So, you want to know if it’s possible to run and play Minecraft on your Chromebook.
A lot of people are looking to buy a Chromebook for its super low price and speed. The performance to price ratio is off the charts.
But, many people want to be able to do some gaming on their new laptop.
Given the price of the Chromebook being as low as $139, many people are curious about whether or not a Chromebook can even run games- specifically Minecraft, due to its enormous popularity. (‘Cause it’s awesome.)
That’s why we put together this guide to go through some pointers that you might want to know. It should answer some questions you probably have about the whole process. It’s not as complicated as people think.
If you’re going to get a Chromebook and playing Minecraft is a must for you, you will definitely want to give this a read-through.
Last updated: 3/8/23. This page is constantly updated for accuracy.
Can you play Minecraft on a Chromebook? The definitive answer…
So, let’s get the first and obvious question out of the way:
“Can I play Minecraft on a Chromebook?”
The short answer?
Yes.
The answer you don’t want to hear? Maybe.
Well, we should say “it depends.”
You’ll need a specific type of processor and graphics card in order to run it.
But the good part is that most Chromebook models have these two necessary components, so if you’re looking for a Chromebook to run Minecraft you’ll be able to find one easily.
If you’ve already purchased a Chromebook and now you’re looking to play Minecraft on it, you probably already have these two components. Hopefully.
What you need to play Minecraft
What’s the point of these two components and why is it so specific?
The problem is that Chrome OS can’t play Minecraft by itself. We’ll need to do some technical work and install a copy of Linux on your Chromebook.
Linux is capable of running Minecraft, but to install it you’ll need a specific processor. The other component is the graphics card.
Even with Linux installed, if your laptop isn’t powered by the right graphics processor, it’ll lag and freeze and frame rates will drop.
You don’t want to mine for diamond only to have your machine lag and freeze on you. And the next thing you know you’re in a pool of lava. Without the diamond. Ouch.
Linux
Chrome OS won’t support Java and requires that you install Linux, which does. Chromebooks are built for security, and disabling Java and third-party programs prevents malicious software from hacking your laptop. So we need to install Linux, which is like a different operating system, in order to get the game running.
Think of it as getting around Chrome OS.
Newer Chromebooks have Linux built-in so you can run Minecraft directly from there. Just follow the Minecraft installation guide and skip over the Linux install instructions.
But if you don’t have the Linux beta feature, you can install Linux the regular way.
With Linux Beta being widely available for most Chromebooks, you have no excuse to not play Skyblock with your buddies or Pixelmon with your hot date (really?) or Brawl or Grand Theft Minecart.
All it takes is an option toggle and BAM. You have Linux. That’s half of the puzzle. The other half is to get the game.
A decent Intel-based processor (CPU)
So, the first thing you want to look for is if the Chromebook it is powered by an Intel processor.
That’s the most important thing.
Many Chromebooks that are powered by Intel CPUs are capable of playing Minecraft. What you want to look for is the Intel Celeron processor. The point being is because Intel processors are a lot easier to work with when you set up Linux on your Chromebook.
That’s the thing.
If you want to play Minecraft on your Chromebook, you have to enable developer mode and then set up a separate OS since Chrome OS isn’t capable of playing Minecraft by itself.
The easiest way to do this? It’s to have an Intel processor.
A lot of Chromebooks are powered by Intel, however, there are a few Chromebooks powered by Rockchip processors such as some ASUS models, although they do offer some Intel versions as well.
Other Chromebooks up powered by the ARM processor, so be on the lookout for that (mainly Samsung).
And you also have some Acer models powered by MediaTek CPUs as well.
If you don’t know what CPU you have, check out this guide on how to check your specs.
Graphics card (GPU)
So now that you’ve narrowed down the Chromebook processor, the next thing to do is to look at the graphics card.
Almost all Chromebooks are powered by integrated Graphics, specifically Intel HD graphics.
Fear not, for Minecraft doesn’t need a beefy GPU to be run. An Intel HD GPU will run Minecraft just fine. You’ll want to choose a Chromebook that has this graphics processor.
Although Intel HD graphics may have a bad reputation, it really doesn’t matter in this case. It’s more than capable of running the game on your laptop.
You won’t be able to run the newest and demanding games, but you’ll definitely be able to run Minecraft. That’s the point of this guide.
You can also use a visual mod like OptiFine to help reduce any lag, even though you’re using an integrated CPU and don’t have a dedicated card. This can help reduce latency and boost your FPS. Simple and basic texture packs also work well.
At least 2GB of RAM
Your next consideration will be the RAM. Most Chromebooks come with 2 gigabytes of RAM, which is enough to run Minecraft. In fact, this is the bare minimum to be considered one, so you should be good to go on this front.
If you’re looking to run a server off your Chromebook, which is entirely possible, you may want to invest in a 4-gigabyte version instead. The more RAM you have, the more multitasking power your Chromebook is capable of.
The server will require more dedicated RAM, so if you plan to launch a Minecraft server for you and your friends, or for strangers, investing in double the ram isn’t a bad choice.
The price differences between the 2 gigabyte and 4-gigabyte versions aren’t too great either. In fact, some 2GB versions are more expensive than their 4GB counterparts.
Be sure to look at the specs when you’re browsing the market. More RAM also allows you to play while hosting the game simultaneously.
If you like to play Minecraft with your friends and you’re usually the server jockey, going with 4GB of RAM is the obvious choice. Go for it. If you’re buying a Chromebook nowadays, it’s easy to get 4GB+ of RAM. It’s double what they came out with when they were new.
Screen size, mouse, and keyboard
Next, we have some other considerations.
Most Chromebooks will offer 11.6 inches of screen size, diagonally. You can find some in the $159 range that offers everything we’ve listed above along with an 11.6-inch screen.
Although this may be on the small side for some Minecraft players or gamers in general, the choice is entirely up to you. It’s not easy to trying to seeing peripherally when your FOV is screwed up on a tiny display. But then again, people play this game on tablets without issue.
Minecraft IS optimized for mobile gaming.
You could jump to a 13-inch screen, however, the price will jump up significantly.
If the screen size matters to you that much, and you don’t want to spend a lot of money, you’ll be glad to know that the Chromebook has an HDMI port so you can plug it into an external monitor, such as your PC monitor.
And if the keyboard and mouse on a laptop bother you, you can also plug in your own mouse and keyboard via the USB port on a Chromebook.
So you can pretty much use your Chromebook as a console to run Minecraft while playing it with your desktop mouse, keyboard, and screen. Pretty cool huh?
That’s about it. That’s all you really need to play it.
So now that we have the technical stuff out of the way, we can actually see what kind of performance we can get. We have a guide to help you choose a Chromebook.
Don’t forget about the Play Store
All Chromebook models made in 2017 or later will likely have the Play Store by default. Go download and install Minecraft from there if your Chromebook is compatible!
If it doesn’t work or says “no devices” then you’ll need to do it the Crouton way. Get Crouton > Get Ubuntu > Get Java > Get Minecraft > Find Diamonds.
Sound good? I hear ya. Don’t let your legs fall into that lava pit.
This is the easiest way to play in 2021. Get your friends ready for some Skyblock. Because it’s the best.
Chromebook performance with Minecraft
Typically, users with an Intel Celeron processor along with Intel HD graphics report frame rates of about 20-50 FPS on low to medium settings.
If you must play on fancy, your frame rates will probably drop to the 10-20 FPS range, which is still pretty decent and playable.
You have to remember, this is a very inexpensive machine that not even made for playing Minecraft in the first place.
So, while your FPS may not be a lot, but it’s still definitely playable when fine-tuned. Again, newer models that have more horsepower will be able to render the game smoothly. It’s all about having enough RAM and CPU power.
Boosting FPS
If you want to increase the FBS and give yourself a nice little boost, just turn down the settings that are unnecessary to you via the menus, or just install OptiFine and tweak your graphics settings.
With some light tweaking, we were able to boost the frame rate by about 30% over the average. That’s amazing for this little beast of a machine. Use skin mods that reduce the textures to basic or 1×1 2×2 texture models for smoother FPS.
Hosting Minecraft on a Chromebook
On hosting environment, we were able to connect up to about 12 users with no performance issues.
This was on an Intel-powered Chromebook with 4 gigabytes of RAM. We wanted to add more users until we started noticing performance issues, however, we couldn’t find anyone else to add.
Running 12 users simultaneously on such a small little machine was indeed impressive. You could use the Chromebook as a dedicated server and just play on the hosted server with another computer.
There were no noticeable lag spikes. We could turn render distance up to 16 without noticing any lag, other than on our own computer playing the game. Just install OptiFine on the machine you’re playing on, and you’ll be fine.
Playing while hosting on the same laptop
We also tried playing on the same Chromebook that was hosting the server.
There were a few lag spikes here and there, but it was really nothing too major. The frame rate was constant at about 30 FPS, which was playable. The only time when it lagged was when other people joined the server. Many other servers hosted by Windows computers do the same thing.
So, we didn’t really think of it as an issue with the Chromebook, but rather just a performance issue that’s widespread across all operating systems in general.
Using OptiFine, we were able to tweak the settings and give about a 5% FPS boost on the same machine.
Without OptiFine and just using the basic menu, 30 FPS was about the average frame rate we could get by turning down graphics settings and maximizing FPS- that was probably the best we could do. The OptiFine tweaking really did help and allowed us to play with a noticeably increased margin.
Still though, even without OptiFine and playing with the basic menu settings, 30 FPS is more than enough to make the game playable, especially since we’re playing on the same hosted Chromebook.
If you really must host and play Minecraft on the same laptop, you’ll be glad to know that it’s entirely possible.
Sound good? Ready to play?
So there you have it.
You can definitely play Minecraft on a Chromebook.
This inexpensive machine is already capable of so much, and having the ability to play one of the most popular sandbox games out there it’s just a nice bonus.
Even for the low price tag, we wouldn’t mind if it couldn’t play Minecraft. But it can. That’s just awesome for a little laptop that costs little-to-nothing compared to the big boys. Isn’t it?
Get your gaming fix for cheap.
Ready to get going? OK. Let’s go.
Grab your diamond pick, shield, and pig saddle and check out this detailed guide on downloading and installing it on your Chromebook.
If you need help getting Minecraft set up on your laptop, or if you have any other questions, just leave a comment below.
Thanks for the guide, really useful. I’m having issues running minecraft on a new acer chromebook 4gb ram, 32gb storage, Intel chip using linux beta. Frame rate/lag makes it unplayable. I simply activated linus beta, downloaded and ran the minecraft.deb and it installed fine, it is just really leggy. Any advice on how I can speed things up?
Try using a better FPS mod
i can’t find the linux installer
I have an Acer 14 which using its beta Linux feature, got Minecraft installed and running. But for some reason, rather than any of the frame rates described I get just a few frames per second, which visible load from top to bottom like an old TV. Suggestion?
Hey Ion,
Are you able to get a copy of OptiFine on there by chance? I’ve read reports form readings saying the traditional Linux installation seems to be work much better for FPS/performance compared to Linux (Beta). It may be worth a try if you’re up for it:
How to install Linux on a Chromebook
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks.
Hello- I have a Chromebook C330 that I am trying to install Minecraft on. I saw that it says Intel processor so I thought I was good. AFter going through your steps and installing Linux I kept getting the “AMD64” error and realized that I have a MediaTex MT8173C processor. Is this going to work or do I need to get a new Chromebook and make sure it is strictly INTEL?
Thanks!
Hey Hollybell,
To keep it simple, yes, you’ll have to get an Intel-based Chromebook to install Linux, which is necessary to install Minecraft.
The only other option is if you already have a copy of Linux on your Chromebook. Newer Chromebooks running Chrome 69 and up may already have this option and you just need to enable it by:
Launching Chrome and searching for “chrome://settings” in your URL bar and then hitting “CTRL + F” and punch in “linux” (or just scroll down).
If you have Linux Beta, you can enable it and just install Minecraft using the .deb file on their “alternate downloads” section here:
https://minecraft.net/en-us/download/alternative/
Then you just double-click the minecraft.deb file and you’ll go through the process like normal.
Again, the feature is limited to only certain Chromebooks and not all will have it- plus I have no idea if it’ll run on a MediaTek CPU. But it’s worth a shot before going out to buy a Chromebook with an Intel CPU.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks.
Help! I closed my chromebook after switching back to chromeos after downloading Linux, when I tried to go back to Linux, it said I needed to type in a username and password, I tried the one I made earlier after downloading Crouton, and it wouldn’t work. I din’t think Linux was running because when I went on the minecraft website it said that they could not find a versoin of minecraft available for me.
Hey WIZARDGUY40415,
Are you still in Developer Mode by chance when you log in? Try launching the command prompt and typing:
“shell”
If you get an error that reads something like “unknown command: shell,” you’re not in Dev Mode because it switched off. Chrome OS automatically tries to revert out of Dev Mode when you boot up your Chromebook for safety. If you don’t hit the right key, it’ll automatically do a Powerwash and revert it back to “normal” Chrome OS.
Let me know if you’re still stuck.
Thanks.
Hi! My son got a Dell Chromebook 11 2-in-1 with Linux built in. I downloaded java8 via Linux and it seemed to work…I then downloaded both the Minecraft.deb and .tar.gz files but don’t know how to run them. Can you please help?
Hey FarmMom2,
You seem to be on the right track so far. Look for the Minecraft.jar file and then go to Properties > Permissions. Then tick the “Allow executing file as program” checkbox.
Double-click the Minecraft.jar file and the launcher will start. You can login with your Minecraft account here!
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks.
What if you have an I3 processor and not a Intel Celeron? Would it still work well?
Hey Deana,
Yeah, it should work no problem. The important part is that it’s made by Intel. The specific model doesn’t matter as much. That’s only important for performance which can be adjusted using the graphics settings in game!
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks.
Can a HP – 14″ Touch-Screen Chromebook – Intel Celeron – 4GB Memory – 32GB eMMC Flash Memory – Grey Chromebook handle this? I got this Chromebook for high school but also for small games to run like minecraft.
Hey there,
Yeah, it should do the trick. Even a Chromebook with just 2GB of RAM can run the game pretty well with the right graphic settings.
The only thing you may want to check on is the Chromebook management. If it’s a school-loaned Chromebook, you won’t be able to enable Developer Mode, which is necessary to get the game set up! You’ll have to get permission from the school in order to do this.
You may want to check out this guide on resetting a school Chromebook.
However, if it’s your own Chromebook, you should have no issue!
I also have tutorials for a bunch of games if you’re interested:
Roblox
RuneScape
World of Warcraft
CS:GO
DotA 2
Rules of Survival
Hearthstone
Path of ExileSteam
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks.
Do u think ur list will be up within the next couple days?
Hey Aaron,
Thanks for checking back.
It should be done within 2-3 days. I’m just getting back from vacation so I apologize for the delay =]. It’ll be added to this post and updated within the next few days.
Thanks for your patience!
Umm I was wondering if u can make a list of laptops that can run Minecraft with 30 fps or higher on servers such as mineplex and archon factions but within my price range of 100-150$ I’m 14 and cant afford a high end PC it would help and thanks alot
Hey Aaron,
I’ll look into this. I think I can definitely come up with something.
I’ll add it to this post and update it with a section dedicated just to Chromebooks that can run Minecraft smoothly online. It’ll take a few days, but I’ll reply to your comment when it’s done. It’ll probably take about a week (currently on vacation right now). You can also sign up for email updates if you’d like.
Thanks for the suggestion!
Thank you so much I’ll really appreciate it
And I believe I am signed up now.
Hey Aaron,
No problem. I’m glad to help you out!
let me know if you have any other requests or questions!
And thanks for signing up. You’ll probably get a kick out of the newsletter =].
Do you have to install Linux?
Hey DAOnlyMoose,
Yeah, it’s required if you want to run the game. Chrome OS doesn’t support Java, but Linux does, so that’s the only way to get Minecraft running currently.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Thanks.
Hey Andy great article! Since developer mode allows Google Play games to be installed on Chromebooks do you have any suggestions for setting up a mouse on a Chromebook for a non-touchscreen version? When i use the mouse i have to click then look around. Is there an option inside the Chromebook to disable touch ability inside the Android app ecosystem?
Hey krisaguero,
That must be super annoying. I can relate!
As of now, there’s no surefire way I know of to disable the touchscreen exclusively when using an Android app from the Play Store. But there is a way to quickly enable and disable the touchscreen function of your Chromebook, which may work within an Android app as well. I can’t confirm whether or not this will work, but it’s super easy to do and worth a shot (especially for your situation!).
Basically, you just need to disable the touch function on Chrome OS by enabling debug mode. Here’s how:
1. Launch the Chrome Browser and type in “chrome://flags/#ash-debut-shortcuts” and hit Enter.
2. Look for “Debugging keyboard shortcuts” and then click on it to enable it (it should be disabled by default).
3. Restart your Chromebook.
4. Log back in.
5. Press “Search + SHIFT + T” (the search key is the magnifying glass key), and the touch function should be disabled! If you press the shortcut again, it’ll toggle back on.
You can also use “Search + SHIFT + P” to toggle the touchpad if needed.
Let me know if it works for you!
Thanks for your comment. And thanks for the kind words.
Hi Andy!
