How to install Firealpaca on a Chromebook in 2025

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In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of installing FireAlpaca on your Chromebook in 2025. FireAlpaca is a powerful, free digital painting and drawing software that's gaining popularity among artists and designers. By following these steps, you'll be able to harness its capabilities on your Chromebook, opening up new creative possibilities.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, it's important to note that this tutorial is specifically designed for Chromebooks with an Intel or AMD CPU that support Linux Apps. Unfortunately, this method won't work on Chromebooks with an ARM64 architecture CPU. If you're unsure about your Chromebook's specifications, you can check our list of Chromebooks with Linux Apps (Crostini) support.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

We've created a video tutorial to guide you through the process visually. We recommend following along with both the video and the written instructions below for the best experience.

1. Enable Linux Apps

First, we need to enable Linux Apps on your Chromebook:

  1. Go to your Chromebook's Settings
  2. Click on the "About Chrome OS" section in the left panel
  3. Under the "Developers" section, choose to set up Linux
  4. Follow the prompts to turn on Linux

2. Install FireAlpaca

Now that Linux Apps are enabled, we'll use the terminal to install FireAlpaca. Here are the commands you'll need to run, in order:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install kmenuedit fuse libnss3
wget https://firealpaca.com/download/linux
mv linux firealpaca.AppImage
chmod 755 firealpaca.AppImage
./firealpaca.AppImage
kmenuedit

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

  1. sudo apt update: This updates the package lists for upgrades for packages that need upgrading, as well as new packages that have just come to the repositories.
  2. sudo apt install kmenuedit fuse libnss3: This installs a menu editor and other necessary packages for FireAlpaca to run properly.
  3. wget https://firealpaca.com/download/linux: This downloads the FireAlpaca installer.
  4. mv linux firealpaca.AppImage: This renames the downloaded file to "firealpaca.AppImage".
  5. chmod 755 firealpaca.AppImage: This changes the permissions of the file to make it executable.
  6. ./firealpaca.AppImage: This runs FireAlpaca to ensure it works correctly.
  7. kmenuedit: This opens the menu editor, allowing you to add FireAlpaca to your app menu for easy access.

3. Add FireAlpaca to Your App Menu

After running the kmenuedit command:

  1. Choose a category for FireAlpaca in the menu editor
  2. Click on "New Item"
  3. Choose a name for the desktop entry (e.g., "FireAlpaca")
  4. For the command, enter the path to the AppImage file you downloaded
  5. Save the launcher

Using FireAlpaca on Your Chromebook

Congratulations! You've successfully installed FireAlpaca on your Chromebook. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you start using it:

  • All content you want to use with FireAlpaca must be in your Linux files in your file manager. This is because FireAlpaca runs in the Linux container and can only access files within that environment.
  • FireAlpaca offers a wide range of brushes and tools. Take some time to explore these features to make the most of the software.
  • If you encounter any issues, try restarting the Linux container or your Chromebook. Most minor problems can be resolved this way.

Additional Resources

To help you get started with FireAlpaca, we've prepared a Google Doc with additional tips and tricks. Feel free to refer to this as you explore the software.

For more information about FireAlpaca and its features, visit the official FireAlpaca website.

Conclusion

Installing FireAlpaca on your Chromebook opens up a world of digital art possibilities. Whether you're a professional artist or just starting out, this powerful tool can help bring your creative visions to life. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't be afraid to experiment with different tools and techniques!

If you have any questions about the installation process or using FireAlpaca on your Chromebook, please don't hesitate to ask in the comments section below. We're here to help you on your creative journey!

For more helpful guides and tutorials, check out our Chromebook comparison and Buyers Guide. Happy creating!

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