Flathub on your browser and discover the Linux apps you want to install. At the bottom, you will find the terminal command to install and run the app.

2. Open the Terminal app on your Chromebook and enter the command to install the app. For example, if I want to install Mozilla Firefox, I’d run:

flatpak install flathub org.mozilla.firefox

3. Once it’s installed, you’ll find the program in your app drawer under the Linux folder. Alternatively, you can also launch it from the Terminal using the command below.

flatpak run org.mozilla.firefox

Note: If you want to uninstall or update a Flatpak application on your Chromebook, you can do so easily using the Terminal. To uninstall an app, use the command sudo flatpak uninstall <app_name>. If you’d like to update all your Flatpak apps at once, just run sudo flatpak update.

That’s it! This is how you can install Flatpak and Flatpak packages on your Chromebook, as long as you’ve enabled Linux development environment on your device.

Enjoy Flatpak Apps on Your Chromebook

Flatpak makes it easy to install and manage Linux applications on your Chromebook. By following this guide, you’ll gain access to a wider range of apps beyond the Chrome OS ecosystem. Whether you’re looking for a media player, productivity tools, or development software, Flatpak and Flathub offer a great selection of apps for your Linux-enabled Chromebook.