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How to convert images on a Chromebook

Do you have some image files you need to convert to your Chromebook? Can’t find any Chrome OS apps that do the job? Good news! Since Chrome OS supports Linux, it is possible to install the Converter tool. An easy-to-use tool for converting image formats. Here’s how to get it working on your system.

How to enable Linux support on Chrome OS

Linux support must be enabled on your Chromebook before you can install the Converter app. Luckily, you can quickly enable Linux on most Chrome OS devices. Here’s how to do it.

To start, click on the clock in the Chrome OS taskbar. Then, locate the “gear” icon, and click on it with the mouse to open up the “Settings” area. Once inside of the “Settings” area, find the “Advanced” section, and click on it to expand the options.

Look for the “Developers” section and locate “Linux development environment.” In the “Linux development environment” area, find the “Turn on” button, and click on it to enable the feature.

After selecting the “Turn on” button, Chrome OS will download a Debian container to your computer. This process will not take long. When the download is complete, a terminal window will open.

In the terminal, find the “penguin” option, and select it with the mouse. Clicking on “penguin” will give you command-line access to the Debian Linux container on your Chromebook.

Inside the terminal interface, run the apt update command to update the packages installed on the system. 

sudo apt update

After checking for software updates, you can install them on your Chromebook by entering the following apt upgrade command.

sudo apt upgrade

How to install Converter on Chrome OS

To install the Converter app on your Chromebook, open up a terminal window. You can open up a terminal on the Chrome OS desktop by launching the “terminal” app in the Chrome OS app menu.

Once the terminal window is open and ready to use, find “penguin,” and select it with the mouse to access the Debian Linux terminal interface. Then, use the apt install command to set up the “flatpak” package. Flatpak is required to run the Converter application on Chrome OS.

sudo apt install flatpak

After installing the “flatpak” package on your computer, you will need to enable the Flathub app store. This store handles a wide variety of apps, including the Converter tool. To enable Flathub on your system, enter the following flatpak remote-add command.

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

With the Flathub app store enabled, install the Converter app with the command below.

flatpak install flathub io.gitlab.adhami3310.Converter

How to convert images on Chrome OS

The Converter app can convert a wide variety of image formats. Specifically Avif, Bmp, Heic, Jpg, Jxl, Pdf, Png, and Webp. In this guide, we’ll show you how to convert images to each of these formats.

Before we begin

Before attempting to convert files, they must be placed in the “Linux files” section of the Chrome OS file manager. Add your image files to the “Linux files” folder by selecting “Linux files,” and then add the images to the location.

Convert to Avif

To convert an image file to the Avif format, do the following. First, find the “Open Image” button, and select it. Then, browse for the image file you wish to convert. After adding the image file, find the “Options” area, and select “Avif.” Then, click on the “Convert” button.

Convert to Bmp

To convert an image file to BMP, find the “Open Image” button, and click on it. After that, locate the “Options” area, and click on the “Datatype” drop-down menu. Locate the “BMP” option, and click on it. Select the “Convert” button to convert.

Convert to Heic

To convert your image to Heic, first, click on the “Open Image” button to add your image file. Once the image file is added to Converter, locate the “Options” area, and set it to the “Heic” option. Finally, click the “Convert” button.

Convert to Jpg

Need to convert an image to JPG? Find the “Open Image” button and select it with the mouse. Browse for your image file on your Chromebook. Once it is added, find the “Options” area, and set it to “Jpg”. Finally, click on the “Convert” button.

Convert to Jxl

If you wish to convert an image to the Jxl format, do the following. First, select the “Open Image” button. Then, browse for your image file. When you’ve added the file, click on the “Options” menu, and set it to Jxl. Finally, click the “Convert” button.

Convert to Pdf

It is possible to convert any image to a PDF. To do it, click on the “Open Image” button. Once the image is added to the Converter tool, browse for the “Options” menu, and select it with the mouse. Set the “Options” menu to Pdf, and click the “Convert” button.

Convert to Png

To convert an image file to Png, start by selecting the “Open Image” button. After selecting this button, locate the “Options” area, and set it to “Png.” Lastly, click the “Convert” button to convert the image.

Convert to Webp

If you wish to convert an image to Webp, do the following. First, click on the “Open Image” button. Once it is open, find the “Options” area, and select it with the mouse. Change the “Options” menu to “Webp.” To convert, click on the “Convert” button.

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