How To Run Exe Files On Chromebook

How To Run Exe Files On Chromebook

Are you struggling to run .exe files on your Chromebook? It’s a common problem for users who are new to the Google Chrome OS. Even though it is an extremely capable operating system, it falls short when it comes to running programs that are not built with Chrome in mind. Fortunately, there are many ways for you to get around this issue and continue using these programs on your Chromebook. The .exe file format is a file extension used for executable programs. They are also called program files or binary files. Executable files contain instructions that can be directly interpreted and executed by the computer without needing another program to interpret them first beforehand, such as a document reader or text editor app. These files should play nicely with Chrome OS and thanks to some nifty third-party extensions, they do just that! In this article, we’ll show you how to run exe files on Chromebook and enable some great extensions along the way.

How To Run Exe Files On Chromebook

Run Exe Files on Chromebook

One way to get around the issue of not being able to run exe files on Chromebook is to use Google Chrome to run exe files. While Chrome is not intended to run exe files, it can handle them on a case-by-case basis. That said, you may run into issues trying to run particularly large or bulky exe files on Chrome. You can easily tell if an exe file is compatible with Chrome by checking for the “Open with Chrome” option that appears when you click the file. If you don’t see this option, the file isn’t compatible with Chrome. If the option does appear, you can click it to open the file in Chrome. However, keep in mind that it’s always a good idea to be cautious when opening unknown exe files.

Use Extensions to Run Exe Files on Chromebook

Another way to run exe files on Chromebook is to use extensions to run exe files. Since Chrome OS doesn’t support exe files, it’s a good idea to use an extension to open them. For example, you can install the EXE Folder Extension, which allows you to open any file in a given folder as an exe file. Using this extension, you can open any .exe file directly from a folder in your Chromebook. This is perfect for users who have an extensive library of executable files. You can download the EXE Folder Extension from the Chrome web store. Another useful extension for running exe files on Chromebook is the .EXE Adapter Extension. This extension allows you to open exe files directly in your web browser. This is particularly useful if you want to read instructions on how to use a program or if you’re troubleshooting a program with a lot of instructions. You can download the .EXE Adapter Extension from the Chrome web store.

Install EXE Folder Extension

If you have a lot of exe files stored in one particular folder, you may want to install the EXE Folder Extension. This extension allows you to open any file within a designated folder as an exe file. This is great for when you have a sizable collection of exe files that you want to access quickly and easily. You can download the EXE Folder Extension from the Chrome web store.

Install .EXE Adapter Extension

The .EXE Adapter Extension is another useful extension for running exe files on Chromebook. This extension allows you to open any file, including exe files, by dragging and dropping it onto the browser window. This is a very useful feature, especially when you want to open multiple files at once in different tabs. You can download the . EXE Adapter Extension from the Chrome web store.

Best Features Of Chromebook:

  1. Operating system can be upgraded.
  2. Applications can be installed from the Google Play Store, Chrome Web Store, and third-party sources.
  3. It supports multiple accounts for different users of the same device.
  4. App & extension management is done from the Google Play Store and Chrome Web Store, which are accessible from Chromebook’s launcher with a single tap or click on a keyboard shortcut (Alt+Shift+P).
  5. It is capable of running many Android apps on its Linux-based OS, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom among many others via Google Play or Chrome Web Store or by using APK files directly downloaded onto the device itself. This also includes support for audio/video playback and streaming apps such as VLC media player and Plex Media Server.
  6. You can access your Windows desktop remotely using Windows Remote Desktop Connection through your Chromebook’s built-in Android emulator (which is based on x86 architecture). This works in any Chromebook model with an Intel processor since 2013 (except for some newer models such as Pixelbook) as well as any Chromebox models made after 2012; it also works in any machine running Chrome OS with an Intel processor since 2012 (when Google introduced support for x86-based machines running Chrome OS), although only one remote session can be handled at a time (as opposed to three simultaneous sessions that were possible in older models).
  7. The ability to run Android apps on a Chromebook can be a great boon to someone who needs to use certain types of apps that are not yet available on Chrome OS, such as Microsoft Office.
  8. The ability to run Android apps and use Android emulators inside Chrome OS is also making it possible for developers and testers to run various Android applications on their Chromebooks without the need to own an actual Android device.
  9. Chromebooks can also access Linux files and directories via the Files app, Samba, or SSHFS.
  10. You can use the Google Cloud Print service with your Chromebook for printing from your printer connected to the same network as your Chromebook. You’ll need the latest version of the Google Chrome browser installed on your computer and have Google Cloud Print Service enabled in order for this feature to work properly (you can enable it here).

Drawbacks Of Chromebook:

  1. Chromebooks are limited to using Google Chrome as the default web browser.
  2. Most of the apps available on Chromebook are paid apps.
  3. The battery life of a Chromebook is not very long. It can range from 5 hours to 7 hours depending on how you use it and what model you choose.
  4. The hard drive of a Chromebook is very small in size and it cannot be expanded or upgraded without replacing the entire internal storage device with an external hard drive or SSD (Solid-State Drive). 
  5. Most of the Chromebooks do not have an optical drive in them, which means that you cannot install software using CDs/DVDs on your device if you need to do so (you can still install software using USB drives though).
  6. Many newer models of Chromebooks have touchscreen displays but most older models do not have touchscreens, and some newer models have touchscreens that only work in tablet mode (which means that they won’t work when the device is in laptop mode). 
  7. Some older models of Chromebooks don’t support Bluetooth 4.0; this is important for people who use wireless Bluetooth accessories with their devices such as wireless headphones/headsets or wireless mice/mousepads or wireless keyboards/keypads etc.  (This does not apply to newer versions such as Pixelbook).

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many ways to run exe files on Chromebook. Whether you use Google Chrome to run exe files or use an extension to open them, you’ll be able to use these tools as you would normally. Keep in mind that the methods outlined above are intended for users who have a standard Chromebook model. If you have a Chromebook model that comes with unlimited access to Android apps, there are additional ways for you to run exe files on Chromebook. If you have a model that comes with access to Android apps, be sure to check out our other article on how to run exe files on Chromebook. We hope you found this article helpful and that you now know how to run exe files on Chromebook.

Erik McKenzie
Erik is an expert in technology trends and writes tech tips on blogs. He has a passion for helping people understand new technologies and how they can be used to improve their lives.