Google Chrome is the proprietary browser built on Chromium—fast JavaScript, Google account sync, wide extension support, and licensed codecs for many streaming sites. Ubuntu Desktop ships Firefox by default, but millions of users still want the Google Chrome web browser on Ubuntu for work profiles, Chrome DevTools, or synced bookmarks from other devices.
Chrome is not in Ubuntu’s main or universe repositories. The correct path—documented by Google and Ask Ubuntu—is the official .deb from dl.google.com, installed with apt, which also registers Google’s apt source for automatic updates.
Tested on: Ubuntu 25.04 (Plucky Puffin); kernel 6.14.0-37-generic; amd64; Google Chrome 149.0.7827.200.
.deb for ARM. On Raspberry Pi or ARM laptops, use Chromium (Snap on current Ubuntu) or Firefox—see Chrome vs Chromium below.
Quick command summary
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
Download stable .deb |
wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb |
| Install | sudo apt install -y ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb |
| Verify version | google-chrome --version |
| Launch | google-chrome or Activities → Google Chrome |
| Set default browser | xdg-settings set default-web-browser google-chrome.desktop |
| Update | sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade |
| Check Google apt source | cat /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.sources |
| Remove | sudo apt purge -y google-chrome-stable |
Chrome vs Chromium vs Firefox on Ubuntu
| Browser | Source on Ubuntu | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Firefox | Preinstalled on Ubuntu Desktop | Default GNOME integration, open source, privacy-focused |
| Google Chrome | Official .deb from Google (this guide) |
Google sync, Chrome extensions, sites that target Chrome |
| Chromium | Snap (chromium) on 24.04+ via transitional chromium-browser package |
Open-source Chrome-like browser without Google branding |
Ubuntu must-have apps notes that picking one primary browser is enough unless you test across engines. Chrome and Firefox coexist fine—disk space and RAM are the main costs.
Chromium lacks some proprietary codecs and Google-specific features but tracks the same rendering engine family. Firefox or Chromium from Ubuntu channels suit open-source workflows; use the Chrome .deb when you explicitly need Google’s build.
Prerequisites
- Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, 24.04 LTS, or newer (25.04 tested here) on amd64.
- A graphical desktop (GNOME, KDE, etc.) for normal use—Chrome is not a server CLI tool.
- sudo for installing system packages.
- wget or install cURL on Ubuntu to download the
.deb. - Outbound HTTPS to
dl.google.com(corporate proxies may needhttps_proxy). - ~450 MB disk space for the package and dependencies (the
.debalone is ~125 MB).
Step 1: Download the official Google Chrome .deb
Google hosts the current stable build at a fixed URL—no third-party mirrors needed:
cd ~/Downloads
wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.debConfirm the file:
ls -lh google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
dpkg-deb -f google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb Package Version Architecture-rw-rw-r-- 1 user user 125M ... google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
Package: google-chrome-stable
Version: 149.0.7827.200-1
Architecture: amd64The version number changes when Google ships updates—your download may show a newer build.
dl.google.com or google.com/chrome. Random “Chrome .deb” files on file-sharing sites are a common malware vector—r/Ubuntu newbie threads repeatedly warn about this.
Alternative channels (beta, dev)
Replace stable in the URL for testers:
| Channel | Download URL fragment |
|---|---|
| Beta | google-chrome-beta_current_amd64.deb |
| Dev | google-chrome-unstable_current_amd64.deb |
Most users should stay on stable.
Step 2: Install with apt
Install the local package with apt—this resolves dependencies from Ubuntu mirrors and registers Google’s repository:
sudo apt install -y ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.debIf apt reports missing dependencies:
sudo apt --fix-broken install -y
sudo apt install -y ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.debSuccessful install registers alternatives and desktop integration:
Setting up google-chrome-stable (149.0.7827.200-1) ...
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/google-chrome-stable to provide /usr/bin/google-chrome (google-chrome) in auto modeVerify:
google-chrome --version
which google-chromeGoogle Chrome 149.0.7827.200
/usr/bin/google-chromeGUI install (double-click)
On Ubuntu Desktop you can open Files, double-click the .deb, and click Install in the software installer—under the hood it is the same apt/dpkg flow. The terminal method is easier to document and script.
