Unlike Windows or macOS, where you can easily search for an application in a centralized app store, installing software on Linux occasionally requires a bit more effort. While Ubuntu Linux comes pre-installed with Mozilla Firefox as its default web browser, millions of users rely on Google Chrome for web development tools, extension compatibility, or syncing bookmarks across devices.
Because Google Chrome is proprietary, closed-source software, it is not available in the official, open-source Ubuntu software repositories. You cannot install it by simply typing sudo apt install google-chrome. Instead, you must download the official installation package directly from Google’s servers.
There are two primary ways to install Chrome on Ubuntu: using the graphical user interface (GUI) or using the command-line terminal. This guide covers the terminal method, as it is the most reliable, error-free, and fastest way to get the browser running.
Step 1: Download the Chrome Installation Package
Ubuntu uses the Debian package management system, which means software installers are distributed as .deb files (similar to .exe files in Windows).
- Open the Terminal application. You can do this by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard, or by searching for “Terminal” in the Ubuntu application menu.
- You need to use a command-line tool called
wgetto download the package directly from Google’s servers. Type the following command exactly as written and press Enter:
wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
You will see a progress bar appear in the terminal. The file is approximately 90MB to 100MB. Depending on your internet connection, this download should only take a few seconds.
Step 2: Install the Package Using dpkg
Once the download reaches 100%, the .deb file is sitting in your current directory (usually your Home folder). You must now use the Debian package manager (dpkg) to unpack and install the software.
Because installing software alters system files, this command requires administrative (root) privileges.
- Type the following command and press Enter:
sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
- The terminal will prompt you for your password. As you type your password, no characters or asterisks will appear on the screen. This is a standard Linux security feature to hide the length of your password from anyone looking over your shoulder. Just type it carefully and press Enter.
The terminal will output several lines of text as it unpacks the Chrome browser and places the files in their correct system directories.
Step 3: Fix Any Missing Dependencies
Occasionally, the dpkg installation might pause or display an error message stating that “dependency problems prevent configuration of google-chrome-stable.”
This is a common and easily fixable issue. It simply means Chrome relies on a few tiny background libraries (fonts or media codecs) that are not currently installed on your fresh Ubuntu system.
To force Ubuntu to automatically find, download, and install those missing pieces, run the following command:
sudo apt --fix-broken install
If prompted, type Y and press Enter to confirm the installation. The system will grab the missing files, fix the errors, and finalize the Google Chrome installation automatically.
Step 4: Launching Google Chrome
Google Chrome is now fully installed on your Ubuntu system. You can launch it in two ways:
- From the Terminal: Simply type
google-chromeand press Enter. (Note: The terminal window must remain open while you browse; closing it will close the browser). - From the GUI (Recommended): Press the Super key (Windows key) on your keyboard to open the Activities overview. Type “Chrome” into the search bar. Click the familiar multi-colored Chrome icon to launch the browser normally.
When you launch it for the first time, a small dialog box will appear asking if you want to make Google Chrome your default browser and if you want to send crash reports to Google. Check or uncheck these boxes according to your preference, and click OK to start browsing.