Wish I found you sooner…I already purchased a Acer Chromebook 11R convertible 11.6 ” 4RAM 32GB for my 10 year old daughter who just wants to play mine craft on it.
Can you give me hope? If I follow your guide and install Linux will she be able to play mine craft the version where you can create mods? That’s her interest.
Bought it on amazon so return would take some time. Spent $268 not willing to invest more $ on a laptop for a 4th grader.
Please Help Me
Hey Jackie,
It should be no problem. It looks like you’re good to go!
The Acer 11R is powered by an Intel Celeron CPU, which is pretty much all you need to install Linux and Minecraft. It’s also got plenty of RAM and a nice storage capacity, both of which will make the game run faster and smoother.
I wrote a tutorial that covers how to install Minecraft you can check out. It goes over the entire process step-by-step. I also have another tutorial covering installing Linux on your Chromebook that you may find useful as well.
The tutorial covers installing the Java-based version of Minecraft, which is the one with mod support (so you’re all set in that case). The Windows 10 Edition is the one that’s written in C++, whcih doesn’t yet have much mod support.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
And thanks for the kind words. This is why I write =].
Thanks for the comment.
Thank you! Wonderfully written.
Hey Hawley,
Thanks for your kind words =]. This is why I write.
Hi Andy Z!
I have an Asus C300 chromebook with Intel, and I DESPERATELY want Minecraft! I was wondering if it is possible to download it on here. If it is, do you mind reccommending a few sites I could go to download it? I would apreciate it if you get back to me on my email at [removed]
Thank you so much!!
Hi,
You must be a hardcore fan of the game =]. It sounds like you have the proper hardware to run the game, now you just need to install it.
That’s the difficult part because you can’t just simply install and run it. Getting it on Chrome OS requires some tweaking around, and not everyone can get it to run successfully.
But you can give it an attempt and see if it runs.
Here’s a step-by-step guide for it.
If you have any other questions, just reply to this comment.
Thanks.
i have an acer chrome book 11 which has all the things this says it needs, but i need to know HOW to get minecraft on my laptop. im not very good w computers so where can i find a v detailed list of what i need to do and how to do it?
thanks
Hey there,
This is probably what you’re looking for =].
Thanks.
Can a HP Chromebook 14 run it, I have no Idea how to check the details.
If it has an Intel CPU, it should be possible to play it- theoretically. And HP-branded computers generally use Intel.
If you want to check for yourself, just look for Intel stickers on the device. Intel laptops should have these stickered right next to the touchpad and on the bottom of the device.
can a Samsung Chromebook get minecraft?
Hi,
It depends on the model.
If it’s the newer Samsung Pro with an Intel CPU, then it’s possible. Most other Samsung models use ARM-based CPUs, which aren’t compatible with the game.
I’d suggest sticking with an Acer as they’re cheap and most use Intel processors.
Thanks.
can the samsung chromebook series 3 get minecraft?
Hey there,
The Samsung Series 3 uses an Exynos 5 Dual Processor, which is proprietary. Unlike Intel, it won’t work unless you’re a hardcore IT/tech/computer/coder/programmer expert. I’d say stick with an Intel-based device for the best probability of getting Minecraft running.
Does an HP Chromebook 14 G3 have an intel processor? When I search that up it says Nvdia. Does Nvdia make cpu processors?
Can the asus chrome book c202sa-ys02use mine craft
Hi,
It’s powered by an Intel processor, which is pretty much the only requirement you need to get Minecraft running on it. So it should work, in theory. However, Minecraft is finnicky and doesn’t work on all Chromebooks regardless. You’ll need to give it a go and see if it works. The game seems to work for some but not for others.
Thanks.
so how do I do that to get it running on my Asus chromebook
Hey,
You’ll have to make sure your ASUS laptop is powered by an Intel-based CPU. If not, it won’t be able to install Linux which is necessary to play the game.
Moreover how do I install the processor and does it cost?
I’d recommend just buying a Chromebook with an Intel processor rather than trying to install it yourself. It’s a very technical process, especially for a laptop.
hi I want minecraft and i looked up youtube for it.And all of them say you need browserstack and i am 11 .And that does not work and i have a Acer chromebook 14. Plc help
Hi,
Please see this guide for the steps to get the game running. Browserstack is basically an emulator for smartphone apps, and you’d be playing the Pocket Edition if you follow that method. You don’t need Browserstack if you download Crouton and you can play the desktop version.
Let me know if you need more help.
Thanks.