If you recently made the switch from Windows to a Chromebook, or are running ChromeOS on a non-Chromebook tablet or PC, you're probably missing some of your favorite apps. So you might be wondering if you can run Windows apps on a Chromebook. Well, wonder no more, as the answer to that question is yes, you can run Windows apps on a Chromebook, with paid software to help you do it.
It is no secret that some Windows apps can't run natively on ChromeOS. Users often miss their favorite productivity apps, creator tools, and games when making the switch. Luckily, there are options if you need Windows apps on your Chromebook. One of the most powerful methods to accomplish this is to install Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS. Note though that this software is currently targeted at enterprise users, so individual licenses are not yet available. If you're part of the target audience, this can be an amazing supplement to your ChromeOS workflow.
Run Windows apps on Chromebook with Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS
Source: Parallels
Parallels Desktop is a full-featured Windows container that runs natively on ChromeOS. This software allows you to run the full version of Windows, but there are a few important things to be aware of. The Parallels Desktop software is currently only available at scale to business customers, making this option of little use to individual users at the present time.
With Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS, IT departments can enable proprietary and full-featured Windows applications — including native Microsoft Office — on ChromeOS devices, online and offline. You will need a Chrome Enterprise upgrade to run Parallels. But with Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS, you can switch between ChromeOS and Windows without rebooting, you can even open ChromeOS files in Windows (and vice versa), and use the full version of Microsoft Office. Other highlights of the product include running Windows full screen, printing in Windows with printers saved in ChromeOS, sharing the clipboard, and working offline in Parallels.
Even though all of that might sound great, there are some caveats to all this. You'll need to keep in mind that not all Chromebooks can run Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS. There are some really strict requirements: You need a Google Admin console, Chrome Enterprise Upgrade/Chrome Education Upgrade, Microsoft Windows, and a corporate storage server. In terms of hardware, supported processors include an Intel Core i5 or i7 and AMD Ryzen 5 or 7. You'll also need a minimum of 8GB of RAM and 128GB SSD local storage on your device.
While some of these specifications seem limiting, keep in mind that this software is currently targeted at enterprise customers. If your Chromebook or ChromeOS tablet meets the minimum requirements, you might also enjoy buying a docking station to turn your Chromebook into a full workstation.
Which Windows apps run on a Chromebook via Parallels?
Source: Parallels
With Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS, you can run the majority of popular Windows apps. Perhaps you want to run the full Windows version of Microsoft Office? This is one of the most compelling use cases of Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS. With a full version of Windows installed on your ChromeOS device, you can easily download and run the full desktop version of every Office app.
There are some key advantages to this method. Most importantly, you retain all the power of the Microsoft apps. Some of the pro features, such as the Data Analysis ToolPak in Excel, are missing from the web app and Android app. Running Parallels on your Chromebook allows access to all the functionality only found in the desktop apps.
Most PC games should also run fine using Parallels, but keep in mind that gaming quality will depend on the specs of your Chromebook. The good news is that Parallels requires fairly beefy specs to install, so you should be able to play some games as well. Not all functionality works exactly the same as a true Windows machine though. For instance, you can run the Windows version of iTunes more smoothly using Parallels. However, you lose the ability to sync an iPhone or iPod. This is an important caveat to keep in mind. Even though you can run Windows on your Chromebook with Parallels, the device doesn't always behave like a PC.
Other options
While Parallels Desktop is the best way to run Windows apps on a Chromebook, there are other options. You can always try a remote desktop option and stream a Windows laptop to your Chromebook over your network in an app like Chrome Remote Desktop, or Microsoft Remote Desktop. Other than that, you can also try Cameyo, a new option for ChromeOS Enterprise users, which lets you virtually stream Windows apps to a Chromebook.
So, it turns out you can indeed run Windows apps on any of the top Chromebooks, provided you are an enterprise or education customer. If you're willing to buy Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS, it's the best way to get the full power of Windows comes to your Chromebook.
Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS
Parallels Desktop is a full-featured Windows container that runs natively on ChromeOS. This software allows you to run the full version of Windows on your Chromebook.
