Google is finally mirroring the Chromebook as a desktop-class machine, with support for Linux and Android apps. However, some features are still missing and this is preventing many Windows users from switching to Chrome OS. I’m talking about desktop widgets that are quite popular on Windows computers and also among Android users. There is a way out though, and in this article, we provide you with a detailed guide on how to get desktop widgets on Chromebook. Similar to Android devices, you can get almost any app widget on your home screen and the best part is that you don’t need to switch to the developer or beta channel. Now having said all that, let’s learn the steps for desktop widgets on Chromebook.
Get Desktop Widgets on Chromebook
Before continuing, your Chromebook Updated to latest stable build and on Android subsystem Pie (Android 9). To check for updates, open Chrome OS Settings -> About Chrome OS -> Check for Updates. Now that we’ve done that, let’s move on to the steps and learn how to install desktop widgets on Chromebook.
1. First, open Google Play Store on your Chromebook and install the Taskbar app (Free). After that open the app and Go to the “Advanced Features” menu.
2. Here, enable both “Change home screen” and “Widget Support” options.
3. Now go back to the main menu and Enable Taskbar toggle located in the upper right corner.
4. After doing this, a ribbon menu appears in the lower left corner. Click on it and then go to the grill menu. In this screen, you can select the widgets you want and they will start appearing on your home screen.
5. If I want more Android widgets on the Chromebook home screenYou can install KWGT (Freeoffers in-app purchases) and Pixxy KWGT ($0.99) apps. With KWGT you can create your own widgets and with Pixxy KWGT you will have access to some of the best designed pre-made widgets.
Get Android Widgets on Your Chromebook Now
This was our little guide on how to get desktop widgets on Chromebooks. After testing this app myself, I can say that the app is pretty choppy at the moment as you will have to click on the ribbon menu every time to access the widgets. Basically, it’s an Android overlay above the actual Chrome OS home screen. Still, if you’re a die-hard widget fan, this might satisfy you until Google brings native support for widgets on the Chromebook. Anyway, that’s it for us. If you run into any problems, you can comment below and let us know.
