How to Install Google Chrome on Ubuntu Linux

Ubuntu Linux comes with Mozilla Firefox pre-installed as its default web browser. While Firefox is an excellent open-source browser, many users prefer Google Chrome for its seamless integration with Google services, specific developer tools, or required extensions.

Because Google Chrome is a proprietary web browser (unlike its open-source foundation, Chromium), it is not available in Ubuntu’s default software repositories. You cannot simply find it in the standard Ubuntu Software Centre without a bit of extra work.

In this guide, we will show you the most reliable and efficient way to install Google Chrome on Ubuntu Linux using the terminal and the official Google package.

Step 1: Download the Google Chrome Package

To ensure you are getting the genuine, secure version of Google Chrome, you should download it directly from Google’s servers. We can do this efficiently using the command line.

1. Open your terminal application (you can press Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard).
2. Type the following command to download the latest stable 64-bit Debian package (.deb) of Google Chrome:

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

Press Enter. You will see a progress bar as the file is downloaded to your current directory (usually your Home folder).

Step 2: Install Google Chrome

Once the download is complete, you need to use the dpkg package manager to install the file you just retrieved. Because you are installing software system-wide, this command requires administrative (sudo) privileges.

1. In the same terminal window, run the following command:

sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

2. Press Enter. You will be prompted to type your Ubuntu user password. (Note that for security reasons, no characters will appear on the screen as you type. Just type it and press Enter).

Step 3: Resolve Any Dependency Errors (If Necessary)

Occasionally, the dpkg command will finish but display an error stating that certain "dependencies" are missing. Dependencies are simply other small software packages that Chrome needs in order to run properly.

If you see a dependency error, do not panic. Ubuntu’s advanced packaging tool (apt) can fix this automatically.

1. Run the following command to force Ubuntu to download and install any missing dependencies:

sudo apt-get install -f

Once this process completes, Google Chrome will be fully installed and ready to use.

Step 4: Launch Google Chrome

You can now close the terminal. To open Google Chrome, you have two options:

• Through the Application Menu: Click the Show Applications grid icon in the bottom-left corner of your Ubuntu desktop, type "Chrome" into the search bar, and click the Google Chrome icon.
• Through the Terminal: Simply type google-chrome in the terminal and press Enter.

A Note on Automatic Updates

When you install Google Chrome using this method, the installation process automatically adds Google’s official software repository to your system’s sources list.

This is a significant benefit. It means that whenever Google releases a new version of Chrome (to patch security vulnerabilities or add new features), your Ubuntu system will automatically detect it. Google Chrome will update itself silently in the background alongside your normal Ubuntu system updates when you run sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade.