How to install microsoft edge on a chromebook
By Daniel Kim
One of the beautiful things about Chromebooks is that they’re largely cloud-based. You don’t have to fill up your hard drive with endless files. Instead, you can do just about everything through Google Drive. But as great as that is, most of us are used to Microsoft Office apps like Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. Luckily, you can run Microsoft Office on Chromebooks.
You can’t install desktop versions of Office on a Chromebook, but you still have options when it comes to running Microsoft Office on Chromebook. Depending on what software you run on your Chromebook, you’ll be able to use Office in a somewhat limited capacity. Let us tell you how it’s done.
Microsoft Office for Chromebook: Google Play Store
The easiest way to get Microsoft Office on Chromebook is to download the Office apps that are available for Android. Some older Chromebooks still don’t have access to the Google Play Store, but most do. Check out our list of compatible Chromebooks to see if yours has access to the Google Play Store.
Follow these simple steps:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Search for the Office program you want to download and select it.
- Click Install.
- Once the app is done downloading, open the Chrome launcher to open the app.
- Sign into your Microsoft Account or Office 365 subscription account.
Click on the links below to download specific apps:
Microsoft Office for Chromebook: Office Online
If your Chromebook only has access to the Chrome Web Store, you unfortunately can’t download the various Office apps. You’re not out of luck, though. It’s possible to use Office Online.
With the online version, you’ll be able to work on, edit, and share Office files directly in your browser. You need to be connected to the internet to use Microsoft Office on Chromebook, which may not be ideal, but it means you have an alternative to Drive.
The best part is that you can access OneDrive and Microsoft Office web apps with a free account. You get more benefits and extra services if you pay for an Office 365 account, but it’s not necessary just to use Microsoft Office apps online.
Stream from your PC
If you don’t want to use Android apps (or can’t), another option is to run Microsoft Office on a PC and stream it to your Chromebook. This might be beneficial because you get the option to run the full desktop version made for PC. It will have all features and no compromises.
Before you start, make sure you have Microsoft Office and Google Chrome installed on your PC. Also, make sure you have a stable internet connection on both your PC and Chromebook.
How to stream Photoshop on Chromebook:
- Open the Chrome browser on your PC and visit the Chrome Remote Desktop website.
- Click the Set up remote access option.
- Install the Chrome Remote Desktop extension on your PC.
- Return to the original tab on your PC and name your computer.
- Click Next and create a PIN with at least six digits.
- If prompted, enter the PIN you created on your PC.
You could also use a PC cloud service like Shadow. This company offers Windows machines that can be accessed remotely through any compatible device. Supported operating systems include Windows, macOS, Ubuntu, Android, and iOS. You don’t see Chrome OS on the list, but remember Chromebooks can run Android apps! Once set up, you could install Photoshop on your remote Windows machine and stream it. Just keep in mind Shadow isn’t exactly cheap! It currently costs at least $11.99 per month.
Check out the links below to learn more about using Chromebooks and to figure out which ones are worth your money.
Use Microsoft’s web browser on your Apple devices
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Microsoft Edge is Microsoft’s official web browser. It’s also available on both iOS and macOS devices as an alternative to Safari. That means you can use the Edge browser on any iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac device. Here’s how to set up Microsoft Edge on any Apple iOS or macOS device.
Microsoft Edge for iOS
The easiest way to use the Microsoft browser on an Apple device is to download and install Microsoft Edge for iOS. Here’s how.
Open the App Store on the iOS device. Select the Search button in the lower-right corner, then enter Edge browser in the search bar at the top of the page.
Under the entry for Microsoft Edge, select Get, then select Install (or use Touch ID) to approve the download.
Edge installs, and the app appears on the Home screen.
Once you install Edge on your iOS device, you can sign in to any Microsoft account (including Hotmail, Live.com, and Outlook.com). Your favorites, passwords stored in Edge, and reading list transfer over from that account.
Edge for iOS is a minimal version of the browser. For example, the Edge extensions you use on your Windows PC don’t work on your iOS device, and neither will advanced products like augmented reality, WebVR, or Cortana.
There are a few notable features in Edge for iOS, however. It has a QR code reader built into it, a feature called Continue on PC that works like Handoff on Mac, as well as dark and light themes that change the interface colors.
If you want to import favorites from Chrome or Safari favorites, do it from the desktop Edge browser on a Windows or Mac computer.
Microsoft Edge for Mac
The Edge browser is available for Mac devices and can be downloaded from the Microsoft website. Here’s how.
Make sure macOS is selected from the Download drop-down menu, then select Download.
Review the terms of service and select Accept and download. Microsoft Edge downloads to the Mac.