Step 3: Confirm the Google apt repository (updates)
Modern Ubuntu uses DEB822 source files. After install you should see:
cat /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.sources### THIS FILE IS AUTOMATICALLY CONFIGURED ###
X-Repolib-Name: Google Chrome
Types: deb
URIs: https://dl.google.com/linux/chrome-stable/deb/
Suites: stable
Components: main
Architectures: amd64
Signed-By: /usr/share/keyrings/google-chrome.gpgOlder tutorials reference google-chrome.list—on Ubuntu 24.04+ the .sources file is normal. Do not delete it unless you plan to remove Chrome; it is how apt upgrade finds new versions.
Refresh and check policy:
sudo apt update
apt-cache policy google-chrome-stablegoogle-chrome-stable:
Installed: 149.0.7827.200-1
Candidate: 149.0.7827.200-1
Version table:
*** 149.0.7827.200-1 500
500 https://dl.google.com/linux/chrome-stable/deb stable/main amd64 PackagesStep 4: Launch Chrome and first-run setup
From the app menu: press Super, type Google Chrome, press Enter.
From a terminal:
google-chromeFirst launch prompts you to:
- Set as default browser (optional—Firefox may still be default).
- Send usage statistics / crash reports (optional—your choice).
- Sign in with a Google account for sync (optional).
Import bookmarks from Firefox: ⋮ menu → Bookmarks and lists → Import bookmarks and settings.
Step 5: Set Chrome as the default browser (optional)
Command line:
xdg-settings set default-web-browser google-chrome.desktop
xdg-settings get default-web-browsergoogle-chrome.desktopOn GNOME: Settings → Apps → Default Applications → Web → Google Chrome.
Step 6: Keep Chrome updated
Chrome updates through the normal system updater:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -yOr use Software Updater on the desktop. Confirm after a large upgrade:
google-chrome --versionUse apt-cache policy google-chrome-stable after upgrades to compare what Google published vs what apt offers.
Uninstall Google Chrome
sudo apt purge -y google-chrome-stable
sudo apt autoremove -ySee remove unused packages on Ubuntu for reviewing what autoremove proposes and cleaning leftover apt cache or rc configs.
Optional—remove the Google apt source if you will not reinstall:
sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.sources
sudo apt updateUser data (bookmarks, cache) lives under ~/.config/google-chrome/—delete manually only when you are sure you do not need profiles or saved passwords. For general uninstall patterns across apt, Snap, and Flatpak, see how to remove software on Ubuntu.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
E: Unable to locate package google-chrome-stable |
Searching Ubuntu mirrors without installing .deb first |
Download and sudo apt install ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb |
| Dependency errors during install | Missing GTK/SSL libraries on minimal image | sudo apt --fix-broken install then retry; install software-properties-common and run sudo apt update |
package architecture (amd64) does not match system |
ARM machine | Use Chromium Snap or Firefox—not Chrome .deb |
| Chrome will not start / blank window | GPU driver or Wayland edge case | Try google-chrome --disable-gpu once; update graphics drivers; reboot |
google-chrome: command not found |
Install failed or PATH issue | dpkg -l google-chrome-stable; reinstall .deb |
| No updates from apt | google-chrome.sources removed |
Reinstall the .deb to recreate the source file |
| Wrong browser opens links | Firefox still default | xdg-settings set default-web-browser google-chrome.desktop |
wget: command not found |
Minimal cloud image | Install wget, install cURL on Ubuntu, or use curl -fsSLO with the same URL |
Close stuck processes before relaunching:
pkill -f google-chrome
google-chromeReferences
- Google Chrome Enterprise — Set up Chrome on Linux
- Google Chrome download
- Ask Ubuntu — Installing Chrome 22.04 LTS
- r/Ubuntu — newbie Chrome install discussion
- On-site: must-have Ubuntu apps, wget command, curl cheat sheet, apt command, remove software on Ubuntu
Summary
The reliable way to install the Google Chrome web browser on Ubuntu is: download google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb from Google, run sudo apt install ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb, and launch Google Chrome from the app menu or google-chrome. The installer adds google-chrome.sources so sudo apt upgrade keeps Chrome current.
Ubuntu already includes Firefox; add Chrome when you need Google sync or Chrome-specific workflows. On ARM, use Chromium or Firefox instead of forcing the amd64 .deb. Avoid unofficial Snap repacks stuck on old 4.x builds—stick to Google’s package or Canonical’s Chromium Snap when you want an open-source alternative.
