Thursday, August 10, 2017

Run Android Apps in Chrome Browser in Windows, OS X and Linux




Unofficially, now it is possible to run any Android app in Chrome browser on Windows, Mac and Linux!!
Here is how you can make it work.
Step 1 - ARChon runtime setup.
  1. Create a folder in desktop ex: chrome app etc
  2. Download ARChon runtime vladikoff-archon runtime zip and extract it in chrome app folder
  3. Open Chrome browser and go to the extensions manager by chrome://extensions/ or Menu > More Tools > Extensions
  4. Enable the Developer mode at top right corner, if it is not already enabled
  5. Select "Load unpacked extension".
  6. Choose the folder containing the ARChon runtime you unzipped earlier, Select it and press "Ok"
The ARChon runtime will now be listed in extensions in Chrome. There may be couple of warnings like below image. However, these are normal and shouldn't affect your ability to run Android apps.




Step 2 - Convert .apk file to compatible with chrome


By chromeos-apk!! 

  1. Copy your .apk file where you can find it
  2. Install Node.js (via http://nodejs.org/) (Ubuntu might need sudo apt-get install lib32stdc++6)
  3. Install the tool (might need a sudo prefix):
  4. npm install chromeos-apk -g OR sudo npm install chromeos-apk -g
  5. Run chromeos-apk [path to apk file] 
  6. Example: For Phone: chromeos-apk com.yourapppackage.android.apkFor Tablet: chromeos-apk com.yourapppackage.android.apk --tablet
  7. This will generate a directory as com.yourapppackage.android
  8. Open the Extensions page in Chrome by chrome://extensions/ or Menu > More Tools > Extensions
  9. Select "Load unpacked extensions".
  10. Choose the folder com.yourapppackage.android from directory
  11. The app will now appear in Chrome extensions list with launch button
    Click on it and you are all set!!

Or

By Twerk!!

  1. Download and install Twerk from Chrome web apps
  2. Launch Twerk 
  3. Drag and drop an Android .apk file from your desktop into the main Twerk window.
  4. Set your preferences for how the app should run (portrait mode, tablet mode, etc.) using the sliders.
  5. Tap the pink Android button and a directory as com.yourapppackage.android is ready to be installed as an unpacked extension.

Settings:

  • Set custom name and icon
  • Package for ‘Archon’ or official runtime
  • Set tablet or mobile layout
  • Set landscape or portrait mode
  • Toggle scaling (may prevent some apps working)
  • Toggle SD Card support
  • Set offline functionality

Sources:

- https://github.com/vladikoff/chromeos-apk
- http://www.omgchrome.com/twerk-chrome-archon-apk-maker-desktop/


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Run Android Apps in Chrome Browser in Windows, OS X and Linux

Unofficially, now it is possible to run any Android app in Chrome browser on Windows, Mac and Linux!! Here is how you can make it w...