Google Chrome, or simply Chrome, is a web browser developed by Google based on Webkit. In 2024, this browser's market share was 66%, which is slightly higher than in 2022. The browser is available for Linux, Windows, and MacOS, as well as on iOS and Android.
In this article, we will explore how to install Chrome on Ubuntu 24.04 or 22.04. While Google Chrome has an open-source version called Chromium, this article will focus solely on the proprietary version.
Installing Google Chrome in Ubuntu 24.04
The installation process has remained almost unchanged over the years, so this guide can be used to install Chrome not only on Ubuntu 24.04 but also on 22.04, 20.04, as well as Linux Mint and Debian. Moreover, the installer adds the Chrome repository to the system, which means you will receive browser updates during system updates.
I recommend using the repository version rather than the Snap or Flatpak package because you'll have fewer permission configuration issues if you want to install any extensions that require system access.
To download the installer that will add a repository with the stable version to the system, execute the following command:
wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
Then install this package using apt:
sudo apt install ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
After installation, you can remove the package itself:
rm ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
To install an unstable but newer version, you need to replace the word stable with unstable:
wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-unstable_current_amd64.deb
sudo apt install ./google-chrome-unstable_current_amd64.deb
The unstable repository typically contains newer versions, but they may have bugs and incomplete features.
After executing the previous commands, both the browser and repository will be installed. To launch the browser, you can use the command:
google-chrome
Or you can use the system's main menu:
When first launched, the browser will ask for permission to send usage data to Google and offer to make Chrome the default browser:
Next, Chrome may offer to sign in to your Google account for synchronization and make some other minor adjustments. Here you can click Don't sign in and proceed to browsing web pages.
If Chrome doesn't start in Ubuntu 24.04, the issue might be related to Wayland and graphics card drivers. You can try disabling Wayland and use Xorg instead. To do this, open the /etc/gdm3/custom.conf file and uncomment or add the line WaylandEnable=false:
sudo vi /etc/gdm3/custom.conf
WaylandEnable=false
That's all. I hope this article was helpful and clarified how to install Google Chrome on Ubuntu 24.04 or 22.04.
