One of the best things that have ever happened to Chrome OS is the ability to install Linux on it. Not only does this expand the user-base of the OS, but the user also gets access to the world of free and open-source Linux apps that are powerful and feature-rich. Without much further ado, let’s show you how to install Linux apps and configure it to install your first Linux App.
Installing Linux on Chrome OS
Step 1) Head over to the Settings from the System Tray menu.
Launch Settings Chrome OS
Step 2) Click “Linux (Beta)” on the left pane of the “Settings” menu and then click “Turn on.”
Settings – Linux Apps
Step 3) Click “Install.”
Linux Setup Chromebook
Step 4) Wait for the installation process to finish.
Installing Linux
Step 6) After the installation is complete, a Terminal window should open automatically.
Linux Terminal
Step 7) Click on the “Launcher icon” and then on “App launcher.”
App Launcher
Step 6) You should see the “Linux Apps” folder where all the Linux apps you shall install in the future will be grouped.
Linux Apps Group
Congratulations, you have completed the setup of Linux on your Chromebook. Let’s go ahead and get you started to install your first Linux App!
Setting up and Installing Linux Apps
Installing apps on Linux is done using command-lines on the Terminal. Although it might sound scary, it’s simple enough to install the apps, at least. Learning it is entirely worth it. For the sake of illustrations, let’s install one of the most used Linux apps for image and graphic editing – GIMP.
Installing GIMP on Chromebook
Step 1) Launch Terminal from the Linux Apps.
Launch Terminal
Step 2) Before installing GIMP, let’s update the Linux repository database. Enter the following command and hit enter.
sudo apt update
Update Linux Repository
Step 3) Upgrade your Linux system by entering the following command:
sudo apt upgrade
Pay attention to the progress in the Terminal and make sure to enter ‘y’ when prompted.
Upgrade Linux Apps
Step 4) Chrome OS is nothing but Chromium OS + Google’s proprietary apps. Chromium OS is an open-source OS built on the Debian system. In Debian and Ubuntu Linux, we use sudo apt command to install apps. So, enter the following command to download and install GIMP. You must enter ‘y’ when prompted.
sudo apt install gimp
Installing GIMP
Step 5) After the installation is complete, close the Terminal and head back to the Linux apps folder. If everything went well, you should see the GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) in the Linux apps folder.
GIMP installed
Congratulations! You have just installed your first Linux app on your Chromebook.
GIMP 2.8 on Chrome OS
17 comments
I loved Google all my life but was ready to throw away this brand new Chromebook because I couldn’t install Gimp (which is my primary editing program) Thanks so much for this article, super easy and it worked!
Thank you for this high quality instructional article. You have “sudo apt update” twice, otherwise the directions went just as expected – a rarity these days.
so my chrome book is monitored by my school and I cant download Linx sad
me to😭i triad to do this it used to have it on there but it got removed by my adminstrater why do theydo this to e i just want some 😅 soryy fore that
there used to be a workaround for this but putting your device in developer mode but your school may not allow you to connect once you do so
same 0.0
hi, what if my chromebook is from 2018 and doesn’t have linux on it.
Am I just screwed?
If you have an older chromebook you may need to install the old version of this environment call crouton https://github.com/dnschneid/crouton#prerequisites
This was super helpful and I love learning how to use this new OS
yeah Mr. Watson, same here, when i first learned, i became obsessed with the terminal/command Line. It’s quite amazing, all the differenontentt one-liners to execute. It’s fun just to try stuff out. I have a new chromebook because of this feature alone. And i have a Alienware, & Asus republic of gamers laptop. so i take those with everywhere, that way it’s like a portable lap, setup in a hotel or where ever. I am a full time Bug Bounty Hunter. So having my mini lap, keeps me motivated, even when i’m on the go. Glad you enjoying it. come see me on Twitch.com/bugr33d0.
also see my buddy twitch.com/garr7 has great content (web application Security) which is my favorite.
I’m Ryan
Thanks for the support. My layout was a little different. Instead of Linux beta – it was listed under developers.
Bril! Clear and straightforward. Makes it all look so easy!
I can only get better with Linux here on.
Thank you very much.
This method no longer works for whatever reason, would you review it, please??
Works for me perfectly. Just installed Linux to my CB.
Works for me perfectly. Just installed Linux to my CB with these instructions. Thank you for the publisher.
I have new Chromebook HP with nothing really on it and it already says I need more storage to run Linux.. How do I get around this?
my layout is different too and not only is linux under the developers tab, but i dont have the linux files folder either…….grrrrrr