Ubuntu uses Mozilla Firefox as the default web browser. And while there is nothing wrong with that choice, you may prefer to use Google Chrome. It is one of the most leading web browsers currently, if not the most leading. It offers high speeds, security, and many rare functionalities. Furthermore, Google Chrome is available on all of the major operating systems though the installation process differs in some operating systems, Ubuntu being an example. In this guide, we will focus on how to install Chrome on Ubuntu.
If you are a beginner, there is no need to worry because this tutorial is so simple and can be completed in a couple of minutes. It is also vital to mention that this guide will work even if you are using Linux Mint, Elementary OS, or Debian, as the process is identical.
What Do You Need to Install Chrome on Ubuntu?
For starters, you will need an active internet connection because you will need to download the installation.
Since Google Chrome is not an open-source web browsing software, you won’t find it in Ubuntu’s software centre. There are, however, a couple of easy alternatives to install Google Chrome in Ubuntu.
Apart from that, you also want to execute the commands with an account that has super-user permissions.
How to Install Google Chrome by Using the Terminal Interface
Google Chrome can be installed in your computer system by only using the terminal interface in a few steps.
First, you will need to open the terminal. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+T or simply click on the terminal icon on your screen.
Make sure that the APT command is upgraded and properly functional by using this command:
sudo apt update
This will prompt the user to input their password as it is a sudo command.
For installing Google Chrome, we will need the wget command instead of the traditional apt-get because it doesn’t work in this case. To check whether wget exists in your system, use this command:
wget --version
If wget is not installed, use this to install it:
sudo apt install wget
Now we need to attach the link to Google Chrome with the wget line of command. To do this, simply type:
wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
Installing softwares and packages often requires admin privileges on Ubuntu. Therefore, we will need to use sudo for running the installation command. Since the Google Chrome package is a .deb file, there are two possible commands that can be used. To install Google Chrome through the apt command, run this command:
sudo apt install ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
Or use the dpkg command like this:
sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
The user will be prompted for entering the password before installation begins. Once the password has been entered, consider Google Chrome installed.
You can then run Google Chrome through the terminal or by clicking the Google Chrome icon. To launch Google Chrome through the terminal, type this:
google-chrome
Upon launch, Chrome will pop up a window asking whether to set it as the default browser and should it send crash reports, bugs, and other statistics to Google. Select the preferences according to your choice and click OK. A Chrome window will open soon after and you can now start using the browser.
Installing Google Chrome by using the GUI
In Ubuntu, users can download and install Google Chrome through their GUI as well provided they have another web browser present. Simply surf the current browser and search for Google Chrome, access the site, and click on the download link. Once you do, a window will appear asking for the download package. You need to select the .deb (For Debian/Ubuntu) and click on the save option.
Now go back to your system, run the downloaded file and install Google Chrome through Ubuntu’s installation process. You can now launch Google Chrome from the Activities tab.
How to Start Google Chrome on Ubuntu
The only remaining thing now is to start using your favourite browser. There are two ways of starting Google Chrome on Ubuntu:
- Head to Activities, and then find Google Chrome.
- Use the command line to type “google-chrome” in it.
Both ways will work equally well, so the choice is up to you.
Before it opens a browser window, Google will ask you whether you want to make it your default browser. You can also choose to send crash reports and usage statistics to the company if you want it to improve the software. If you want to maintain maximum anonymity, you may want to decide against this option.
Once the Chrome browser opens, you can use your Google account to sign in and synchronize data with other devices.
How to Update Google Chrome
When we installed Chrome, we also added Google’s official repository to your Ubuntu or another Linux-based system. That means the repository will perform updates automatically.
If you want to confirm that you regularly receive updates, use the following command:
cat /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
The system will confirm that automatic configuration of the file is enabled.
Wrap Up
If you want to install Chrome on Ubuntu, it won’t take more than a minute or two. Using several simple commands will be enough to start using your favourite browser. Once you install it, the updates will perform automatically, which saves maximum time and hassle.
Thomas Hyde
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