How to Install Chrome on Ubuntu

We all know that Ubuntu did not come with pre-install Google Chrome it comes with Firefox or Chromium web browser. But what if you are a Google Chrome fan? According to Statcounter, 66.29% of the market share of web browsers is occupied by Chrome browsers just because it offers speed, security, and an extensive range of extensions.

The good news is that Google Chrome is available for download on a Ubuntu system. In this guide, we are going to show you the complete steps to install the Google Chrome web browser.

Prerequisites to Install Google Chrome on Ubuntu

• Admin Access
• An active Internet
• Ubuntu OS (versions 20.04, 22.04, 04.04)
• Google Chrome is supported only in 64-bit operating system. Before proceeding determine whether your Linux system is 32 bit or 64 bit?

Methods to Download and Install Google Chrome on Ubuntu

If we look around the methods then, there is two safe methods to install Chrome on Ubuntu system and in the below section we are going to explain you all.

Method 1: Install Chrome on Ubuntu Using GUI

Installing Google Chrome on Ubuntu using the graphical user interface (GUI) is the most easiest process that can be achieved without using the terminal. Here’s how you can do it step-by-step:

Step 1: Open Any Browser and Download .deb package (for Debian/Ubuntu)

• Search for Google Chrome on your available browser or directly click on this Google Chrome downloading link.

Note: Here we have used the browser Firefox, which comes pre-installed on Ubuntu

Step 2: Choose the Compatible bit variant & Proceed the Installation

• Select the first option 64-bit.deb (for Debian/Ubuntu).
• After that Click on the "Accept and Install" Button.

• Now your Chrome web browser is downloading!

Step 3: Navigat to the Downloaded File

• Now Go to downloads and Double-click google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb to Open it in Ubuntu Software Center.

Step 4: Click on Install Button & Setup Your Account

• Now click on the visible Install button to install Chrome in Ubutnu.

Note: After installation, you can start using Google Chrome by Creating a Fresh Google Account. If you already have an account then sign into the browser and sync all your bookmarks, extensions, passwords and history, if you are unable to sync your bookmarks you must Restore your Chrome Bookmarks now!

Step 5: Launch Google Chrome & Start Browsing

• Click on the "Show Applications" icon at the bottom left of your screen (or use the Super key, typically known as the Windows key, and search for Chrome). Click on the Chrome icon to launch it.

Method 2: Installing Chrome using the Terminal (Command Line)

Google Chrome can also be installed using the Ubuntu Terminal command-line interface (CLI). While it may not be as easy as the above graphical user interface (GUI) installation, it offers a quick and efficient way to get Chrome up and running.

• By typing out a few commands, you can fetch the necessary installation file and complete the installation process without any hassle
• This approach is especially useful for users who prefer using the Terminal.

If you are Installing Chrome in Ubuntu via command line, Please follow the below steps to download and install Google Chrome using terminal commands.

Step 1: Open Terminal

• Use the shortcut key CTRL + ALT + T to Open Terminal

Step 2: Download the Google Chrome .deb file

• Use the wget command to download the latest version of Google Chrome’s .deb package directly from Google’s website.
• This command downloads the installation file to your current directory.

wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

Step 3: Use "apt" to Install Google Chrome .deb file

• Now, install the downloaded .deb package using the apt package manager. If any dependencies are missing, this command will attempt to resolve them.

sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

Note: You will be required "Admin Password" or "User Password" to execute these commands > Enter the password to proceed.

Step 4: Launch Google Chrome

• Once the installation is complete, you can start Google Chrome by typing:

google-chrome

Troubleshooting Tips

When you follow the above steps, if you encounter errors during installation like missing dependencies then in this case you may need to "Force Install" so that it can install the dependencies without notifying during the installation process.

• To follow this command make sure that you have administrative privileges, and use the following command and flag

sudo apt-get install -f

After running this command successfully Google for browser is installed. Now go to the search bar and search Chrome. You got Google Chrome on the list!

Install Chrome on Ubuntu Using Third-Party Repository [Alternative Way]

To install Google Chrome on Ubuntu using a third-party repository, you need to follow these steps carefully, as it involves adding a new repository to your system and installing software from it. Here's a detailed, step-by-step guide including the necessary information for each step:

Step 1: Open Terminal

• You can open the terminal by searching for it in your system's application launcher or by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.

Step 2: Download Google’s Signing Key

• Google signs its software packages to verify their authenticity. Before installing Chrome, you must add Google’s GPG signing key to your system to ensure the packages are safe to install.

Run the following command in the terminal:

wget -q -O - https://dl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub | sudo apt-key add -

• This command uses wget to download the signing key and pipes it to apt-key add -, which adds the key to your system's list of trusted software providers.

Step 3: Set up the Repository

• After adding the signing key, you need to add the Google Chrome repository to your system’s software sources.

Execute the following command:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb [arch=amd64] http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list'

• This command creates a new file in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ containing the repository information. It specifies that you are adding a repository that contains software for 64-bit systems (arch=amd64) and is for stable versions of software.

Step 4: Update Package List

• Before installing Chrome, update your package list to include the new repository information:

sudo apt update

• This command tells your system to fetch the latest list of software from all repositories, including the newly added Google Chrome repository.

Step 5: Install Google Chrome

• Now that your system knows about the Google Chrome repository and trusts its signing key, you can install Chrome:

sudo apt install google-chrome-stable

• This installs the stable version of Google Chrome.

Step 6: Launch Google Chrome

Once the installation is complete, you can start Google Chrome from your application menu, or by typing google-chrome in the terminal.

