Many claim that the Chromebook is an incomplete device that caters to people with specific use cases. That is partially accurate, to be honest. However, the gap has greatly decreased thanks to Android and Linux app support. Having said that, many users still find it difficult to switch from a Windows PC to a Chromebook due to the absence of Windows software support. But even that is evolving. Thanks to native Linux compatibility, Windows 10 and 11 applications can now be used on Chromebooks. This tutorial will demonstrate how to use Wine to install and run Windows software on Chrome OS. So let’s get going.
Use Windows Apps on Your Chromebook (2022)
From installing Windows apps on Chromebooks to setting up Wine, we have added thorough instructions. Then, for ease of access, we show you how to make a shortcut to those Windows apps.
How to Install Wine 7.0 on Your Chromebook
On our Chromebook, we’ll start by installing Wine’s most recent release (7.0). If you’re wondering what Wine is, it’s a compatibility layer that enables the operation of Windows applications in a Linux environment without the need for emulation.
To put it briefly, you will essentially use Linux-based compatibility layer Wine to run Windows apps within the Linux container. I realise that seems complicated, but don’t worry—the performance is excellent and more than adequate for simple tasks. After having stated that, let’s start by installing Wine 7.0 so that your Chromebook may run Windows 10 and 11 apps.
You must first set up Linux on your Chromebook before doing anything else. For thorough instructions, refer to our linked guide.
2. To add compatibility for 32-bit programmes, launch Terminal from the app drawer after Linux has been installed.
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
3. Next, execute each of the actions listed below one at a time to download and add the repository key.
sudo mkdir -pm755 /etc/apt/keyrings sudo wget -O /etc/apt/keyrings/winehq-archive.key https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/winehq.key
4. After you’ve finished, use the command below to get the WineHQ sources file.
sudo wget -NP /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/debian/dists/bullseye/winehq-bullseye.sources
Run this command to update the packages after that.
sudo apt update
6. Execute the last command to install Wine 7.0 on your Chromebook to complete the process. When prompted to confirm the installation, press Y.
sudo apt install --install-recommends winehq-stable
7. After the installation is finished, enter the command winecfg in the Terminal. You will next be prompted to install the extra files needed for Chromebooks to run Windows apps through Wine. If the prompt reappears more than once, select Install each time.
8. Finally, runwinecfgagain and switch to theAbout page to see if Wine 7.0 was successfully installed. You have it now! Your Chromebook is operating Wine 7.0 without any problems.
winecfg
9. If you think the window resolution is too low, click the Graphics tab and modify the screen resolution to 120 dpi or whatever you think looks best.
How to Install Windows Programs on Your Chromebook
It’s time to install and run a Windows 10 or Windows 11 application on your Chromebook now that Wine 7.0 has been successfully installed. Here, for instance, I’ll demonstrate how to set up the well-liked picture viewer IrfanView on Chrome OS. Let’s examine the procedures:
The only thing you need to do first is download the 64-bit EXE file for any Windows programme and move it to the Linux files directory. Make sure the file has a new name that is simpler to type.
Rename files and folders on Linux as a general rule to one word names that are simple to write in the Terminal. You will find it to be of great use when working with files in the Linux Terminal.
2. Next, open the Terminal and enter the command listed below.
wine irfanview.exe
Create Shortcuts for Windows Apps on Chrome OS
If you are installing a different application, make sure to replace irfanview.exe with the filename of your choice. A setup process will appear right away, allowing you to install the application similarly to Windows apps.
The software needs to be executed after you have installed it. The erroneous file path causes Wine to generate a shortcut for your Windows software in the App Drawer (under the Linux folder) on your Chromebook, but the shortcut is ineffective. To solve it, you must identify the right route and create a unique shortcut using a tool called Menulibre. Here’s how to go about it.
1. Go to the Linux Files area in the Files window. Here, select Show Hidden Files from the 3-dot menu.
2. Next, navigate todrive c in the.winefolder by opening it. You will find a file-directory structure here that is comparable to Windows. Check the Program Files or Program Files (x86) folder to see where the programme has been installed. Once you’ve found the right folder, open it to reveal the.exe file. You must launch the Windows application using the Linux Terminal on your Chromebook.
3. Next, open the Terminal and make a note of what was previously written at Penguin. Your username is that. Mine, for instance, is Arjun.
/home/yourusername/.wine/drive_c/Program Files/IrfanView/i_view64.exe
4. Your file path will now look like this. You must now modify your username to the one you noted earlier. ChangeProgram Files/IrfanView/i view64.exe to the file path indicated in your File Manager in a similar manner.
wine "/home/yourusername/.wine/drive_c/Program Files/IrfanView/i_view64.exe"
5. Your whole file path will appear like this at the end. The file path should now be enclosed in quotes after adding wineat at the beginning and a space after. You can also use the Terminal to perform the command shown below to see if your file path is accurate or not. If everything is correct, the Windows programme will launch. Now, copy the entire file path because you’ll need it in the following step.
sudo apt install menulibre -y menulibre
6. Now that the file path has been created and verified using Terminal, let’s construct a unique shortcut. To install and launch MenuLibre, open the Terminal and issue the commands listed below one at a time.
7. Click the + icon in the top menu bar of the MenuLibre software and choose Add Launcher.
8. After that, paste the final file path of the Windows app you copied on your Chromebook in step #5 under the Application Details box in the right pane next to Command.
9. Next, enter the program’s name in the New Launcher textbox in the right pane to make it easier to identify the programme. I’ve launched IrfanView. After that, simply click the Save button in the top menu to finish. Additionally, you can select an icon for the programme by clicking on the icon.
10. After closing MenuLibre, access the App Drawer. The newly formed shortcut can be found by opening the Linux programmes folder. Wait 5 to 10 seconds if it doesn’t appear.
11. Clicking on it will immediately launch the programme on your Chromebook.
12. There are no problems with pinning the shortcut to a Windows software to the Chrome OS shelf.
wine "/home/yourusername/.wine/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Internet Download Manager/IDMan.exe"
13. IDM, a Windows application that runs on Chrome OS, is available here. You may also use any of its substitutes. The file path is noted below for your reference. Running Windows applications on Chromebooks is simple if you know how to construct the file path.
.local folder/share/applications/wine/Programs
Enjoy Installing and Using Windows Apps on Chromebook
14. Enter the Files app, turn on hidden files, go to the location below, and open the programme folder in order to remove non-working Linux shortcuts from the app drawer. To get rid of the shortcuts, erase the.desktop files here.