Learn how to install Google Chrome on Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and other Linux distros in this easy-to-follow guide.
Why does this need a guide? Well, Chrome isn’t preinstalled on Ubuntu by default. And you can’t install Chrome on Ubuntu from the Ubuntu Software app or from a Chrome PPA (official or otherwise).
But don’t panic.
It takes seconds to download Google Chrome for Linux. And once you have you can use the installer to install Chrome on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, or later.
And if you want to install Chrome on Linux Mint, elementary OS, Zorin OS, or any other Ubuntu-based Linux distro? Well, you can do it the same way – just keep in mind that the screenshots we’ve included below are of Ubuntu. Your system may differ.
Installing Chrome in Ubuntu
To install Chrome on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and above you must first download the official Chrome Linux installer. To do this, point your current web browser (e.g., Mozilla Firefox) at the official Google Chrome download page:
Next, select the “64-bit .deb” download package option.
Then hit the “Accept and Install” button to agree to the Google Chrome Terms of Service.
Your Chrome Linux download will start. And if it doesn’t, or you want toskip the above step entirely, you can download Google Chrome for Ubuntu using this link:
See a box asking “What should Firefox do with this file?”? Check the “Save File” option followed by “OK”.
The Chrome download should start. Be sure to save the installer somewhere easy to access (by default it will be saved to your computer’s “Downloads” folder):
When the download is complete use the file manager to open your Downloads folder (or the location you chose in the previous step).
Double-click on the .deb installer package icon in the file manager (as shown below) to start the install process.
The Software app will open.
Click the ‘install’ button:
Enter your user password when prompted:
The progress bar lets you know when the browser has finished installing.
And once it’s done you’re ready to start using Chrome!
Search for ‘Chrome’ in the applications grid (or using your preferred Linux app launcher) to start browsing the web.
Install Chrome from the Command Line
You can also install Google Chrome in Ubuntu using the terminal.
Step 1: open the Terminal app and run this command:
wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
Step 2: run this command to install Chrome using the offline installer:
sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
If you get errors about any missing dependencies you can force install them by running this command:
sudo apt -f install
Step 3: Launch the app and start using it.
Set up Chrome for the best experience
The first time you run Chrome on any Linux distro it will ask if you want to ‘make Google Chrome the default browser’. If you do want to do this (meaning any links you click in other apps open a new tab in Chrome) go ahead and check the box.
You can also choose to ‘automatically send usage statistics and crash reports to Google’. Its up to you whether you want to enable this or not, but doing so helps Chrome devs know what isn’t working so they can fix it.
The first time you use Chrome you’ll see a (mostly empty) browser window welcoming you to the browser and asking if you want to sign in.
Sign-in with any valid Google Account (e.g., your Gmail) to sync bookmarks, passwords and Chrome extensions between all devices that you use on the browser on, including your mobile phone!
Stay Updated
When you install Google Chrome on Ubuntu (or a similar Linux distribution) the official Google repository gets added to your system. This allows you to install future Google Chrome updates automatically as they’re released using the Software Update tool or your preferred command line package manager.
There is no 32-bit Chrome for Linux
Google axed Chrome for 32 bit Ubuntu in 2016. This means you can not install Google Chrome on 32 bit Ubuntu systems as Google Chrome for Linux is only available for 64 bit systems.
If you encounter a compatibility error after following this tutorial it’s likely that you’re using a 32-bit system.
You’re not out of luck; you can install Chromium on Ubuntu. This is an open-source version of Chrome and is available from the Ubuntu Software (or equivalent) app.
Just search for ‘Chromium’ (minus the quote marks) or hit this button:
Uninstall Chrome from Ubuntu
If you try the browser and decide it’s not for you you can uninstall Chrome on ubuntu just as easily as you installed it.
Open a new Terminal window and run:
sudo apt remove google-chrome
Removal is quick but some configuration files may be left on your system. If you want to clean these out you’ll need to delete them by hand, or use a tool like Bleachbit.
H/T Toby