How to Pin Chrome to the Dock (Optional)

If you plan to use Chrome frequently, you can pin it to your dock:

• Right-click on the Chrome icon in the dock while it’s running, and select “Add to Favorites”.

Set Chrome as the Default Browser in Ubuntu

• When you launch Chrome for the first time, it will ask if you want to set it as the default browser. You can choose to do so if you prefer.
• Alternatively, you can set it manually by going into Chrome’s settings: Click on the three dots in the upper right corner > go to Settings > under "Default browser" > click on Make default.

How to Update Chrome in Ubuntu (2 Methods)

Updating Google Chrome Latest Version in Ubuntu is very easy because when you install Chrome using the official .deb package from Google's website, it configures your system to automatically check for updates. Here’s how you can ensure Chrome is updated:

Method 1: Automatic Updates via System Update

Google Chrome configures itself to receive updates through the standard Ubuntu system update process. To manually check for all system updates, which will include Chrome if an update is available, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Terminal

• You can open the terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T or by searching for it in the Ubuntu applications menu.

Step 2: Update Package List

• First, update your package list to make sure you have the latest information on available updates. Run:

sudo apt update

Step 3: Upgrade Packages

• To upgrade all the software on your system, including Chrome, use:

sudo apt upgrade

If you want to specifically update only Chrome, you can target it with:

sudo apt install --only-upgrade google-chrome-stable

Method 2: Using the GUI Software Updater

For users who prefer a graphical interface for managing updates:

Step 1: Open Software Updater

Search for "Software Updater" in the applications menu and open it.

Step 2: Check for Updates

The Software Updater will automatically check for available updates when opened. If it finds updates, it will list them.

Step 3: Install Updates

If there are updates for Google Chrome, they will be listed here. Click the "Install Now" button to proceed with updating.

How to Check Chrome Version in Ubuntu

If you are thinking about "What version of Google Chrome do I have?"

To verify if your Chrome is up to date follow the below steps to check your current version of chrome in Unbuntu:

Step 1: Open Google Chrome

• Open Chrome by clicking on its icon from the applications menu or dock.

Step 2: Go to Chrome’s Menu

• Click on the three dots in the upper right corner to open the menu.

Step 3: Access Help Section

• Go to Help, then About Google Chrome. This will open a new tab that checks for Chrome’s current version and updates automatically if it's not up to date.

Step 4: Automatic Update Check

• The About Google Chrome page forces Chrome to check for updates. If an update is found, it will be downloaded and you will be prompted to relaunch the browser to complete the update process.

How to Completely Uninstall Google Chrome From Ubuntu

Now, in case you want to uninstall Chrome from Ubuntu, you can uninstall it by a few simple steps. Here are the detailed two methods:

Method 1: Uninstall Chrome Using GUI

If you prefer using a graphical interface, here’s how to uninstall Google Chrome:

Step 1: Open Ubuntu Software Center

• Find the Ubuntu Software Center in your applications menu and open it.

Step 2: Locate Google Chrome

• Click on the "Installed" tab to see all your installed applications.
• Use the search bar to find Google Chrome quickly.

Step 3: Uninstall Google Chrome

• Click on the Google Chrome entry in the list to open its details page.
• You will see a "Remove" button. Click it, and a confirmation dialog will appear.
• Confirm that you want to uninstall by clicking "Remove" again.

Tip: Authenticate the Uninstallation

• You might be asked to enter your password to authorize the uninstallation. Enter your password to proceed.

Method 2: Uninstall Google Chrome Using Terminal in Ubuntu

Uninstalling Google Chrome from Ubuntu using the terminal is an efficient method that gives you control over the process and ensures that the software is completely removed. Here’s how to do it step-by-step:

Step 1: Open Terminal

• Open a terminal window by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard. Alternatively, you can search for "Terminal" in your Ubuntu system's application launcher.

Step 2: Check All Packages Currently Installed

• Copy and paste the following command to get all packages currently installed.

dpkg --list | grep google

Step 3: Uninstall Google Chrome

• Now, Copy and paste the following command to remove Google Chrome from your system:

sudo apt --purge remove google-chrome-stable

Note: The purge command is used instead of remove to ensure that Google Chrome and all its configuration files are completely deleted from your system.

Step 4: Remove Unused Dependencies

• After uninstalling Google Chrome, it’s a good practice to remove any packages that were installed with Chrome and are no longer needed. Run the following command to clean up unused dependencies:

sudo apt-get autoremove

This command helps free up space by removing packages that were automatically installed to satisfy dependencies for Chrome and are no longer needed.

Step 5: Confirm Removal

• To ensure that Google Chrome has been successfully uninstalled, you can try launching it from the terminal by typing:

google-chrome

If the uninstallation was successful, you will see an error message stating that Chrome cannot be found, indicating that it is no longer installed on your system.

Additional Tips

• If you encounter any issues during the uninstallation process, make sure that you have the correct package name by checking your installed applications with:

dpkg --list | grep chrome

This command will list any packages related to Chrome, allowing you to verify the package name and ensure you are removing the correct application.

Conclusion

By following the outlined steps, you can easily Install Google Chrome on your Ubuntu system, ensuring a enhanced browsing experience. By following this guide, you can easily download Google Chrome on Ubuntu and keep it up to date with the latest improvements. Whether you prefer the direct installation method or want to setup through the official repository, you may pick whatever suits you the best.

Just make sure to regular the regular updates are crucial for maintaining browser performance and security, so make sure to follow the outlined steps to update Chrome in Ubuntu regularly.