Open the Downloads folder in Finder and select the Microsoft Edge .pkg item. The Edge installer launches.
Proceed through the on-screen instructions to install Microsoft Edge.
If you want to move the Microsoft Edge installer to the Trash, select Move to Trash. If you want to keep the installer for installation on another device, skip that step.
Microsoft Edge launches automatically. Select Get Started.
Choose whether to import browser data from Chrome or to proceed without importing. Make your choice, then select Confirm.
If you opt to install data from Chrome, you are asked to complete a keychain authorization.
Choose a design layout for the New Tab page. Choose Inspirational, Information, or Focused, depending on your taste, then select Confirm.
Sign in to your Microsoft account to sync data. Select Sign In to Sync Data to sync your passwords, favorites, and other data from your Microsoft account. If you don’t want to sync data, select Continue without Signing-in.
You can now use and explore Microsoft Edge for macOS.
If you are unaware, Microsoft just released the first build of Microsoft Edge for Linux, which by extension means that it can also run on a Linux-supported Chromebook. And we are excited to test how well does the new Microsoft Edge run on a Chromebook. So in this article, we bring you a step-by-step guide on how to install Microsoft Edge on a Chromebook and take advantage of many features. We have also discussed what works and what does not work in Microsoft Edge. With all that said, let’s now go through the tutorial and find the detailed instructions.
Install Microsoft Edge on a Chromebook
As we are going to use Microsoft Edge for Linux, you need Linux support on your Chromebook. In case, you have a school-issued Chromebook then you might not be able to install Microsoft Edge on a Chromebook. With that out of the way, let’s jump to the steps.
1. First of all, set up Linux on your Chromebook by following our linked guide.
2. Next, download the Dev build of Microsoft Edge for Linux. Make sure to download .DEB file. Keep in mind, we are downloading Dev build because Beta or Stable build is not yet released for Linux. In the coming months, you can choose to download Beta or Stable build for better stability.
3. Once you have downloaded the .DEB file, double-click on it and click on “Install”. Microsoft Edge will start getting installed on your Chromebook. If the “Install” button is greyed out then move the .DEB file to the “Linux files” section and then run the installer.
4. Now, simply open the Linux app folder under the App Drawer and click on Microsoft Edge.
5. Finally, Microsoft Edge will start on your Chromebook. Now you can use it side by side with Chrome. The best part is that, despite running in a container, Microsoft Edge performs really well and without any stuttering. In fact, scrolling is much smoother than Chrome.
6. Other than that, YouTube videos run fine at 1080p, but there is visible stuttering at 4K. One thing to keep in mind, while you can use the mic in Microsoft Edge, the webcam is not supported due to some unresolved issues in the Linux container.
Run Microsoft Edge on a Chromebook
So that is how you can install and run Microsoft Edge on a Chromebook. There are users who want more options while choosing a browser and it’s good to see MS Edge finally coming to Linux. You can also install Firefox on a Chromebook and you can find the steps from our article on the best Linux apps for Chromebook. Anyway, that is all from us. So how was your experience while using Microsoft Edge on a Chromebook? Do let us know in the comment section below.
Chromebook’s are cheap and accessible and while Chrome OS is pretty good for browsing and using Google Docs, it can’t do much else. If you would prefer to have it run Windows it is possible, but doesn’t work seamlessly. If you still like the idea, here is how to install Windows on a Chromebook.
Important note: Windows isn’t officially supported on a Chromebook and the standard UEFI will need replacing in order to make this work. If you’re not comfortable taking a Chromebook down to its most basic level, you may not want to attempt this. The OS change is also not supported on all hardware. Check the Coolstar.org website to see if yours is supported.
Install Windows on a Chromebook
To make this work you will need a Chromebook, a USB keyboard and mouse and USB installation media of 64-bit Windows.
1. Back up anything you don’t want to lose from your Chromebook.
2. Plug it into the mains and keep it there.
3. Power off your Chromebook and then hold the Escape key and F3 while pressing the power button. You now boot into recovery mode.
4. Press Ctrl + D and then Enter to boot into Developer Mode.
5. Boot your Chromebook once more and press Ctrl + Alt + T.
6. Type or paste ‘shell’ and hit Enter. The prompt should change from ‘crosh>’ to ‘[email protected] / $’.
7. Type or paste ‘sudo crossystem dev_boot_usb=1’.
8. Type or paste ‘sudo crossystem dev_boot_legacy=1’.
9. Plug the Windows installer USB, keyboard and mouse into your Chromebook and reboot.
10. Instead of Ctrl + D, hit Ctrl + L to load into the legacy bios we just enabled.
11. Press Esc when you see the text appear and then select USB as the load device at the next screen.
The standard Windows Install process should now begin. You will need to wipe the drive and install Windows fresh.
