Chrome is a lightweight operating system that comes with a simple browser-based interface. It offers faster boot times and consumes less power as well as covers basic computing tasks but you cannot perform all kinds of tasks using a Chromebook. And, that’s where Linux comes in as a rescuer. But before we get to installing Linux and apps, we need to make sure that your Chromebook has the capability to support it. In this article, we will go through them in detail and guide you through how to enable Linux App Mode on Chromebooks.
Chromebooks are developing their ability to use Linux. Google intends to provide features available to the software being developed through this platform. By activating the Linux platform (beta), also known as Crostini, Chromebook users will now be able to install command-line tools, code editors, and IDEs.
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How to Manage and Make the Right Chromebook Settings?
As mentioned earlier, Chromebook devices are simple, but managing their settings is important. To do this, similar to managing Android devices, you have several options.
First, you can click on Clock, located at the bottom right of the taskbar.
Or you can click the Google search icon at the bottom left of the taskbar, then search for ‘settings’.
Prerequisites for Linux (Beta)
Before trying to install Linux (beta) on a Chromebook, make sure that your Chrome OS is up to date. Also, depending on the chipset, some older Chromebooks might not support Crostini.
To update Chrome OS, do the following:
1. Go to Settings.
2. Select ‘About Chrome OS’.
3. Click ‘Check for Updates’.
How to Enable Linux mode (Beta)
It’s fairly easy to turn on Linux (beta) mode on a Google Chromebook. As mentioned above, any major adjustments to Chromebooks will begin in the Settings window. Navigate to Settings and click on the “Advanced” option to expand the other option there.
Next click on the “Developers”. From there, select ‘Turn On’ ‘Linux (Beta)’. This will launch the installation. Click on Install.
Now sit back and wait, as this can take up to 10 minutes depending on the resources of your Chromebook model. When the installation is complete, you will see a terminal window.
Once you reach the Terminal window, as with any new Linux installation, initialize your first update command. To update your Linux version, enter the following command:
sudo apt update sudo apt -y upgradeYou’ll notice that unlike Linux on the desktop, you don’t need to enter a password when using the sudo command. Alternatively, you can start installing Linux applications, such as LibreOffice, with the following command:
sudo apt install libreoffice The default distribution used is Crostini, but you can easily change it to Ubuntu if you want a more up-to-date application store.
That’s all folks. This is how you can turn on Linux App Mode on Chromebooks. In the future, there will be more and more things Chromebooks can do with Linux. The possibilities are endless, from productivity applications to many tools related to network security.
We believe you have liked our latest guide on how to enable Linux app mode on Chromebooks! If you have any queries related to the article or any other topic, then share them through the comment box given below.
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