Last update on 2024-10-13 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
Fortnite has only grown in popularity since its release. The beautiful colors, the ability to play for free, and the fun gameplay have hooked people of all ages to play for a few hours daily.
Some people, though, only play casually and don’t want to buy a gaming PC to dedicate to Fortnite, but would rather pick up a Chromebook to work and then play on the off-hours.
In this article, we will check how it is possible to play Fortnite on a Chromebook.
Are Chromebooks Good For Gaming?
No. Chromebooks are not devices optimized for playing. And that comes in two different ways: first, the operating system. Chrome OS doesn’t support the most popular games being released nowadays. Since it doesn’t have to deal with massive computing, Chrome OS is a lighter system designed to run on lower-end hardware.
Alienware is better when it comes to gaming. Read Alienware Laptop For Fortnite.
The second reason that makes Chromebooks ill-suited for gaming is the hardware. As explained, Chrome OS is perfect for running with lower specs.
Most Chromebooks you will find have 4GB RAM when the minimum required for most popular games is 8GB RAM.
Storage is also low on these devices so that you can’t install games without compromising your capacity to work and study, as the device will run poorly if it is full of files.
However, some people still find a way to play on Chromebooks. Stadia, for example, is available on almost any device. If you don’t know Stadia, it is a cloud gaming service that you have to pay to use.
Once you have a Pro subscription, you get access to any game within the Pro catalog to play on your device without having to install it.
Another option is to play graphically light games. On the reviews section of Amazon, many parents say they bought a Chromebook for their kids to play Roblox.
Can You Play Fortnite On A Chromebook?
Yes. Even if Chromebooks are not meant for gaming and Fortnite doesn’t natively support Chrome OS, two workarounds allow you to play it on your Chrome device.
One of the workarounds involves installing the Epic Store on your Chromebook even if it is not meant for Chrome OS.
This is a less-used method that will only work if your computer has the hardware to support playing Fortnite. If your Chromebook has too low specs, you run the risk of compromising its physical integrity.
The other method is similar to what is done on an Android phone when you want to install apps via their apk files instead of downloading from the Play Store.
To be sure, you will even use an apk file to install Fortnite on Chrome OS. This method is more secure and there is no chance it will damage your hardware, so we will only focus on it in this article.
Installing Fortnite Android App on a Chromebook
There are many steps for installing Fortnite on your Chromebook through the Android app. The first step is enabling developer mode.
- To enable developer mode on your Chromebook, your Chromebook first needs to be turned off. When turning it on again, you have to press Esc+Refresh while pressing Power.
- The device’s system will show a screen “Chrome OS is missing or damaged”. However, it is not damaged. This is the screen that is supposed to appear in order to activate developer mode. Then you have to insert a USB stick and press Ctrl+D.
- If prompted, confirm with Enter and your Chromebook will reboot. Once it initializes again, follow all the prompts that show up.
The second step is making sure Android apps are supported on your Chromebook. You need to make sure your Chromebook has Chrome OS 53 or higher. 52 and below won’t support this method of installing Fortnite.
- Click on the taskbar (where you can see the time)
- Select Settings (the gear icon)
- Click on “About Chrome OS”
- On the next screen, you will be able to know which version of Chrome OS is installed on your device
The third step is setting up your system to receive the game apk you will install.
- Go to Settings
- Go to “Google Play Store”
- Go to “Manage Android Preferences”
- Click on “Security”
- Allow “Unknown Sources”
The fourth and final step is getting the Fortnite apk to install on your Chromebook.
- On your Android phone, go to fortnite.com/android and save (download) EpicGamesApp.apk
- Use a USB cable to connect your phone to the Chromebook and transfer the apk you just downloaded into your computer
- Now run the apk that is inside the Chromebook. When it asks “open with…”, select “package installer”
- Next, click “install”
- After installed, click on “open”
- Click on “install” again. Now Fortnite will be installed on your device.
- If you see a message telling you, “device not supported”, you won’t be able to play the game properly
- When the installation is over, you can play Fortnite on your device
Three Best Chromebooks For Fortnite
Picking up the right Chromebook for a certain task involves knowing how much hardware power you need for that task.
Considering that you will play Fortnite and perhaps other light games supported on Chrome OS, it pays off to get an excellent Chromebook.