Some Chromebooks need you to remove a write-protect screw in order to change the BIOS. Mine didn’t but if you have an older one, check out how to remove the screw here. There are also a couple of other sudo commands that maybe necessary to allow your Chromebook to boot. The page linked above shows you how to do that too.
The exact sequence of events for installing Windows on a Chromebook differs slightly depending on manufacturer. Mine was an Asus, your mileage may vary. Just amend the process as you need to.
Updated on November 8, 2020 by Sagar Choudhury
Microsoft just released the first version of the Microsoft Edge for the Linux OS. This means by enabling Linux on a Chromebook; we can use Microsoft Edge on a Chromebook. It seems a bit weird to use the Microsoft Edge browser on a Chromebook running on Chrome OS, but there is an option. If you want to use Microsoft Edge on your Chromebook, this guide will tell you how to install it.
Installing the Microsft Edge browser on a Chromebook is not a single step process, though. This is now a possibility only because the application is available for Linux now. We can run Linux based apps on a Chromebook if we set up Linux on that Chromebook. So, let’s take a detailed look at how one can set up Linux on a Chromebook and then run Microsoft Edge on it.
How to install Microsoft Edge on a Chromebook?
The Chrome OS comes with a Linux container, which takes only a few steps to be enabled. You can find this in the Chromebook’s settings itself.
- Open Settings on your Chromebook.
- Click on Linux (Beta) tab in the sidebar.
- Then Click on “Turn on” on the right side of the window.
- Click on the Next button in the next window.
- Set a username for your Linux.
- Set the amount of storage from your internal storage that you want to allot to Linux.
- Then finally click on Install.
This might take a while as it will initiate a download. After the download and Linux installation is done in your Chromebook, a terminal window will pop up. That’s when you know that the installation was a success.
To install Microsoft Edge on this Linux setup, you have to use the Debian installer, which you will find on the Microsoft Edge insider webpage.
- Go to the Microsoft Edge Insiders page.
- Here download the .deb file for the developer version. The Stable and even beta version is still a few weeks away. If you want a more stable experience, you can recheck this page for the beta and stable version of this program.
- Once you are done downloading the .deb file, double-click on it, and you will see a pop-up window with the install button on it. If the install button is greyed out, move the downloaded .deb file to the “Linux files” section. Then try double-clicking, and the install should work now.
- After the installation is done, you will see a pop-up message in the bottom right corner of your screen.
- Now open the Linux app folder under the App Drawer, and you will see the Microsoft Edge in this list. Click on it, and you will have Microsoft Edge running on your Chromebook.
Now you can choose to use Linux’s terminal to install the application, too, just like what we do while installing anything on a Linux system. However, that might be difficult for users who are not familiar with the Linux interface much. So to keep this simple, use the method mentioned above of using the .deb installer.
As of now, we only have the developer version available for download. But the webpage says that we can expect an update every six weeks, and there is even a coming soon message below the beta build. So if you want a bug-free experience altogether, you will have to wait a few months for the stable version to release after the beta version goes official. You will find the link to download that from the same webpage as before.
So that is how you can install and run Microsoft Edge on your Chromebook. If you have any questions or queries about this guide, then comment down below, and we will get back to you. Also, be sure to check out our other articles on iPhone tips and tricks, Android tips and tricks , PC tips and tricks , and much more for more useful information.
We did on Apple and Microsoft from time to time but seriously, it’s all in fun. While we live almost exclusively inside of Google’s ecosystem, other operating systems and software offerings have their place and if they work for you and yours, you have our blessing. That said, a lot of people outside of and inside the Chrome camp stirred up a lot of grief for Microsoft when the company moved its Edge browser to the Chromium platform. Not that I have any sort of magical insight into the world of technology but I, for one, was actually happy to see the move. It wasn’t a pride thing like, “oh yeah, Microsoft is using Google’s stuff.” No, it was quite the opposite. Like them or not, Microsoft is the old man in the game and the company brings years of developmental skill to the table.
As the old saying goes, “a rising tide raises all ships.” When Microsoft shifted to a Chromium-based browser, it was good news for Chrome and anyone else using the platform to build a browser. Microsoft now works directly with other Chromium developers and the company’s submissions help everyone to create a better product for you, the end-user. Win-win. While I don’t use Edge because I have no need to, some users may like the idea or actually prefer Microsoft’s browser and that’s okay. But what if you use a Chromebook?
