How to install Audacity easily on a Chromebook

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In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of installing Audacity on your Chromebook. Audacity is a powerful, free, open-source audio editor and recorder that can be incredibly useful for a variety of tasks, from podcast creation to music editing.

Why Install Audacity on a Chromebook?

Chromebooks are known for their simplicity and cloud-based approach, but with the addition of Linux app support, they've become much more versatile. Installing Audacity on your Chromebook allows you to perform advanced audio editing tasks without needing to switch to a different device. Whether you're a student working on a multimedia project, a podcaster, or a music enthusiast, having Audacity at your fingertips can be a game-changer.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure that your Chromebook supports Linux apps. Most modern Chromebooks do, but if you're unsure, you can check our list of All Currently Supported Chromebooks with Linux Apps (Crostini) support.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Follow these steps to install Audacity on your Chromebook:

1. Enable Linux Apps

If you haven't already enabled Linux apps on your Chromebook, you'll need to do so first:

  1. Go to your Chromebook's Settings
  2. Click on the "Advanced" section
  3. Find the "Developers" section
  4. Click on "Turn On" next to "Linux development environment (Beta)"
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup

2. Install Audacity

Once Linux is enabled, you can install Audacity using the terminal:

  1. Open the Linux terminal from your app menu
  2. Copy and paste the following command:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install audacity -y

This command updates your package lists and installs Audacity in one go.

3. Enable Audio Input

To use Audacity's recording features, you need to enable audio input:

  1. Go to your Chromebook's Settings
  2. Navigate to the "Linux" section
  3. Find and enable the "Allow Linux to access your microphone" option

Using Audacity on Your Chromebook

After installation, you can launch Audacity from your app menu. Here are a few tips to get you started:

  • To record audio, simply click the red record button in Audacity's main interface.
  • To import audio files, place them in your Linux files folder, which you can access through the Files app.
  • When exporting your projects, the files will be saved in your Linux folder by default.

Video Tutorial

For a visual guide of this process, check out our video tutorial:

Additional Resources

To further enhance your Audacity experience on Chromebook, consider these resources:

We hope this guide helps you get started with Audacity on your Chromebook. Happy audio editing!

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