When Chromebooks were first introduced, they were thought of as a “web browser in a box.” This is a stinging insult. Times have certainly changed and the web can now do virtually everything, including running apps and AAA games. There’s no shame in wanting a little more in your daily life.
Luckily, your laptop comes with Google Play Store, giving you access to millions of apps, games, books, and more with just a few clicks. The Chrome Web Store has just been relaunched, but if you need most of the content and want to get the most out of your device out of the box, the Play Store is the way to go.
Now, many of you may have enabled this during OOBE or “out-of-the-box experience,” but if you choose to leave it disabled and instead use a PWA or “progressive web app”… website. There will be some people. Some of you may have accidentally skipped setting up your store entirely, and there’s no shame in that. This time I will show you how to install Google Play Store on your Chromebook. please do not worry. Just follow a few simple steps.
You’ll see a time clock in the bottom right corner of your Chromebook screen. Click there and you’ll see a “Quick Settings” menu containing a gear that jumps to your device’s settings. That’s right, you can see it in the image below, just to the right of the battery percentage.
Once you open “Settings”, go to the left sidebar until you find the “Apps” section. As long as your Chromebook supports Play Store, you should see Play Store. For comparison, devices released in 2019 or later must have at least 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage. If you’re still not sure, here’s the complete list.
Please enable JavaScript
Under “Apps” you’ll see the aptly named “Google Play Store,” and when you click on it, you’ll see a “Turn On” button. Click to skim the terms and conditions (or skim, we’re all friends here), then click “I agree” and you’re almost there.
If you’re asked to sign in with your Google Account, just do so. If you’re using a Chromebook and you’re already signed in, syncing may begin automatically and bring over your apps and Play Store data from your other devices.
Finally, you’ll see a Play Store icon on your Chromebook’s “shelf” or taskbar, and in your app launcher or “All Buttons,” waiting to be used. that’s all! I know it’s relatively simple, but I wanted to create some guides to the basics for anyone struggling with their new Chromebook. There’s no shame in having some useful guides, especially when a guide like this unlocks millions of additional experiences for those who aren’t that familiar with ChromeOS.
Out of curiosity, do you consider web apps to be your go-to, or do traditional Android apps pique your interest? Talking about gaming, are you branching out into cloud gaming or are Android gaming still available? Do you like it? Let us know by dropping a comment below. And enjoy hAPPy games!
I just want the steps!
- Make sure Chrome OS is up to date
- Click on the clock at the bottom right of the screen, setting gear
- invite app after that Google Play Store
- click turn on and agree to the terms
- Sign in to your Google Account when prompted
- Open Play Store from your shelf or app drawer
- Play like a boss with 3.7 million apps and games