Well, there’s an app for that. Microsoft recently developed a Linux build of the Chromium-based Edge browser and thanks to the Linux container on Chrome OS, you can now install the Developer version of Edge. To get started, you’ll first need to make sure your Chromebook supports Linux apps and that you’ve installed the Linux container. Find out more in our Command Line article here. Now that you’re ready to go, head over to Microsoft’s Edge download page and grab the Linux build for Debian/Ubuntu.
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- Google’s super secret Collections feature will mean the death of bookmarks one way or another by Michael Perrigo
Once you have that downloaded, head to your files folder and find the .deb package for Edge. Right-click on that file and select “Install with Linux.” Give that a minute to load the description and then you can install the browser. Keep in mind, this is the Developer build where developers test new features. It may be a little buggy but fear not, you still have your Chrome browser to use as a default. Microsoft did state that the Beta build for Edge will be coming soon for Linux and that version should be more stable. Once installed, you will find the Edge icon in your app launcher and you can use it by simply clicking that icon. I found Edge to be relatively smooth on my Chromebook and I’ve already discovered some great features such as Microsoft’s Collections that I am really digging. I did have occasional lag when scrolling but remember, this is the Dev version and it’s running in a container. Overall, it is completely usable.
For Enterprise Chrome OS users, Parallels will soon bring a full Windows desktop to Chromebooks but it’s awesome to know that the Linux container can give us access to applications that, a year ago, we just couldn’t use on Chrome OS. Do you use Edge on other devices? What do you like about it and what advantages do you see over Chrome? Drop a comment below and let us know what you think about Microsoft Edge. Have fun.
Shout out to Maurice C. for sharing this tidbit.
With the addition of Linux, you can install other browsers on your Chromebook including Microsoft Edge. In this post, we will show you two quick and easy ways to install the Microsoft Edge browser on Chromebook.
Install Microsoft Edge browser on Chromebook
You can install Microsoft Edge browser on Chromebook in either of the two following ways – but you need to ensure the Linux container is enabled on your Chromebook.
- Using the .deb installer (GUI)
- Using the Terminal
Let’s take a look at the description of the process in relation to each of the methods.
Note: Both methods don’t seem to work on ARM-based Chromebooks. So as long as you’re running an Intel or AMD CPU, you’re good to go.
Enable Linux Container on Chromebook
Since you’ll be installing Microsoft Edge’s latest Linux client, you will first need to enable Linux container on your Chromebook if you haven’t already. Here’s how:
- Open Settings.
- Locate Linux (Beta) in the sidebar.
- Click Turn on.
- At the next window, click Next.
- Specify your Linux partition’s username.
- Specify the disk size. Leave it at the default if you are not planning to install more than a few Linux apps.
- Click Install.
The Linux container will now begin to download and install itself on your Chromebook.
You’ll know it’s finished when a terminal window pops up, and then you can now proceed with either of the methods below.
1] Install Edge on Chromebook using the .deb installer (GUI)
Do the following:
- Head over to the Microsoft Edge Insiders page.
- Download the installer for Debian Linux.
- Open the Files app on your Chromebook.
- Double-click on the downloaded installer.
- Click Install on the prompt that pops up.
- Click the OK button to dismiss the confirmation window.
It will take a minute or two for the Edge installation on your Chromebook.
When the install process has completed you’ll see a notification in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. You can now open Edge from the Linux Apps folder in your app drawer or pin it to your shelf for easier access.
2] Install Edge on Chromebook using the Terminal
Microsoft Edge can be installed via the terminal by first adding the Microsoft PPA. It’s a quick and easy way to keep everything up to date, too.
To install, do the following:
- Copy and paste the code block below into your terminal
- Press Y on the keyboard to confirm you want to install.
Bear in mind, that there are things lacking at the moment, like Microsoft Account sync. However, the basic browser is basically what you would discover on Windows.
Source: Windows Central
Now that Microsoft has finally released Edge for Linux, albeit in preview, the three traditional major desktop platforms are all covered.
But with Linux comes Chrome OS, thanks to its built-in container for running Linux applications right on a Chromebook. Which also means, as odd as it may sound, you can now install and use Microsoft Edge on your Google Chromebook. Here’s how.
No Joy for ARM Chromebooks
It’s not totally surprising, but the current dev channel release doesn’t seem to work on ARM-based Chromebooks. Neither installing through the terminal or using the installer yielded any success on the Lenovo Chromebook Duet, throwing errors for unmet dependencies.
So as long as you’re running an Intel or AMD CPU, you should be OK to try this out.
