TikTok is very much designed to be experienced on a vertical smartphone display. However, you don’t have to just use your iPhone or Android phone. We’ll show you how to use TikTok on a Chromebook.
It might seem counterintuitive to use a smartphone app on a desktop, but Chromebooks are adaptable. Many include touchscreens and can be used as tablets. You actually have a couple of options when it comes to using TikTok on ChromeOS.
TikTok in the Browser
TikTok has a desktop website that works very similarly to the mobile apps. Head on over to tiktok.com in the Chrome browser on your Chromebook. The first thing to do is “Log In.”
After that, you’ll see all the familiar TikTok options in a different layout. Uploading, messaging, and the inbox are in the top right.
The “For You,” “Following,” and “Live” tabs are on the left side.
You can scroll up and down through the videos just like you would in the app. The Like, Comment, and Share buttons are on the right side of the videos.
If you want the TikTok web app to appear in your app drawer, you can “install” it from the address bar.
That’s all there is to it. TikTok in a desktop layout works surprisingly well.
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TikTok From the Play Store
If you want the exact same interface as you’re used to on your phone you can simply install TikTok from the Play Store. Open the app drawer and launch the “Play Store.”
Search for “TikTok” and click the “Install” button.
After it’s installed, you can click “Open.” The app will also now be in the app drawer.
From here it’s the exact same experience you’re used to on a phone. Sign in and you have the vertical TikTok experience on your Chromebook, just as it was intended to be viewed.
Low-powered Chromebooks will have a harder time running the Android app compared to the web version. In most cases, the web version is going to offer a smoother experience, but you have the option to try both and channel surf your own way.
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