How to use Windows apps on a Chromebook.

Windows programs are built for the Windows operating system. A Chromebook runs ChromeOS, which is a different system with its own apps and the browser at the centre. There is no Windows underneath to install anything into.

That is not a flaw so much as a design choice. A Chromebook is simple, quick to start and easy to keep secure because it is not trying to be everything. The way around it is to let the program run somewhere that is Windows, and show it to you.

If you have a Windows computer at home or work that stays on, you can connect to it from the Chromebook and use it as if you were sitting there. This is free or cheap and uses a machine you already paid for.

The weak points are the computer itself and your own network. It has to be switched on, awake and reachable, you have to set it up securely, and if it is on a home connection, your upload speed becomes your quality ceiling. It also puts a personal machine on the internet, which deserves care.

A cloud PC is a Windows computer that someone else keeps running in a data centre, reached from any device. It is always there, does not depend on your home internet and can be opened from the Chromebook, a phone or a tablet.

It is a complete Windows desktop with a monthly fee per person, which makes sense when you want Windows for a lot of things. For one program it can be more computer than the job needs.

The simplest route for a single program is to run only that program on a Windows machine and open it in a browser tab. A Chromebook is well suited to this because it is already built around the browser, so there is nothing to install or configure on your side.

FarDesktop works this way. You open a link, sign in and the program appears. When you close the tab, you are done. Your files stay on the far machine rather than on the Chromebook.

Whichever route you choose, a few things decide whether the experience is pleasant.

• Your connection. A steady connection beats a fast but wobbly one. Test it before a deadline, not during one.
• Your keyboard and mouse. Windows programs expect right-clicks, shortcuts and precise pointing. A real keyboard and a mouse or trackpad make a big difference.
• Printing and files. Moving files between the Chromebook and the Windows machine works differently on each route, so try it once with something unimportant.
• Licensing. The program's own licence still applies, and some vendors restrict where it may run. Check before you move a paid licence somewhere new.