Enabling the Linux container on a Chromebook
Source: Windows Central
What makes the magic happen is the Crostini Linux container on Chrome OS, which will allow you to install the Linux version of Microsoft Edge on your Chromebook.
If you don’t already have that enabled, you’ll need to get it done before going any further. But it’s really straightforward.
- Open Settings.
- Locate Linux (Beta) in the sidebar.
Click Turn on.
Source: Windows Central
At the next window, click Next.
Source: Windows Central
Give your Linux install a username.
Decide how much space you want to dedicate from your internal storage to it.
Source: Windows Central
Click Install.
Source: Windows Central
The Linux container will now begin to download and install itself on your Chromebook. You’ll know it’s finished when a terminal window pops up, and then you can move on to the next step.
How to install Microsoft Edge on a Chromebook
Source: Windows Central
Microsoft has two methods of installing Edge on Linux, and both are compatible with a Chromebook. You can either download and use the Debian installer, or you can copy and paste some code into the terminal.
Using the .deb installer
- Go to the Microsoft Edge Insiders page.
Download the installer for Debian Linux.
Source: Windows Central
You’ll see a box that says it’s going to install with Linux, hit Install.
Source: Windows Central
When the install process has completed you’ll see a notification in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen.
Source: Windows Central
You can now open Edge from the Linux Apps folder in your app drawer or pin it to your shelf for easier access.
Using the terminal
Source: Windows Central
If you’re enabling Linux on your Chromebook, you will at some point have to get relatively comfortable with the terminal. Microsoft Edge can be installed this way by first adding the Microsoft PPA. It’s a quick and easy way to keep everything up to date, too, and fortunately, Microsoft has produced all the code you’ll need to get going.
Just copy and paste the following code block into your terminal.
Unless you add the -y flag to the final line, the only interaction you’ll be required to make is to press Y to confirm you want to install.
Once the process is complete, you can launch Edge from your Linux Apps folder in your app drawer or pin it to your shelf for easier access.
That’s all there is to it. There are things missing at the moment, like Microsoft Account sync, but the basic browser is essentially what you’d find on Windows. Extensions can be installed from both the Edge and Chrome extension stores, features like collections and family tools are built-in, and while none of the flags in edge://flags appear to mention Linux, there’s a ton in there to play around with.
It’s not necessarily a replacement for Chrome on a Chromebook, but nobody says you have to use Google’s browser.
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Microsoft Edge has been gaining more and more users, although many still doubt about the fluidity of the browser, as they remember the headaches caused by the old Internet Explorer. To be honest, so far Microsoft didn’t have a great reputation for web browsers.
Fortunately, the company realized this and improved its new web browser, making it much more like Chrome. Edge is built from the ground up using Chromium’s open-source, the same one on which Google’s browser is based. Part of the acceptance is due to the fact that Microsoft pushed the new update to all Windows 10 computers. That’s why in this article we will tell you how to install Microsoft Edge on Chromebook.
Microsoft Edge Features
If you’ve decided to switch to Microsoft Edge, first of all, it’s important to know everything it has to offer and what the main features of the browser are:
- It is installed by default on all Windows-based devices.
- It offers integrated tracking prevention and a potentially unwanted program blocker.
- It is a Chromium-based browser that uses, by default, blink’s browser engine.
- It has a wide range of extensions available in the Microsoft Store but tends to prioritize larger developers, making smaller developer extensions difficult to find.
- It’s compatible with Google Chrome extensions, so you can install them from the Chrome Web Store.
- Lack of backward compatibility with Internet Explorer limits the number of extensions available.
- The default home page is a Bing search box with Microsoft News content.
- It is also available for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Android, with support for Linux.
What to keep in mind to install Microsoft Edge on a Chromebook
The first thing you need to know is that Chromebooks are designed to run Google Chrome, however, with new Linux support you can install other browsers. Of course, this would apply to be able to use Microsoft Edge on one of Google laptops. That said, the first thing you’ll need to do is enable Linux on your device, if you haven’t already activated it, you can do so by following these steps:
- Now, click on the Next option.
- Choose a username.
- Decide how much space in your internal storage you want to dedicate to the app.
- To finish, click Install.
Install Microsoft Edge on Chromebook
Now it’s time to install the Microsoft browser on your Chromebook, and to complete the process you just need to do the following:
- Now double-click and run the file that your Chromebook just downloaded, and then select the Install option.
- You’ll see a window appear confirming that the installation was successful.
- *Now, simply open the Linux application folder under the App Drawer and click on Microsoft Edge.
Choosing a browser will likely be reduced to personal preferences related to each person’s use cases. But one thing is for sure, you should not stop trying the new Microsoft browser, as it is definitely worth trying.
