How to Set Up Chrome on Ubuntu Linux

To install Google Chrome on Ubuntu, download the .deb package from Google and install it with your administrator password. Chrome then adds Google’s repository to your package manager, so it updates along with the rest of your system. Google supports 64-bit Ubuntu; check the minimum version on the Google install help or our Chrome for Linux page.

Download and Install the .deb Package

1. Open your default web browser and navigate to the Google Chrome download page.
2. Click Download Chrome and choose the x86-64 .deb package for Debian/Ubuntu (or the arm64 .deb on an ARM computer).
3. Open the downloaded file with your software installer, select Install, and enter your administrator password.
4. Or, in Terminal, go to the folder where the file was saved and run:
   sudo apt install ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
5. When you open Chrome for the first time, review and accept the Google Terms of Service.

APT Repository Setup for Updates

You do not need to add the repository yourself. Google says the Chrome package adds itself to your package manager and configures apt to verify updates with Google’s signing key. To update Chrome, install your normal system updates, or run:

1. sudo apt update
2. sudo apt upgrade

If apt reports that a key is missing (NO_PUBKEY), install the key the way Google’s Linux repositories page shows:
wget -q -O - https://dl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/google.asc >/dev/null

Setting Chrome as the Default Browser

1. Open Chrome.
2. At the top right, select More (⋮) > Settings.
3. In the Default browser section, select Make default. If there is no button, Chrome is already your default browser.

For other systems, see how to set Chrome as your default browser.

Linux-Specific Flags and Tweaks

Chrome on Linux can run on either Wayland or X11, and picks one automatically when it opens. Google says that if drag and drop, copy and paste, or keyboard, mouse or touch input misbehave on Wayland, you can switch back to X11:

1. Open chrome://flags/#ozone-platform-hint and set it to X11 or Wayland, then relaunch Chrome.
2. Or start Chrome from Terminal with google-chrome --ozone-platform=x11 (or --ozone-platform=wayland).

Other experimental features live on the same flags page. Do not run Chrome with the --no-sandbox switch: the sandbox is one of Chrome’s main security protections.

Troubleshooting Common Linux Issues

• Chrome Crashes: Restart your computer, then turn off extensions at chrome://extensions to see whether one is the cause.
• High CPU Usage: Disable unnecessary extensions or use the Task Manager in Chrome (Shift + Esc).
• Video Playback Issues: Make sure Chrome and your graphics drivers are up to date, and try turning Use graphics acceleration when available off or on in Settings > System.

For more help, see the official Google Chrome Help Center.