Skip to main content

As promised, Google is killing off Chrome Apps everywhere but Chrome OS

Chrome OS
Image used with permission by copyright holder
If you’ve been using Chrome Apps to get your work done, then you’re going to need to rethink how you do things. Effective immediately, Google has made it a bit more difficult to find Chrome Apps in the Chrome Web Store in what is likely a huge hint from the search giant that you’ll want to start finding alternatives.

The news comes via Ars Technica, which noticed that the Chrome Apps option has been removed from the Chrome Web Store. Now, only Extensions and Themes remain, although Chrome Apps are still available via direct links — you’ll just no longer be able to search and browse for them as in the past.

Recommended Videos
Mark Coppock/Digital Trends
Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

This move by Google isn’t a surprise. It announced the change more than a year ago, in a blog post that prompted developers to move away from Chrome Apps unless they’re happy developing for Chrome OS only. That platform will continue to support Chrome Apps into the future, along with Android apps. As Google indicated, the impact won’t be felt by too many Chrome users, as only 1 percent of them actively use Chrome-packaged apps, or those that are downloaded to a machine and are fully available offline.

According to Google, the future on PCs other than Chromebooks is Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). As Ars Technica describes them, PWAs combine WC3 standards to create app-like experiences that can work in any browser and on more platforms. Microsoft, Apple, Samsung, Firefox, and Opera, among others, currently support PWAs to one extent or another, and therefore provide more assurance of a consistent experience no matter which device you happen to use.

You’ll want to start migrating your workflow away from Chrome Apps as soon as you can, but never fear — the apps won’t stop working simply because Google has de-emphasized them in its Web Store. However, they’ll no longer be actively supported on any platform other than Chrome OS. Google plans to implement PWA desktop apps sometime in 2018, and there’s no word yet if it means to remove Chrome Apps from Chrome OS and bring its own platform in alignment with the rest of the industry.

Mark Coppock
Mark Coppock is a Freelance Writer at Digital Trends covering primarily laptop and other computing technologies. He has…
Your Google Photos app may soon get a big overhaul. Here’s what it looks like
The Google Photos app running on a Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Google Photos is set to get a long-overdue overhaul that will bring new and improved sharing and notification features to the app. With its automatic backups, easy sorting and search, and album sharing, Google Photos has always been one of the better photo apps, and now it's set to get a whole slew of AI features.

According to an APK teardown done by Android Authority and the leaker AssembleDebug, Google is now set to double down on improving sharing features. Google Photos will get a new social-focused sharing page in version 6.85.0.637477501 for Android devices.

Read more
Why even Chrome devotees should give the Arc web browser a shot
The Arc web browser running on macOS Ventura, showing an Easel with live snippets listing temperatures in New York and flights there from London.

Google Chrome is one of the best browsers you can get, and its popularity among internet users is absolutely unrivaled. But there’s a new kid on the block called Arc that aims to steal some of Google’s thunder.

We’ve written about it before, and Arc is an intriguing web browser for a whole host of reasons. But should you ditch Chrome for Arc? That’s what we’re hoping to answer in this guide. Here, we’ve compared the two browsers across a range of metrics, from design and features to performance and security. If you’re not sure which browser is best for you, read on to find out.
Design
Arc features a Split View mode that lets you view multiple tabs side-by-side. Alex Blake / Digital Trends

Read more
Google may finally merge Android and ChromeOS after all
FerroChrome preview on a Android phone

Chromebooks and Android devices have always remained two distinct platforms, but a new report suggests that Google might be interested in a closer integration in the future.

Android Authority reports that Google played around with running ChromeOS on a Pixel 8, perhaps as an additional feature for Android devices.

Read more