No products in the cart.
Dynamic Calendar Excel Template
$14.99
For users on a Chromebook, the industry-standard circuit design software NI Multisim is available exclusively through Multisim Live, a web-based version that requires no local installation.
While the traditional desktop version of Multisim is restricted to Windows operating systems, Multisim Live is fully compatible with Google Chrome on ChromeOS, offering students and engineers a way to simulate circuits directly in their browser. The Evolution of Circuit Design on ChromeOS
Historically, engineering software has been tied to heavy Windows-based workstations. However, National Instruments developed Multisim Live to provide a touch-optimized, cross-platform experience that leverages the same SPICE simulation technology used in professional research and academic labs. For Chromebook users—particularly students in STEM programs—this eliminates the need for expensive hardware or complex virtual machine setups. Key Features of Multisim for Chromebook Multisim Live Online Circuit Simulator
While there isn't a direct "Multisim" desktop app for ChromeOS, you can still use NI's powerful simulation tools on your Chromebook. NI (National Instruments) offers a web-based version called Multisim Live, which is the primary way to get Multisim working on a Chromebook. 1. The Best Option: Multisim Live (Web-Based)
Since Chromebooks are built around the Chrome browser, Multisim Live is the official and most seamless solution. It requires no installation.
How to Access: Go to multisim.com and create a free NI account. Key Features:
Interactive Simulation: View live voltage and current graphs as you adjust components.
Cloud Storage: Your circuits are saved to your account, so you can start on your Chromebook and finish on a PC.
Mobile Friendly: It works well with touchscreens, which many Chromebooks have. multisim for chromebook
Limitation: The free version has a component limit per circuit and requires an internet connection. 2. Using the Android App (Beta/Limited)
If your Chromebook supports the Google Play Store, you might find Multisim-related educational apps, but NI does not currently maintain a full-featured "Multisim" Android app for circuit design.
Tip: Search the Play Store for "EveryCircuit" or "Proto" if you want a dedicated Android app experience that feels similar to Multisim. 3. Advanced: Multisim Desktop via Linux (Crostini)
If you are an advanced user and need the full Multisim Desktop version (which is Windows-only), you can attempt to run it using the built-in Linux environment on your Chromebook.
Enable Linux: Go to Settings > Advanced > Developers and turn on the Linux development environment.
Install Wine: Wine is a compatibility layer that allows Windows apps to run on Linux.
Open the Terminal and run: sudo apt update && sudo apt install wine
Run Multisim: Download the Windows .exe installer for Multisim and try running it through Wine. For users on a Chromebook, the industry-standard circuit
Note: This is hit-or-miss and may be slow depending on your Chromebook's processor (Intel/AMD works better than ARM for this). 4. Top Chromebook Alternatives
If Multisim Live doesn't meet your needs, these "Chromebook-native" tools are highly recommended by engineering students:
CircuitJS: A free, open-source, and highly visual simulator that runs entirely in the browser.
Tinkercad (Circuits): Great if you are doing basic electronics or Arduino simulation.
Falstad Circuit Simulator: A classic, lightweight tool used by many universities for quick demonstrations.
Quick Verdict: Stick with Multisim Live for 90% of use cases. It’s built by the same team and handles the transition from "learning" to "doing" very well on ChromeOS.
Are you looking to use Multisim for a specific university course, or are you just getting started with hobbyist electronics?
Here’s a helpful post for anyone trying to use Multisim on a Chromebook: Part 7: The Future – NI’s Cloud Strategy
National Instruments has been slowly moving toward the cloud. In 2023, they released NI WebVI and cloud-based data dashboards. It is highly likely that within 2-3 years, NI will release a browser-based SPICE simulator (similar to MATLAB Online).
When that day comes, "Multisim for Chromebook" will be a one-click reality. Until then, you must bridge the gap using VMs, Android apps, or browser alternatives.
If you just need a quick simulation without creating an account, these web apps work perfectly on a Chromebook:
www.falstad.com/circuit): Java-based but runs in Chrome. Ugly interface but incredibly powerful for analog/digital. The go-to for Reddit engineers.www.circuitlab.com): Polished, academic-focused. Free tier with limitations.www.partsim.com): A browser-based SPICE simulator that feels very close to Multisim Lite.Many Chromebooks support the Google Play Store. While Multisim isn’t on Android, excellent simulation apps are.
Top Android Circuit Simulators for Chromebook:
Caution: These are not professional-grade tools. You cannot export a netlist to a PCB manufacturer. However, for learning Ohm’s Law, RC time constants, or logic gates, they are superb and touch-friendly.
How to install: Open Google Play Store on your Chromebook → Search "EveryCircuit" → Install.
Let’s rip the band-aid off right now. National Instruments (NI) has not released a version of Multisim for Chromebook.
Multisim is traditionally Windows software (and had a legacy Mac version years ago). Chrome OS runs on a Linux kernel, but it relies heavily on web-based Android apps. Because Multisim is such a heavy, processor-intensive application relying on Windows-specific drivers and libraries, porting it to Chrome OS has never been a priority for NI.
However, all is not lost. Chromebooks have evolved, and there are now three distinct ways to access Multisim or similar functionality.
No products in the cart.