How to use OpenTaxSolver on Chromebooks

To run OTS on your Chromebook, you need to have Linux enabled. If you have not already enabled Linux on your Chromebook, then do the following steps:

First set up Linux on your Chromebook

Linux is Off by default. You can turn it On any time from Settings.

  1. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.

  2. Select Settings.

  3. Select Advanced.

  4. Select Developers.

  5. Next to "Linux development environment", select Turn On.

  6. Follow the on-screen instructions. Setup can take several minutes.

  7. A terminal window opens. (You now have a Debian Linux window.)

You now have a Linux shell window. Within this window, you can unpack and run the Linux version of OTS. You can always close, or re-open the Linux window under your Applications panel.

Note: If your Chromebook is managed by your work or school, then you might not be able to enable this setting. For more information, contact your administrator.

Once you have Linux enabled, you can unpack and run the Linux version of OTS. Note that your Linux window will not be able to access any of the files on your Chromebook directly. It runs under a separate file system. You will need to use your File-Browser to move or copy files between your regular Chromebook area and the Linux area.

Next, install OTS in your Linux area.

Install OTS on Chromebook:
  1. Download OTS - Download the Linux version of OTS (64-bit). Use your file-browser to copy the downloaded OpenTaxSolver20xx_linux64.tgz package file over from your Downloads folder to your Linux folder. (Replace xx with the specific characters for your version.)

  2. Unpack OTS - In your Linux shell window, confirm that you now see the OTS package file by typing, (followed by pressing your Enter or Return key):
           ls   -l
    Then unpack the OTS package by typing:
           tar   xfz   OpenTaxSolver20xx_linux64.tgz
    (You should not need to type all the characters in the file-name. You can press your tab-key to complete the name, once you have typed the first few letters - enough to make it unique.)

Now run OTS.

Run OTS on Chromebook:
  1. Start OTS - OTS should have unpacked into a sub-directory with the same name as the package, without the .tgz suffix. In your Linux shell window, change your working directory to navigate down inside that directory with:
           cd   OpenTaxSolver20xx_linux64
    Then start OTS by typing:
           ./Run_taxsolve_GUI
    The regular OTS window will now open, and you can use OTS as normal.

Note: ARM-based Chromebooks are NOT supported. Most Intel-compatible and AMD based Chromebooks are supported.

Note: Linux capability is available on most newer Chromebooks (Approximately from 2018 and beyond). The Linux capability may not be available on older Chromebooks, or Chromebooks with non-Intel-compatible processors.

For more information, see: Using Linux on Chromebooks