Step-by-Step Guide- How to Install Flatpak on Your Chromebook for Enhanced App Experience_1

How to Install Flatpak on Chromebook

Chromebooks have gained immense popularity for their simplicity, security, and affordability. However, the limited app ecosystem on Chrome OS can be a deal-breaker for some users. One way to expand the app selection on your Chromebook is by installing Flatpak. Flatpak is a universal packaging system that allows you to install and run applications on multiple Linux distributions, including Chrome OS. In this article, we will guide you through the process of installing Flatpak on your Chromebook.

Step 1: Enable Linux (Beta) on your Chromebook

Before you can install Flatpak, you need to enable Linux (Beta) on your Chromebook. This feature allows you to run Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, or openSUSE directly on your Chromebook.

1. Click on the clock icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
2. Select “Settings” from the menu.
3. Scroll down and click on “Advanced.”
4. Click on “Linux (Beta)” under “Google Play Store & Android Apps.”
5. Click on “Turn On” to enable Linux (Beta) on your Chromebook.

Step 2: Install Flatpak on your Chromebook

Once Linux (Beta) is enabled, you can proceed to install Flatpak on your Chromebook.

1. Open the Linux terminal by clicking on the Linux icon in the taskbar or searching for it in the Launcher.
2. Update your package list by running the following command:
“`
sudo apt update
“`
3. Install Flatpak by running the following command:
“`
sudo apt install flatpak
“`

Step 3: Install Flatpak runtimes

To run Flatpak applications, you need to install the Flatpak runtimes for the applications you want to use.

1. Open the Linux terminal.
2. Run the following command to install the Flatpak runtimes for the application you want to use:
“`
flatpak install flathub org.gnome.Evolution-data-server
“`
Replace `org.gnome.Evolution-data-server` with the Flatpak repository and application ID for the application you want to install.

Step 4: Run Flatpak applications

Now that you have installed Flatpak and the necessary runtimes, you can run Flatpak applications on your Chromebook.

1. Open the Linux terminal.
2. Run the following command to launch the Flatpak application:
“`
flatpak run org.gnome.Evolution-data-server
“`
Replace `org.gnome.Evolution-data-server` with the Flatpak repository and application ID for the application you want to run.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Flatpak on your Chromebook and can now enjoy a wider range of applications. Keep in mind that some Flatpak applications may not work perfectly on Chromebooks due to hardware or software limitations.