In this part of the article, we will recommend machines that should support playing Fortnite with no trouble.
You can install the game on them through the method just explained or, if you are lucky, you can install the proper PC version through other methods as mentioned.
Acer Chromebook Spin 713
Last update on 2024-10-13 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
This Chromebook was already recommended in other articles here at WebWut, and out of due necessity.
Among Chromebooks available in the market right now, the Acer Spin 713 (as well as its improved version C713) is one of the models which offer the best cost-benefit.
You get strong hardware while you also won’t get stuck with a display that is too small nor too large to carry around.
Playing games on it, such as Fortnite or anything available on Stadia should be a piece of cake due to display size and specs.
Fortnite on Android requires at least 4GB RAM, so this Chromebook should run the game without problems.
What’s more, you even get a computer which can work as a tablet in case you like to read books, comics, or watch shows on a streaming service.
Specs:
- 2-in-1 13.5″ 2K display (touchscreen)
- Intel i5-10210U, 4.20 GHz
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB SSD
- 4 lbs
Pros
- SSD makes all applications fast
- Enough RAM to run all apps available for Chrome OS and Linux
- Strong chassis
- 3:2 aspect ratio display
Cons
- A bit overweight
- No stylus is included when you buy it
- Poor audio
What do the reviews say?
Costumers point out that this Acer Chromebook is resilient and delivers powerful processing. Some of them are aware of the low points of it but tell that these cons don’t really make a difference in their daily uses of the device.
Asus Chromebook Flip C214MA-YS02T
Last update on 2024-10-13 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
Perhaps you are on a budget or just don’t want to spend much on a Chromebook. Maybe you are a parent just looking for a cheap computer that your kid will be happy with to play Fortnite and the other games supported by Chrome OS.
Alright, then Asus Chromebook Flip might be the machine you have been looking for.
While this Asus device has lower-end hardware when compared to the Acer recommended above, it still does the job nicely. Asus is known for putting up great devices, both computers, and smartphones. That way, you can trust that you will buy a machine to last long.
Moreover, this model is lightweight, meaning you can carry it around and play wherever you want.
Specs:
- 11.6-inch, 1366 x 768 pixels
- Intel Celeron N4000, 2.6 GHz
- Intel UHD Graphics 600
- 4GB RAM
- 32GB/64GB flash memory
Pros
- Easy to carry around
- Flappable
- Fabricated by a reliable company
Cons
- Low specs
What do the reviews say?
Just as pointed in our review, customers usually buy this laptop to play light games or to give it as a gift for their children to play with. On YouTube, plenty of teenagers teach other how to download Fortnite and also other games into this Chromebook and similar models.
Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5
Last update on 2024-10-13 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
Lenovo Flex 5 is the middle ground in this article. While Acer Spin 713 delivers high specs for a Chromebook and Asus Flip has the bare minimum you need to play Fortnite, Lenovo Flex 5 puts you in a very comfortable spot.
This model is a bit more expensive than the Asus Chromebook, but it has one single benefit which speaks volumes: the Intel Core i3 processor. In case you are not a tech nerd, having the right processor changes everything.
Of course, on a Chromebook, even low specs are very good because Chrome OS makes do with little.
Still, if you are looking for a Chromebook that can tackle harder tasks such as playing games, Lenovo Flex 5 might become the apple of your eye.
Specs:
- Intel Core i3-10110U, 2.1 GHz
- 13.3-inch, 1920 x 1080 pixels
- 64 GB flash memory
- 2.97 lbs
- Intel integrated graphics
- 4GB RAM
Pros
- Lenovo computers make the most out of low-end hardware
- Excellent screen
- Great battery life
Cons
- Poor audio
- Working outside is made hard because of the dim display
- Unable to upgrade memory
What do the reviews say?
Costumers say that this Chromebook presents great cost-benefit for what it delivers. On the other hand, some misfortunate buyers had problems with its physical integrity and malfunction after six or more months.
This might lead to the conclusion that the device is fragile and you need to take extra care with it.
Final Thoughts
Chromebooks nowadays are a great option for people who don’t need the most powerful machines for working and studying.
And they can even be used to other stuff as gaming as long as you feel satisfied with games such as Fortnite and some minor titles which you can find online.
The perfect Chromebook for doing all of that is Acer Spin 713, but picking up any of the two others will also prove a worthy investment.