How To Install Chrome On Ubuntu? – A Comprehensive Guide For Beginners

Google Chrome is one of the most widely used web browsers holding more than 50% of the total market share in the United States. It is known not only for its intense speed, but also security, and extensive extension list. However, all Ubuntu users are forced to use Firefox, due to it being the default browser of the OS. 

Therefore, all the users who wish to use Google Chrome in their system due to its usefulness, need to install Chrome on Ubuntu. This guide will walk you through the entire process in a few simple steps. 

Methods to Install Chrome on Ubuntu

Here are three super simple methods to install Chrome on Ubuntu. 

Method 1: Install Chrome via .deb Package (Recommended)

1. Download the .deb package from the office Google Chrome website. 
2. Open a terminal and navigate to the download location.
3. Install the package using:

sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

sudo apt -f install

4. Once done, launch Google Chrome from either the application menu or by typing google-chrome in the terminal.

Method 2: Install Chrome via Command Line (wget & dpkg)

1. Open the terminal and download Chrome using the following command: 

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

2. Install it with:

sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

sudo apt -f install

3. Start Chrome by running google-chrome in the terminal or launching it from the applications menu.

Method 3: Install Chrome via GUI (Ubuntu Software Center)

1. Launch the Ubuntu Software Center.
2. Search for Google Chrome.
3. Click Install and follow the on-screen instruction. 
4. Once done, launch Chrome from the applications menu.

Installing Google Chrome Beta or Unstable Versions

If you need to test upcoming Google Chrome features, you can download and install Chrome Beta or Chrome Dev versions instead of the stable release. 

Installing Chrome Beta

Chrome beta provides an early or priority access to the upcoming features before release with more stability than the dev version. 

1. Download the Chrome Beta .deb package:

wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-beta_current_amd64.deb

2. Install it using:

sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-beta_current_amd64.deb

sudo apt -f install

3. Launch it by running:

google-chrome-beta

Installing Chrome Dev

Chrome Dev is the staging environment or the experimental version for developers who want to test the latest features before they make it to the Beta or Stable version. 

1. Download the Chrome Dev package:

wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-unstable_current_amd64.deb

2. Install it with:

sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-unstable_current_amd64.deb

sudo apt -f install

3. Open Chrome Dev using:

google-chrome-unstable

Switching Between Versions

You can install all three versions of Google Chrome on Ubuntu and switch between them as each version has a different binary name. 

Select the one that you want to use while launching. 

Setting Google Chrome as Default Browser

To set Google Chrome as the default browser on Ubuntu:

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Tap on the three dot menu on the top-right corner. 
3. Scroll down to the default browser section. 
4. Tap on make default. 

Or just type this command in the terminal:

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

Updating Google Chrome on Ubuntu

Chrome comes with automatic updates on Ubuntu, but if the need be, you can manually update the browser by following these steps: 

1. Open a terminal and run:

sudo apt update

sudo apt upgrade google-chrome-stable

2. If you installed Chrome Beta or Chrome Dev, replace google-chrome-stable with:

• google-chrome-beta for the Beta version
• google-chrome-unstable for the Dev version

Uninstalling Google Chrome

If you want to remove Chrome from your system:

1. Run the following command based on your installed version:

sudo apt remove google-chrome-stable

sudo apt remove google-chrome-beta

sudo apt remove google-chrome-unstable

2. To delete leftover configuration files, run:

rm -rf ~/.config/google-chrome

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Issue	Possible Cause	Solution
Chrome won’t launch	Missing dependencies or corrupt installation	Run sudo apt –fix-broken install and sudo apt reinstall google-chrome-stable
Chrome crashes on startup	Corrupt user profile or conflicting extensions	Reset Chrome settings by deleting the profile folder: rm -rf ~/.config/google-chrome
Chrome not updating	Package repository issues	Refresh the package list and upgrade manually: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade google-chrome-stable
Chrome running slow	Too many tabs, high RAM usage, or excessive extensions	Close unused tabs, disable extensions, or run Chrome without extensions: google-chrome –disable-extensions
Error: “dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration”	Unmet dependencies	Fix with sudo apt –fix-broken install
Can’t set Chrome as the default browser	System settings issue	Manually set Chrome as default: xdg-settings set default-web-browser google-chrome.desktop
Chrome won’t uninstall	Package issues	Force remove Chrome with sudo apt purge google-chrome-stable

Wrapping Up – Install Chrome on Ubuntu 

By following this super simple and easy to understand guide, you can install Chrome on Ubuntu. All methods are pretty much straight forward and require little to no technical knowledge. Given that you have the right packages and your system is strong enough to handle Ubuntu, installing Chrome would be a walk in the park!