Parallels Desktop to let you run Windows apps on Chromebooks

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Key notes

  • Windows apps are coming to Chromebooks, thanks to the Parallels Desktop virtual machine.
  • The Parallels VM will be safely loading the full copy of Windows along with Chrome OS and Android applications.
  • Check out the Chromebook section for more information about loading Windows apps on the Chrome OS-powered laptops. 
  • Don't forget to stop by our Windows 10 hub to see what's cooking in the Windows and Microsoft universe.
Windows 10 apps to run on Chromebooks

Windows is still the most popular desktop operating system to date, which is why developers have built tens of millions of applications for the OS.

Now, according to a plan that Chrome OS product manager Cyrus Mistry recently revealed to the Verge, you’ll soon be able to run your mission-critical Windows 10 apps on a Chromebook,

Windows 10 apps to run on Chromebooks, thanks to Parallels Desktop

Non-Windows PC systems are gaining popularity day by day despite the long-standing dominance of the personal computer OS from Microsoft. On top of that, enterprise and individual users are increasingly exploring alternative experiences on platforms like Chromebooks.

But there’s a major issue here. Just like other third-party applications, Windows apps don’t currently have native support in Chromebooks.

It’s why many of these users may hesitate to move to the lean, web-facing laptops from Google. There’s good news though—Windows apps are coming to Chromebooks, thanks to the Parallels Desktop virtual machine.

Mistry explains:

We want to make sure you have that option [for Windows apps] as well… so that every once in a while you’ll be able to get that when you need it, but we don’t want that to be the world you’re living in.

If you’re wondering how Google will pull that off, be assured that the Parallels VM will be safely loading the full copy of Windows along with Chrome OS and Android applications. As a result, you should be able to deploy your favorite Windows software on the platform without any complications.

Mistry also talked about Coherence, a feature that may let you deploy just the app you need instead of the entire Windows desktop.

In the future we’ll have other types of things where you don’t even have to run the whole Windows desktop, you’ll just run the app you need.

Have you ever needed to virtually deploy Windows 10 on a Chromebook? Let us know in the comments box below.

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