To get Snapchat on a Chromebook, open Chrome, visit web.snapchat.com, and sign in to your Snapchat account. Snapchat for Web lets you chat, make audio and video calls, and create Snaps without Google Play. Use the latest available Chrome browser and an internet connection on a Chromebook that permits access to Snapchat.
You can also install Snapchat’s Android app when Google Play offers it for your Chromebook. For quick access to the browser version, install Snapchat for Web as a web app or pin a shortcut to your shelf.
The short version
- Start in Chrome: Open web.snapchat.com and sign in to use Snapchat for Web.
- Android is conditional: Install Snapchat by Snap Inc. only when Google Play offers it for your Chromebook.
- Keep it handy: Install the web app or pin Snapchat to the shelf for quicker access.
- Allow access: Camera and microphone permissions must allow Snapchat to use them for calls and Snaps.
| Option | What you need | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Snapchat for Web in Chrome | Latest available Chrome and permission to access Snapchat | Chat without installing an app |
| Snapchat Android app through Play Store | Google Play support and Snapchat compatibility | Install directly on your Chromebook |
| Snapchat Android app through Google Play’s website | A compatible Chromebook associated with your Google account | Install or reinstall from the website |
| Web app through Chrome | Web app installation permitted | Open the web experience as an app |
| Web app through Snapchat’s controls | Installation controls available in Snapchat for Web | Install from within Snapchat |
| Website shortcut on the shelf | Snapchat for Web open in Chrome | Keep a shortcut within reach |
Open Snapchat in Chrome
Launch Chrome and open Snapchat for Web, then sign in to your Snapchat account. The address redirects to snapchat.com/web, which is the same web experience. Select a friend in the Chat feed to begin a conversation.
For a keyboard shortcut, press Ctrl + L, type web.snapchat.com, and press Enter. Snapchat permits only one computer session on Snapchat for Web at a time, so keep that limit in mind when moving between computers.
Install the Android app when your Chromebook supports it
To set up Google Play on a Chromebook that supports Android apps, select the time and open Settings > Apps > Manage Google Play preferences. If initial setup appears, select More and complete the displayed Google Play setup. Android apps on a Chromebook use the first Google account signed into the device.
Open Play Store, search for Snapchat, and check that the publisher is Snap Inc. Select Install when Google Play offers it, then open Snapchat from Launcher and sign in. Google Play support alone does not guarantee that Snapchat is compatible with your particular Chromebook, and managed devices may restrict installation.
You can also install or reinstall through the official Snapchat Google Play listing while signed into your Chromebook’s Google account. Select Install, Installed, or Enable, whichever is displayed, choose your Chromebook, and select Install. A grayed-out Chromebook cannot receive the installation, so use Snapchat for Web if your device permits access.
Skip older emulator instructions and use Snapchat for Web or the official Google Play app on a compatible Chromebook. Snapchat lists emulators among unauthorized third-party apps and tells you to uninstall unauthorized apps or plugins and change your account password if you have used them. This restriction does not describe ChromeOS’s official Google Play Android support.
Add Snapchat to your Launcher and shelf
To install the web experience where web app installation is permitted, open Snapchat for Web in Chrome and select More > Cast, save, and share > Install page as app.... Alternatively, select Install in the address bar when it appears. Complete the browser’s installation prompt. The installed app runs Snapchat for Web.
Snapchat also offers installation controls within its web interface when those controls are available. Click Desktop App at the top of the feed, or click your Bitmoji and select Create Desktop Shortcut, then complete the installation prompt. If those controls are missing, use the Chrome menu path above where installation is permitted.
For a website shortcut, open Snapchat for Web and select More > Cast, save and share > Create shortcut, then select Create. Open Launcher, right-click the shortcut, and select Pin to shelf. You can pin an installed Snapchat app the same way. Chromebook wallpaper does not accept desktop shortcuts.
Press Search or Launcher, depending on your keyboard, and search for Snapchat to open an installed app or shortcut. Press Alt + Tab to switch to an already open Snapchat window. To remove only its shelf pin, right-click the icon and select Unpin.
