Although Chromebooks are designed primarily around web and Android apps, ChromeOS also lets you run Linux applications through the built-in Linux development environment. This makes Chromebooks much more useful for developers, programmers, and advanced users who need access to traditional Linux software.
However, Linux apps run inside a separate environment, which means they cannot automatically access every file stored on your Chromebook. If you want to open a document, image, project, or other file with a Linux application, you first need to share the appropriate folder with Linux.
In this guide, we will explain how file sharing between ChromeOS and Linux works and then show you how to share files and folders with Linux apps on ChromeOS step by step. So, let’s get started.
How File Sharing with Linux Apps Works on ChromeOS
When you enable the Linux development environment, ChromeOS creates an isolated Linux container. This separation improves security but also means Linux applications cannot automatically access your regular ChromeOS files.
To give a Linux application access to your files, you can share a specific folder from the Files app with Linux. Once shared, the folder becomes available inside the Linux environment.
This feature is built into ChromeOS and maintained by Google.
How to Share a Folder with Linux on ChromeOS
The easiest way to make ChromeOS files available to Linux applications is through the Files app.
1. Click the Launcher in the bottom-left corner, search for and open the Files app.
2. Navigate to the folder containing the files you want to use with Linux. Make sure the folder is stored locally or in a location that ChromeOS allows you to share with Linux. Right-click the folder you want to share.
3. Select Share with Linux from the context menu.
4. Wait a few moments for ChromeOS to make the folder available to Linux.
5. Open the Linux app you want to use.
The selected folder can now be accessed by Linux applications.
How to Access Shared ChromeOS Files in Linux
Once you’ve shared a folder with Linux, you can access it from the Terminal or any Linux application installed on your Chromebook. ChromeOS automatically mounts shared folders inside the /mnt/chromeos/ directory within the Linux environment.
Inside this directory, you’ll find several subfolders that correspond to different storage locations on your Chromebook, including:
- MyFiles — Contains your local ChromeOS files, including the Downloads folder and other files stored on your Chromebook.
- GoogleDrive — Provides access to files and folders from your Google Drive that you have made available to Linux.
- Removable — Contains shared files from supported removable storage devices, such as USB flash drives and external storage.
For example, if you shared your Downloads folder with Linux, you can access it from the Terminal using the following path:
/mnt/chromeos/MyFiles/DownloadsYou can navigate to this folder using the cd command and view its contents with ls. For example:
cd /mnt/chromeos/MyFiles/Downloads
lsThis will take you directly to your ChromeOS Downloads folder and display the files available inside it. You can then open, edit, or process these files using your Linux applications.
How to Stop Sharing a Folder with Linux
You can remove Linux access whenever you no longer need it.
1. Open the Files app.
2. Locate the folder you previously shared and right-click the folder.
3. In the Shared Folders list, click the Remove (✕) icon next to the folder you want to unshare.
The folder will no longer be accessible from Linux applications.
How to Open ChromeOS Files in Linux Apps
Once a folder has been shared, you can use the Linux application to open files stored there.
1. Open your Linux application.
2. Select the option to open a file and navigate to the shared ChromeOS folder.
3. Select the file you want to open.
4. Click Open.
You can now edit or work with the file using your Linux application.
Wrapping Up
So, that was all about sharing files with Linux apps on ChromeOS. Because Linux applications run in an isolated environment, you need to manually give them access to the folders containing your files. Thankfully, ChromeOS makes this process straightforward through the Files app.
Once you share a folder with Linux, you can use it with programming tools, media editors, development environments, and other Linux applications without having to constantly move files between environments.
