If you are using a Chromebook and need a complete office suite for documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and other productivity tasks, LibreOffice is an excellent option.
In this guide, we will install LibreOffice 26.8.0 Stable on a Chromebook using the built-in Linux development environment, also known as Linux on ChromeOS.
LibreOffice includes several powerful applications, including:
- Writer – word processing
- Calc – spreadsheets
- Impress – presentations
- Draw – diagrams and graphics
- Base – database management
- Math – formula editor
This method downloads the official Debian package archive for LibreOffice 26.8.0 Stable and installs the included .deb packages manually.
Requirements
Before starting, make sure:
- Your Chromebook supports Linux development environment.
- Linux is enabled in ChromeOS Settings.
- You have a working internet connection.
- You have enough free storage space.
- Your Linux environment is based on a compatible 64-bit Debian system.
Open the Terminal application from your Chromebook's app launcher.
Step 1: Update the Linux Environment
First, update the package information:
sudo apt update
This makes sure your Linux environment has the latest available package information.
Step 2: Download LibreOffice 26.8.0
Download the LibreOffice 26.8.0 Stable Linux 64-bit Debian package:
wget https://kartolo.sby.datautama.net.id/tdf/libreoffice/stable/26.8.0/deb/x86_64/LibreOffice_26.8.0_Linux_x86-64_deb.tar.gz
The downloaded file will be saved in your current Terminal directory.
You can check the file with:
ls
You should see:
LibreOffice_26.8.0_Linux_x86-64_deb.tar.gz
Step 3: Install Required LibreOffice Packages
Before installing the downloaded LibreOffice packages, install the required LibreOffice components:
sudo apt install libreoffice-l10n* libreoffice-gtk3 libreoffice-common libreoffice-core libreoffice-style-elementary
Depending on your Linux environment, apt may ask you to confirm the installation.
Type:
Y
and press Enter.
Step 4: Extract the LibreOffice Archive
Now extract the downloaded .tar.gz archive:
sudo tar -xf LibreOffice_26.8.0_Linux_x86-64_deb.tar.gz
After extraction, check the directory:
ls
You should see a directory similar to:
LibreOffice_26.8.0.3_Linux_x86-64_deb
Step 5: Open the DEBS Directory
Enter the DEBS directory:
cd LibreOffice_26.8.0.3_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS
You can check the available Debian packages with:
ls
There should be multiple .deb files.
Step 6: Install LibreOffice
Install all LibreOffice Debian packages with:
sudo dpkg -i *.deb
The installation may take a few moments.
If the installation completes successfully, LibreOffice 26.8.0 should now be installed on your Chromebook.
Step 7: Launch LibreOffice
You can launch LibreOffice from the ChromeOS launcher.
Open:
Launcher → Linux apps → LibreOffice
Alternatively, you can launch LibreOffice from the Terminal:
libreoffice
You can also start a specific application:
libreoffice --writer
For Calc:
libreoffice --calc
For Impress:
libreoffice --impress
Check the LibreOffice Version
To verify the installed version, run:
libreoffice --version
You should see a version corresponding to:
LibreOffice 26.8.0
This confirms that the LibreOffice 26.8.0 Stable release is installed.
Troubleshooting
LibreOffice Does Not Appear in the Linux Apps Menu
If LibreOffice does not immediately appear in the ChromeOS launcher, restart the Linux environment or restart your Chromebook.
You can also try launching it directly:
libreoffice
dpkg Reports Missing Dependencies
If dpkg reports dependency problems, run:
sudo apt --fix-broken install
After that, you can return to the extracted DEBS directory and run:
sudo dpkg -i *.deb
Check the Installation
If you are unsure whether LibreOffice was installed correctly, run:
libreoffice --version
If the command returns the LibreOffice version, the installation is working.
Conclusion
Installing LibreOffice 26.8.0 Stable on a Chromebook is possible through the ChromeOS Linux environment.
Using the Debian package archive allows you to install the newer LibreOffice release manually instead of relying only on the version available through the default Debian repositories.
With LibreOffice installed, your Chromebook can handle many common desktop-office tasks, including creating documents, editing spreadsheets, preparing presentations, and working with Microsoft Office-compatible files.
This makes LibreOffice a useful productivity solution for Chromebook users who want a full-featured office suite inside the Linux environment.
Complete Installation Commands
For convenience, here are all the commands in one place:
sudo apt update
wget https://kartolo.sby.datautama.net.id/tdf/libreoffice/stable/26.8.0/deb/x86_64/LibreOffice_26.8.0_Linux_x86-64_deb.tar.gz
sudo apt install libreoffice-l10n* libreoffice-gtk3 libreoffice-common libreoffice-core libreoffice-style-elementary
sudo tar -xf LibreOffice_26.8.0_Linux_x86-64_deb.tar.gz
cd LibreOffice_26.8.0.3_Linux_x86-64_deb/DEBS
sudo dpkg -i *.deb
After installation:
libreoffice --version
And to launch LibreOffice:
libreoffice
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