You can already install some Android apps on Chrome, via the Chrome Web Store or by converting them yourself with the ARC Welder, but there aren’t that many working apps available. That may change soon, as users on Reddit have reported that the Play Store will soon be accessible on Chrome OS.
Chrome OS users running the latest developer build, version 51, shared screenshots of a new option in the settings menu: ‘Enable Android Apps to run on your Chromebook’. The option disappears nearly instantly after the menu is opened, but once ticked, a setup wizard appears (as shown above). The setup isn’t currently able to complete successfully, closing automatically, but it’s a very obvious sign of things to come.
Google may announce the addition of the Play Store to Chrome OS at its annual developer conference next month, Google I/O. The company has long been rumoured to be interested in combining its two operating systems, and this move would be one step closer to achieving that goal.
It would also make Chrome OS a lot more attractive as an operating system, particularly for users with touch screens that could best make use of native Android app support. It’s already possible to run Android apps on Mac and Windows with a bit of finagling, but built-in access to the teeming Android app store would be a huge stride forward in usability.
Are you excited by the prospect of getting tons more Android apps on Chrome OS? Let us know in the comments below, or write to us on Twitter!