How to use crossover 21 to run Windows apps on your Chromebook – Guide

It has been a while since we played CrossOver. It is a commercial product from CodeWeavers, the developers behind Wine and Proton, that allows Windows applications and games to run natively on Linux and macOS. Unfortunately, the nasty old days of CrossOver running on Chromebooks through limited Android integration are behind us. They changed to run it in the Linux environment (Crostini), which provides an improved experience. Installation is easier, compatibility is much better, and even the user interface has been given a little more polish. Check out all the new updates on CrossOver 21 on the CodeWeavers blog.

CrossOver is a productivity tool company that focuses on making games work on Linux. They have done an amazing job on Apple’s ecosystem, making their product run on 64-bit macOS systems only and also run on the new M1 processor. Very impressive to say the least!

CrossOver is a free software product that allows you to run Chrome OS on a Windows computer. It has several features that are not available with Parallels for Chrome OS. For example, CrossOver does not require an enterprise license for Chrome OS. Additionally, CrossOver offers great integration with Chrome OS. The only downside is that it is a paid product. However, you can get it for free by subscribing to be a beta tester.

CrossOver for Chrome OS is a Windows-based alternative to the Chrome OS operating system that allows users to run Windows applications on their Chromebooks. This installation tutorial is less than two minutes long, and it’s easy to follow.

When installing Windows software, CrossOver will create a “bottle” (think of it as a standalone Windows installation), also known as a “Wine prefix”, installs third party software as sources (similar to what the winetricks project does) , installs other Linux dependencies and finally installs the chosen application. Once the installation is complete, a shortcut to the app will be available in the CrossOver app itself and also in the app launcher in Chrome OS.

Now that we’ve cleared up some of the history and details, let’s move on to the fun part: actually installing Windows apps! As an example, let’s walk through the Steam installation. Most software requires that you have a digital copy or an external CD/DVD drive with the disc inserted. The Steam installer will actually come out and download it for us automatically. ..

Steam is a great way to keep your games installed and organized. You can also use it to play some of the more popular games, like Call of Duty, without having to worry about cheating.

Select the “Install Windows software…” button and follow the prompts to install the software.

There are two different ways to install Windows programs. One is recommended to use “Select Application” and find an existing installer. This will provide all the necessary adjustments to make it work. If the app isn’t listed, use “Select Installer” and use a local executable install file on your Chromebook.

I would like CrossOver to install additional OS packages in the Linux environment.

Wait until everything is downloaded and installed, then have a drink of your choice or captain’s choice. Tea, Earl Grey, or Warm.

After installation, a shortcut called “Steam (CrossOver)” will be created. Honestly, I tried some games through Steam that didn’t work or didn’t have enough space on my Chromebook. The state of games on Chromebooks is still heavy work in progress. CrossOver 21 relies heavily on Vulkan for the best gaming experience, so we hope it will be officially supported in the Linux environment soon. I must also reiterate that, although I have installed Steam as an example, you will have a better experience if you find and specifically install a game or program you want through CrossOver itself. It will automatically install all the specific dependencies you need to make your app work. For general gaming, the native Linux client for Steam with Proton enabled is still the best experience.

Do you prefer Parallels for Chrome OS, upstream Wine or just using native Linux apps?

Final note

This guide will show you how to use crossover 21 to run Windows apps on your Chromebook. If you have any questions about this article, please ask us. Additionally, please share your love by sharing this article with your friends.