Chat and make calls or Snaps
In Snapchat for Web, select a friend in the Chat feed to start chatting. Click the video camera icon to begin a video call or the phone icon to begin an audio call.
To create a Snap, select Camera and click the lens icon to take a photo. Hold the lens icon to record a video instead. If Snapchat cannot use your camera, check the browser and system permissions described below.
On a Chromebook Plus with the supported video call panel, you can also use system call controls while Snapchat accesses the camera or microphone. Select the corresponding shelf icons to toggle them, or open the video call panel using Expansion to access supported effects. For generated backgrounds on supported devices, select Image > Create with AI, choose a theme, adjust the underlined words, and select a generated image.
Share pictures and your screen
To send an image from your Chromebook through Snapchat for Web, open a conversation and drag the image into the Chat bar. You can also click the picture icon and choose an image, or paste a copied image into the Chat bar. Supported image formats are PNG, JPEG/JPG, and GIF.
For a still image of something on your display, take a screenshot on your Chromebook, then choose that image in the conversation. To share your screen during a call instead, start a Snapchat for Web call with a friend or group. Click the share button beside the video and microphone controls, provided screen sharing is permitted.
Fix camera and microphone access
If your camera or microphone does not work in Snapchat for Web, select View site information to the left of the address in Chrome. Open Site settings, set Camera and Microphone to Allow as needed, and refresh Snapchat. Previously granted permissions may also appear directly in the site-information panel.
If access is still blocked, check ChromeOS’s system controls. On a Chromebook with Privacy controls, select the time and open Settings > Privacy and security > Privacy controls. Turn on Camera access and Microphone access, and allow the relevant app’s access as needed.
Check any physical camera or microphone switches your Chromebook has and put them in their enabled positions. Their location and enabled position depend on the model. Refresh or reopen Snapchat after changing access.
For the installed Android app, select the time and open Settings > Apps > Manage Google Play preferences > Android settings > Apps & notifications > Permission manager. Select the camera or microphone permission category, choose Snapchat, and change its permission. Repeat for the other permission if needed. Android settings labels can vary with your Chromebook’s Android runtime.
If your microphone still fails after those permission checks, continue with the steps to troubleshoot microphone problems on your computer. Reopen Snapchat after changing its permissions before trying another call.
Fix missing message notifications
To receive browser alerts, click your Bitmoji in Snapchat for Web and check that notifications are enabled. Then select View site information > Site settings in Chrome and set Notifications to Allow. Refresh Snapchat after changing the browser permission.
ChromeOS also controls whether apps can show notifications. Select the time and open Settings > Apps > Notifications, then enable notifications for the relevant app. The entry depends on whether you use the Android app, an installed web app, or Snapchat in the browser.
If Focus is suppressing alerts, select the time and open Focus. Turn off Do Not Disturb while in Focus to allow notifications during that session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you install Snapchat on ChromeOS Flex?
ChromeOS Flex does not support installing Snapchat through Google Play. Use Snapchat for Web in the latest available Chrome browser, provided your device permits access.
Does Snapchat for Web have every mobile app feature?
Snapchat identifies viewing saved Memories, managing posted Stories and analytics, changing your username, and updating privacy settings as mobile-app functions. Use Snapchat’s mobile app for those tasks.
How can a parent approve Snapchat installation through Family Link?
On a personal Chromebook using a child’s personal Google account managed by Family Link, open Play Store, find Snapchat, and select Install if the account is age-eligible and the device is compatible. Select Ask in a message for the parent to approve through Family Link, or select Ask in person so the parent can enter their password on the Chromebook. Approval does not override Snapchat’s eligibility requirements.
How do you uninstall Snapchat from a Chromebook?
Open Launcher, right-click Snapchat, select Uninstall, and select Uninstall again, subject to any management restrictions. For an installed web app, you can also select Also delete browsing data before the final confirmation. Removing that browsing data means you must sign in again on a later visit.
How do you sign out of a Chromebook Snapchat session remotely?
Sign in to the Snapchat account portal and select Session Management. Select Log Out beside the Chromebook browser or device session and complete the confirmation. Session termination may not take effect immediately, and saved login credentials are not listed among active sessions.