Can I share a Keynote with someone on a Chromebook?
Yes, but not as a file. There is no Keynote for ChromeOS, so a .key attachment is a dead end. Two routes run in Chrome: an iCloud link to your working file, or the deck's HTML export hosted as a link. Here is what each gives the viewer.
The direct answer
A Chromebook cannot open a .key file. Send a link instead. An iCloud link from Keynote opens Keynote for iCloud in the browser, within the limits Apple's collaboration guide sets out. A Linkdeck link hosts Keynote's own HTML export, which plays in Chrome like any web page, with builds, transitions and video.
Why the .key will not open
Keynote runs on Mac, iPhone and iPad. A Chromebook runs Chrome and Android apps, and there is no Keynote for Android either. Google Slides imports PowerPoint files, not Keynote files.
Option 1: an iCloud link
Apple's requirements for Keynote for iCloud are written for people who will edit the deck. The viewer opens your live working file, so every later edit shows up for them. Test it on a Chromebook before you rely on it.
Option 2: the HTML export as a link
- In Keynote for Mac: File → Export To → HTML.
- Right-click the folder and choose Compress.
- Upload the .zip on linkdeck.me and copy the link.
- Send it. It opens in Chrome; click or tap to advance, clips play inside the slide, and sound starts on the first click.
Option 3: a PDF
File → Export To → PDF opens on any Chromebook. It also flattens every build, drops transitions and turns video into a still. Good as a handout, not as the deck.
Questions
Can I convert a Keynote for Google Slides?
Keynote can export a PowerPoint file (File → Export To → PowerPoint), which Google Slides imports. Keynote-specific builds, transitions and fonts may change on the way.
Does the Linkdeck link need an account?
No. The viewer opens it in Chrome with no Apple ID, no Google sign-in and nothing to install.
How long does the link work?
Free: 3 days, or 24 hours if you upload without an account. Pro (€12 a month): no expiry while you subscribe.
Send a link the Chromebook can play
Export to HTML, compress, upload. The first deck is free and needs no account.