Google Chrome is a fast web browser with built-in Google account sync, automatic updates, password management, and support for modern web applications. It is not included in the standard Ubuntu repositories because it is proprietary software.

This guide explains how to install Google Chrome on Ubuntu 26.04 using the official Google .deb package.

Quick Reference #

Installing Google Chrome on Ubuntu #

The official Chrome package installs the browser and configures the Google APT repository so future updates arrive through the normal Ubuntu update process.

Download Google Chrome #

Open a terminal and use wget to download the latest stable package:

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

Install Google Chrome #

Install the package with apt. This command requires sudo privileges :

sudo apt install ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

When prompted, enter your password and confirm the installation.

Starting Google Chrome #

Open the Activities overview, search for “Google Chrome”, and launch it:

You can also start Chrome from the terminal:

google-chrome

When Chrome starts for the first time, it asks whether you want to set it as the default browser and send crash reports:

Chrome then opens the welcome page:

From here, you can sign in with your Google account and sync bookmarks, history, passwords, and extensions.

Set Chrome as Default Browser #

To set Chrome as the default browser from the command line, run:

xdg-settings set default-web-browser google-chrome.desktop

Verify the current default browser:

xdg-settings get default-web-browser

google-chrome.desktop

Updating Google Chrome #

The Chrome package adds the Google repository to your system. Check the repository file with cat :

cat /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list

The file should contain a Google Chrome repository entry for the stable channel.

Chrome updates are installed through the standard Ubuntu update workflow:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Uninstalling Google Chrome #

To remove Google Chrome, run:

sudo apt remove google-chrome-stable

Remove packages that are no longer needed:

sudo apt autoremove

If you also want to remove the Google Chrome repository file, delete it and update the package index:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
sudo apt update

Troubleshooting #

The installation fails with dependency errors
Fix broken dependencies and repeat the installation:

sudo apt --fix-broken install
sudo apt install ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

Chrome does not start after installation
Close any running Chrome processes and start it again:

pkill -f google-chrome
google-chrome

The repository file is missing
Reinstall the downloaded package so the Chrome repository is recreated:

sudo apt install ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

FAQ #

What is the difference between Chrome and Chromium?
Chromium is the open-source browser project that Chrome is based on. Chrome adds proprietary media codecs, Google account integration, and Google-managed update packaging.

Can I install Chrome Beta or Dev on Ubuntu?
Yes. Download the Beta or Dev .deb package from Google and install it with apt in the same way as the stable package.

Does Chrome update automatically on Ubuntu?
Chrome is updated by Ubuntu’s package manager after the Google repository is added. Run sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade to install available updates.

Conclusion #

Google Chrome installs on Ubuntu 26.04 through the official .deb package. After installation, Chrome receives updates from the Google repository along with your other system packages.

Google Chrome is a fast and secure web browser built for the modern web. It is available for all major operating systems and allows you to sync bookmarks, history, and passwords across devices.

This guide explains how to install Google Chrome on Ubuntu 24.04 using the official Google package and repository.

Quick Reference #

Installing Google Chrome on Ubuntu #

Chrome is not open source and is not included in the standard Ubuntu repositories. The official .deb package adds the Google signing key and repository so Chrome stays updated automatically.

Download Google Chrome #

Open a terminal and use wget to download the latest stable package:

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

Install Google Chrome #

Install the package with apt. Running this command requires sudo privileges :

sudo apt install ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

When prompted, enter your password to complete the installation.

Starting Google Chrome #

Open the Activities overview by pressing the Super key, search for “Google Chrome”, and launch it:

You can also start Chrome from the terminal:

google-chrome

When you start Chrome for the first time, you will be asked whether you want to set it as the default browser and enable crash reports:

Chrome then opens the welcome page:

From here, you can sign in with your Google account and sync your settings.

Set Chrome as Default Browser #

To set Chrome as the default browser from the command line, run:

xdg-settings set default-web-browser google-chrome.desktop

To verify the current default browser:

xdg-settings get default-web-browser

google-chrome.desktop

Updating Google Chrome #

During installation, the official Google repository is added to your system. Verify the repository file with cat :

cat /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list

Example output:

### THIS FILE IS AUTOMATICALLY CONFIGURED ###
# You may comment out this entry, but any other modifications may be lost.
deb [arch=amd64] https://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main

Chrome updates are delivered through the standard Ubuntu update process:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Uninstalling Google Chrome #

To remove Google Chrome from your system, run:

sudo apt remove google-chrome-stable

Then clean up unused dependencies:

sudo apt autoremove

Troubleshooting #

The installation fails with dependency errors
Fix broken dependencies and re-run the install:

sudo apt --fix-broken install
sudo apt install ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

Chrome does not start after installation
Close any running Chrome processes and start it again:

pkill -f chrome
google-chrome

Repository file is missing
Reinstall the package to recreate the repository file:

sudo apt install ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

FAQ #

What is the difference between Chrome and Chromium?
Chromium is the open-source project that Chrome is built on. Chrome adds proprietary features such as automatic updates, licensed media codecs (AAC, H.264), and tighter Google account integration.

How do I import bookmarks from another browser?
Open Chrome, go to Settings > Import bookmarks and settings, and select the browser you want to import from.

Can I install Chrome Beta or Dev channels?
Yes. Replace google-chrome-stable with google-chrome-beta or google-chrome-unstable in the download URL and install command.

Conclusion #

Google Chrome installs on Ubuntu 24.04 using the official .deb package, which also configures the Google repository for automatic updates.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.