Install Google Chrome on Ubuntu

Google Chrome is the world's most popular browser today. In this article, you will see how to install it on Ubuntu Linux.

 

Table of Contents:

• What is Google Chrome?
• Environment Specification
• Download Google Chrome for Ubuntu
• Install Google Chrome on Ubuntu
• Running Chrome Web Browser for the First Time
• Update Google Chrome on Ubuntu
• Conclusion

 

What is Google Chrome?:

Google Chrome is the world's most popular browser today. It is developed by Google LLC based on open source components (Chromium Project) and available for use as a Proprietary Freeware.

Google Chrome is a fast, secure and feature rich web browser. Updates for Google Chrome have been released quiet frequently. It is the main component of Chrome OS, where it serves as the platform for web apps.

In Ubuntu, Google Chrome is not installed by default. Instead, Ubuntu ships their Linux operating system with Mozilla Firefox as the default web browser.

Therefore, if you want to use it, then we have to explicitly install Google Chrome on Ubuntu.

Google Chrome is available to download for all commonly used operating systems in 32-bit and 64-bit architectures including Linux distros, MS Windows, mobile and desktop platforms.

 

Environment Specification:

We are using a Ubuntu Desktop virtual machine with following specification.

• CPU - 3.4 Ghz (2 cores)
• Memory - 2 GB
• Storage - 20 GB
• Operating System - Ubuntu Desktop 18.04 LTS 
• Hostname – ubuntu-desktop.centlinux.com
• IP Address - 192.168.116.222 /24

 

Download Google Chrome for Ubuntu:

Connect to your Linux machine by using the graphical console.

You can download latest version of Google Chrome for various Linux distros from Chrome's official website.

Browse the URL https://www.google.com/chrome/ in an existing web browser e.g. Mozilla Firefox.

Click on Download Chrome button to select your required chrome package.

Since you are accessing chrome website from a Ubuntu machine, therefore, Google is providing us the Chrome downloads for Linux distros.

Select Google Chrome DEB (64-bit) package, because you are going to install it on Ubuntu 18.04 (64-bit).

Your web browser is now asking for the action that can be performed on this Google Chrome DEB package.

You can either download and install Google Chrome DEB package automatically on your Linux operating system or you can save it on the disk for a later installation.

You should select the "Open With" option. This way the browser will automatically open the Google Chrome DEB file in the APT package manager.

After selecting the preferred option, click on OK button.

Google Chrome DEB package is being download.

Google Chrome for Ubuntu has been downloaded successfully.

 

Install Google Chrome on Ubuntu:

After successful download the browser will automatically opened the file with APT package manager.

Click on the Install button to start Installation of Google Chrome on Ubuntu.

Since, you are not installing this software from an APT repository, therefore, installer requires authentication.

Enter your password and click on Authenticate.

Installation of Google Chrome on Ubuntu is in progress now.

Google Chrome has been installed successfully on your Linux operating system.

 

Running Chrome Web Browser for the First Time:

Click on the Application button at the bottom of the left toolbar.

You have recently installed Google Chrome on Ubuntu, therefore it is not available in frequently used applications. Click on All to see all the installed applications.

You will find the Chrome icon there. Click on it to start the web browser.

Chrome is starting for the first time, therefore, you need to configure some settings.

Select “Make Google Chrome the default browser” and click on OK.

You have successfully started the Google Chrome application.

Browse URL https://centlinux.com in Google Chrome.

Your Chrome web browser is installed and working fine.

 

Update Google Chrome on Ubuntu:

Update process is fully automated on Ubuntu, as well as other operating systems. Google Chrome will update itself as soon as an update is published.

 

Conclusion:

In this installation guide, you have learned how to download, install and update Google Chrome on Ubuntu. Although, these steps are performed on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, but the same can be used for installation on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and Ubuntu 16.04 LTS.