How to Install a tar.gz File on Chromebook

Chromebook doesn’t have a built-in program to extract and install tar.gz files, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done.

There are a few different ways to install a tar.gz file on a Chromebook, but we’ll cover the two most common methods in this post. The first way is to use the Chrome browser to extract the file and install it manually. The second way is to use an app called crouton to install the file for you.

Each method has its own set of pros and cons, so let’s take a closer look at each one.

What Is a tar.gz File?

tar.gz is a compressed file format that combines the tar archive and the GNU zip compression utility. What this means is that the file can hold multiple files and directories together in one compressed archive.

This makes it a popular choice for distributing software over the internet, as it can reduce the download size by quite a bit. And because Chromebooks run on Chrome OS, which is based on Linux, you’ll be able to install tar.gz files on your device without any trouble.

Install tar.gz File on a Chromebook

We are going to show you how to install LibreOffice, one of the best Linux apps for Chromebooks, in this tutorial. It comes in a tar.gz file format and requires extraction and manual installation on the Linux container. I am assuming you have already set up Linux on your Chromebook. So without further ado, let’s jump to the steps.

1. First of all, move the tar.gz file to the ‘Linux files‘ section under the Files app.

1. Next, press the “Ctrl + Enter” keyboard shortcut on your Chromebook and copy the file name. Make sure you copy the whole file name, including the tar.gz extension.

2. Now, fire up the Linux Terminal and run the below command. Make sure to replace the filename with the one you copied above. It will extract the tar.gz file from a folder on your Chromebook.

sudo tar -xf filename.tar.gz

1. Once the tar.gz file is extracted, move to the ‘Linux files’ section under the Files app and copy the folder name. This time, you will have no extension.

2. Now, run the below command to move inside the extracted folder. Remember to replace the folder name in the command with the actual name you copied above.

cd foldername

1. Under the folder, look for .deb files. As for LibreOffice, the DEB files are under the “DEBS” folder, so we need to move them to that folder. Run the below command to move to the particular folder.

cd DEBS

1. Once here, execute the below command, and it will install all the DEB programs under the tar.gz file on your Chromebook. The installation will take a while, so please be patient.

sudo dpkg -i *.deb

1. Finally, once the installation is complete, you can access the apps from the App Drawer under the Linux folder. That’s it.

Extract and Run tar.gz File on Chrome OS

So that is how you can install a tar.gz file on Chrome OS. I have also mentioned how you can extract the content of a tar.gz file through the Linux Terminal. If you don’t have access to Linux or just want to extract the content of a tar.gz file, follow our guide on how to extract ZIP, 7Z, or TAR files on a Chromebook. Anyway, that is all from us. If you have any questions, let us know in the comment section below.

Conclusion

You have just downloaded a tar.gz file, but you’re not sure how to install it on your Chromebook. Don’t worry – we’re here to help.

First, you’ll need to open the Files app on your Chromebook. Then, go to the location of the tar.gz file and click on it. A new window will open, and you’ll see a number of files inside the tar.gz file. Click on the file with the .tar extension.

A new window will open, and this is where you’ll choose the folder where you want to install the tar.gz file. Click on the folder and then click on Install. The installation process will begin, and when it’s finished, you’ll be able to use the files inside the tar.gz file just like any other files on your Chromebook.