How to install Wine on a Chromebook in 2024

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Installing Wine on a Chromebook can greatly expand the range of software you can use on your device. This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, providing detailed instructions and explanations along the way.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, it's important to note that this tutorial is specifically for Chromebooks with Intel or AMD CPUs that support Linux Apps. Unfortunately, this method won't work on Chromebooks with ARM64 architecture CPUs.

What is Wine?

Wine (which stands for "Wine Is Not an Emulator") is a compatibility layer capable of running Windows applications on several POSIX-compliant operating systems, including Linux. It's important to understand that while Wine can run many Windows applications, it doesn't guarantee compatibility with all software.

Installation Process

Follow these steps carefully to install Wine on your Chromebook:

  1. Enable Linux apps on your Chromebook if you haven't already done so. You can do this by going to your system settings, clicking on the "About Chrome OS" section, and then selecting "Turn on" under the Linux development environment.
  2. Once Linux is enabled, open the terminal from your app menu.
  3. Run the following commands in order. Make sure to copy and paste each command exactly as shown:
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
wget -nc https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/winehq.key && sudo apt-key add winehq.key
echo "deb https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/debian/ bookworm main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/wine_chrome_os_made_simple.list
sudo apt update
sudo apt install --install-recommends winehq-stable nemo winbind
winecfg
ln -s /home/$USER/.wine/drive_c /home/$USER/wine

Let's break down what each of these commands does:

  • The first command enables 32-bit architecture support, which is necessary for many Windows applications.
  • The second and third commands add the Wine repository to your system, allowing you to download and install Wine.
  • The fourth command updates your package list.
  • The fifth command installs Wine along with some recommended packages.
  • The sixth command runs the Wine configuration tool.
  • The last command creates a convenient link to your Wine C: drive in your home directory.

Using Wine

After installation, you can use Wine to run Windows applications. Here's how:

  1. Download a Windows application (look for .exe files).
  2. Right-click on the .exe file and select "Open with Wine Windows Program Loader".
  3. Follow the installation prompts as you would on a Windows PC.
  4. Once installed, you can find and run the application from your app menu.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues with a specific application, consider checking the Wine AppDB for compatibility information and potential workarounds. Remember, not all Windows applications will work perfectly with Wine, but many popular programs run without issues.

Video Tutorial

For a visual guide of this process, please refer to the video below:

Additional Resources

To learn more about Wine and its capabilities, visit the official Wine website. For information about Chromebooks that support Linux apps, check out our guide on Chromebooks with Linux Apps (Crostini) support.

If you're in the market for a new Chromebook, don't forget to review our Chromebook comparison and Buyers Guide to make an informed decision.

We hope this guide helps you expand the capabilities of your Chromebook. Happy computing!

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