Chromebooks are considered simple and easy-to-use machines, but with the addition of Linux, even advanced users can now rely on them. As we have already shown, you can install Steam on your Chromebook, run the desktop version of Microsoft Office on Chromebook, and more, all thanks to the Linux container. So today, we bring you yet another guide where we explain how to install MATLAB on a Chromebook in multiple ways. MATLAB is a popular programming language, especially among engineering students. So let’s go ahead and check out the ways to run MATLAB on a Chromebook and how well it runs.

Here, we have discussed three ways to run MATLAB on a Chromebook – the Web, the Play Store, and the Linux container. Based on your expertise level, you can choose the method from the table below.

  • Method 1: Run MATLAB in Chrome Browser
  • Method 2: Install MATLAB on Chromebook Using Play Store
  • Method 3: Install MATLAB on Chromebook Using Linux

Method 1: Run MATLAB in Chrome Browser

Yeah, the easiest way to run MATLAB on a Chromebook is to run the program on the browser. The web version of MATLAB is not as advanced as the desktop version, but if you are a beginner, it does the job well. Also, if your school or organization has a MATLAB subscription, use that email ID to sign in. This will allow you to use MATLAB without any restrictions and for a longer time. Otherwise, MATLAB offers a 30-day free trial to everyone. With that said, let’s see the steps involved:

  1. Once you have created the account, you will move to the dashboard. Here, click on “Try Now” under “Trials”.

There is an Android version of MATLAB too, but it’s pretty barebones, and you can only perform a few algebraic functions. Also, this method will not work on school-issued Chromebooks since Play Store access is locked for students. Nevertheless, if you want to get started with MATLAB, you can try the MATLAB Android app on your Chromebook.

  1. Now, come back to the MATLAB Android app and sign in.

If you are an advanced user and the web version of MATLAB or the Android app does not cut it for you, install the full-fledged desktop version of MATLAB on your Chromebook through the Linux container. Do keep in mind, you will need ample space (around 10GB) on your Linux partition and a powerful processor to run MATLAB in the virtualized container. Here is how you can proceed.

  1. First and foremost, go ahead and set up Linux on your Chromebook. During the process, make sure to assign more than 20GB of space to Linux. If, for some reason, Linux is not installing on your Chromebook, follow our linked guide to fix the issue.

  2. Now, open the Linux Terminal, enter the below command, and hit enter. Make sure to replace the filename with the actual file name that you copied above.

  3. And that’s it. Here is the full-fledged desktop version of MATLAB running on my Chromebook without any issues.