ApkRunnerAndroid emulator for Chromebook
Run any APK on a Chromebook without developer mode, Linux or ADB — school and work Chromebooks included. The app runs on a real Android™ device in the cloud and you use it in this tab.
- Free: 15 minutes, no card
- Google shares only your name and email, no access to Gmail, Drive or contacts
- One free allowance per person: the account is how we keep it fair
Full screen, like an app
How to run an APK on a Chromebook
Installing an APK on ChromeOS itself means switching settings that are often locked. This way there is nothing to switch on.
Choose the APK
Drop an .apk, .xapk, .apks or .apkm from Downloads onto the phone above. It is checked first, on the Chromebook: package, version and whether it will run.
Sign in with Google
One click, no card: free minutes on your account.
Use the app
The Android device starts in a minute or two with your app open. Mouse, touchscreen and keyboard all work.
Other ways to run an APK on a Chromebook
ChromeOS can run Android apps, but installing one that is not on Google Play takes one of these.
Developer mode
Lets you sideload APKs, but turning it on wipes the Chromebook, shows a warning at every start, and is blocked on managed school and work Chromebooks.
Linux and ADB
Needs the Linux development environment and Android debugging turned on, then installing over ADB from a terminal. Admins often disable both.
Google Play only
Fine for apps on the Play Store, if your Chromebook supports Android apps and your admin allows them. No APK files, no older versions.
ApkRunner
Any APK, nothing to turn on: the Chromebook only shows the device's screen in a tab. Your own Android apps and files stay untouched.
Why a cloud device suits a Chromebook
- Intel or ARM Chromebook, it doesn't matter: the app runs on our ARM servers, where ARM-only apps work.
- Light on the Chromebook: no virtual machine, no gigabytes of memory, no storage used. A 4 GB Chromebook is plenty.
- Android 12 to 15 and several phone sizes, whatever Android version your Chromebook has.
- A fresh device every session, wiped when it ends — a safe place to try an APK you are not sure about.
- Prefer it next to the page you are on? The Chrome extension puts the same device in Chrome's side panel, with logcat and screen recording. Same account and minutes.
Simple pricing
Start with free minutes, no card. Paid plans differ only in how long they last. One account for this site and the Chrome extension.
Free
Free minutes to try it
Start free- One session or several
- Android 12–15
- Phone screens at 20 fps
- Logcat and recording
Weekly
Cancel anytime
- Everything in Free, plus
- A week of access
- Sharp 2× video at 30 fps
- Foldables and tablets
- Priority in the queue
- Your phone kept for next time
Monthly
Most popularCancel anytime
- Everything in Free, plus
- A month of access
- Sharp 2× video at 30 fps
- Foldables and tablets
- Priority in the queue
- Your phone kept for next time
Yearly
Save 40%$71.90 billed yearly
- Everything in Monthly, plus
- The lowest price a month
- One payment a year
Prices in US dollars, taxes included. Fair use on paid plans: past about 30 hours a month, sessions still run, after other paid ones. The cloud device has microG in place of Google Play services.
Android on a Chromebook: FAQ
Do I need developer mode?
No. Nothing is installed on the Chromebook and no setting changes; it is a web page in Chrome.
Does it work on a school or work Chromebook?
Yes, unless your admin blocks the site. It doesn't need developer mode, Linux, Google Play or extensions. Follow your school's or employer's rules for what you run.
Is it free?
Every Google account gets free minutes, in one session or several. A session ends after 3 minutes without input, so an idle device does not use them up. Longer use is under pricing.
Does it have Google Play?
Not the Play Store. In place of Google Play services the device has microG, their open-source replacement, so most apps that need them run and get push notifications. Google sign-in, purchases through Google Play and Play Integrity checks (banking apps, some games) may not work; the check before the start tells you when an app uses Play services. The device has the Uptodown app store, and free APKs are on APKMirror.
Does it work offline?
No. The device runs in the cloud and its screen streams to the tab, so the Chromebook needs a steady connection.
Is my APK private?
Before you sign in the file does not leave the Chromebook: it is checked on this page. After that it is uploaded only to start your own device and is deleted after an hour. See the privacy policy.