How to Set Up Krita on a Chromebook

To set up Krita on a Chromebook, turn on ChromeOS’s Linux development environment, then install Krita from Flathub with Flatpak. This installs the Linux desktop version of Krita. First check that Linux is available on your device and that you have enough free storage for the Linux container, Krita, and your artwork.

Before you start

Google says Linux setup is available on supported Chromebook models, but a work- or school-managed device may have Linux disabled by its administrator. If the option is missing, check Google’s ChromeOS Linux support list or ask your administrator.

Krita’s published Linux requirements call for at least 4 GB of RAM and recommend 16 GB. ChromeOS and Linux share your Chromebook’s resources, so a low-memory model may feel slow with large canvases. Google also lists hardware acceleration, including GPU acceleration, as unsupported in the Linux environment. Start with a modest canvas and test performance before beginning a large project. These limits vary by Chromebook.

1. Turn on Linux on your Chromebook

1. Select the time in the bottom-right corner of ChromeOS, then open Settings.



2. Go to About ChromeOS > Developers. Beside Linux development environment, select Set up.



3. Follow the setup prompts. Choose a username and allocate storage when asked, then select the install or setup button. Google says the process can take 10 minutes or more. When it finishes, the Terminal app opens with a Debian Linux environment.

If setup does not start, keep the Chromebook connected to power and the internet. Managed-device restrictions or an unsupported model can prevent Linux from being enabled.

2. Prepare the Linux container

Open the ChromeOS Terminal app and select the penguin session if it is shown. Update Debian’s package list, then install Flatpak:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install flatpak

Press Enter after each line. Review the package confirmation prompt and type Y if you want to continue. The first command refreshes package information; it does not upgrade every package. You can update the container later with Google’s suggested command, sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade.

3. Install Krita from Flathub

Krita’s installation guide documents a Flatpak build, and Krita’s download page links to the community-maintained Flathub package. In Terminal, add Flathub for your Linux user and install Krita:

flatpak --user remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
flatpak --user install flathub org.kde.krita

Run the commands one at a time. When Flatpak asks to install the app and its runtime, review the prompt and confirm. The download size can change as the app and its dependencies are updated. Avoid old version-specific AppImage links from older guides; the Krita download page lists the current Linux options.

4. Launch Krita and open your artwork

When Flatpak finishes, open the ChromeOS launcher and search for Krita. Depending on your ChromeOS launcher, Linux apps may appear in a Linux apps group. Select Krita to start it; the first launch can take a little longer while the app initializes.

For an artwork file that should stay inside Linux, save it in Linux files. To let Krita open or save files in a ChromeOS folder such as Downloads, open the Files app, right-click the folder, and choose Share with Linux before selecting it in Krita’s file dialog. Share only the folders you need: Google notes that files and permissions shared with Linux are available to Linux apps. Save an editable project as .kra; export a copy as PNG or JPEG when you need a format that other apps can view.

Fix common setup problems

• Linux is not listed in Settings: Check the Chromebook’s Linux support status and whether an administrator manages the device.
• flatpak: command not found: Confirm sudo apt install flatpak completed successfully. Reopen Terminal and try again.
• Krita is missing from the launcher: Wait for the install to finish, then search for Krita again. You can start it from Terminal with flatpak run org.kde.krita.
• The canvas feels sluggish: Close extra apps and tabs, and try a smaller canvas. ChromeOS currently does not support hardware acceleration for Linux apps.
• A stylus has no pressure sensitivity: Krita requires a properly configured tablet driver, and Chromebook Linux does not support every peripheral. Test pen input before relying on pressure-sensitive strokes; a mouse or touch input is a fallback.

Update Krita

To check for a newer Flathub build, open Terminal and run flatpak update org.kde.krita. For Linux container backups, use ChromeOS’s Linux backup and restore tools. Back up important .kra files separately as well, especially before removing the Linux development environment.

For current installation details, see the Krita installation guide, Krita’s download page, Krita on Flathub, and Google’s Chromebook Linux instructions. For backup and restore steps, see Google’s Linux backup guide. Read Krita’s tablet setup notes if pen pressure does not work.