Chromebooks are incredibly versatile, they let you run both Android and Linux desktop applications. Thanks to this dual capability, you can access a wide range of apps and games. Typically, Android apps are installed via the Google Play Store, while Linux apps require the terminal or .deb installation files. But if you’d rather skip the hassle of command lines and install Linux apps the easy way, there’s good news: tools like the Snap Store and Flatpak make it simple. Think of them as app stores for Linux.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to install the Snap Store on your Chromebook. Prefer Flatpak instead? We’ve got you covered with a separate guide, just follow the link in the post. But for now, let’s dive into setting up the Snap Store.
How to Install Snap Store on Chromebook
The Snap Store makes installing Linux apps on your Chromebook a breeze, no need to dig through complicated terminal commands for every app. But before we jump into that, we need to enable the Linux development environment and install a few necessary dependencies.
If you haven’t already set up Linux on your Chromebook, go to Settings > About ChromeOS > Linux Development Environment and turn it on.
After that, follow the steps below to install the Snap Store on your Chromebook.
1. Click the App Launcher and open the Terminal app.
2. Select the Penguin open to access the command line.
3. Run the following commands to update the Linux package list and install required libraries:
sudo apt update sudo apt install libsquashfuse0 squashfuse fuse4. Now, install Snap support on your Chromebook by running the following command. This command installs snapd, the background service that manages Snap packages.
sudo apt install snapd -y
5. Once snapd is installed, you’re all set to begin installing Snap packages on your Chromebook. If you’d rather avoid using the terminal for every app, you can install the Snap Store GUI (Graphical User Interface) for a more user-friendly experience. To do that, enter the following command in the terminal:
sudo apt install gnome-software-plugin-snap6. When prompted with “Do you want to continue? (Y/N)”, type Y and press Enter to proceed with the installation.
Installing Linux App Using Snap Store
Once you’ve set up the Snap Store on your Chromebook, you can install Linux applications in two ways, using the graphical interface (GUI) or the terminal. Here’s how both methods work:
1. Using the Snap Store GUI
If you prefer a more visual and user-friendly experience, the Snap Store GUI makes it easy to browse, search, and install Linux apps, no terminal required. Follow these steps:
1. Click the App Launcher icon, open the Linux Apps folder and Launch the Software application.
2. Use the search bar to find the application you want to install.
3. Select the app from the search results and click the Install button.
That’s it! The application will be downloaded and installed. Once the process is complete, it will appear in your Linux Apps folder, ready to launch.
Note: If the GUI doesn’t show Snap apps or fails to install them properly, use the terminal method described below.
2. Using the Terminal
Sometimes, the Snap Store GUI may not work as expected. In that case, you can still install Snap apps directly using the terminal. Here’s how:
1. Open your browser and visit the Snapcraft Store.
2. Search for the Linux application you want to install. Let’s search for VLC Media Player. On the app’s page, click the Install button.
3. You’ll see a terminal command, copy that command and paste it into the Terminal on your Chromebook. Press Enter to run it.
4. Once installed, you can launch the app using this command: sudo snap run <app-name> . For example, to run VLC type the following command in the terminal:
sudo snap run vlcThat’s all there is to it! Whether you prefer the convenience of the GUI or the control of the terminal, the Snap Store makes it easy to install and manage Linux applications on your Chromebook.
