Google Chrome happens to be one of the most powerful web browsers these days and naturally many users attempt to install it on their system. This attempt, however, is not fruitful as this popular web browser is not available through any Linux distributor on Ubuntu Software. So how do we install Google Chrome on our system?
Ubuntu offers the following two ways to do so:
- Download and install Google Chrome through the command line.
- Download Google Chrome through an already installed web browser (mostly FireFox) and install graphically.
In this tutorial, we will learn how to download and install Google Chrome (not the OpenSource version Chromium) on our Ubuntu system. We will also show you how to uninstall it using both the command line and the graphical interface. Please note that we have performed the below-mentioned steps on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver).
Before you install Google Chrome, it is important to know if you are running a 32-bit or a 64-bit flavor of Ubuntu. Google has discontinued its Chrome version for 32-bit Linux systems, therefore, you can only install it if your Ubuntu is 64-bit.
Is Your Ubuntu 32-bit or 64-bit?
To be able to install Google Chrome, you need to be using a 64-bit version of Ubuntu. To check this through the command line, please follow these steps:
- Open the Terminal.
- Use the following command to fetch CPU details from the files sysfs and /proc/cpuinfo:
$ lscpu
This command will display the following output:
The CPU op-mode(s) entry tells you about the flavor of Ubuntu you are running on your system; 32-bit means you are running a 32-bit Linux OS, 32-bit, 64-bit signifies that you are running a 64-bit OS.
If you are running a 64-bit Ubuntu, you can proceed further with the installation.
Installation Through the Command Line
In order to install Google Chrome through the command line, please follow these steps:
Open the Terminal and enter the following command:
$ wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
Tip: You can also copy this command from this tutorial by selecting and copying it through Ctrl+c and then pasting it in the Terminal by right-clicking at the cursor location, and then clicking Paste from the menu.
You will be able to view the installation progress as follows:
Now the installation package is saved on your system in the current directory, i.e. /home/<username>
Enter the following command to install the downloaded package:
$ sudo dpkg –i google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
Note: You need to be a superuser in order to run this command.
Google Chrome should now be installed on your system. You can launch it by following the steps described later in this article.
Note: If you have downloaded the installation package at any other location, you need to specify the entire path in the dpkg command.
Google Chrome Graphical Installation
This process will tell you how to graphically install Google Chrome on your system. You will be using an already installed web browser to download the installation package. In our case, we will be using FireFox, the default browser for Ubuntu 18.
Download the installation package from the official Google download page.
Click the Download Chrome button.
The following page will open, asking you to choose a package to install.
Since we are installing Chrome for Ubuntu, we will choose the first option. You will also be asked to agree to the terms of services.
Click the Accept and Install button to proceed further if you agree to the terms of services.
The following dialog will open, asking you to either save the package or run it through the Software Install.
We recommend you to save the file and click OK.
The installation package google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb will be saved in the Downloads folder.
Open the installation package by double-clicking it from the Downloads folder.
The following dialog will open in the Software application:
Click the Install button.
You will be asked for authentication as only a super user can install a software in Ubuntu.
Enter your password and click Authenticate.
The installation process will now start and you will be able to see the progress in the following dialog:
Google Chrome should now be installed on your system. You can launch it by following the steps described below.
Launching Google Chrome
After successful installation, you will be able to launch Google Chrome through the following ways:
- Typing Google Chrome in Ubuntu Dash.
OR
- Accessing Google Chrome from the Applications menu.
When you open Chrome for the first time, you will be prompted with the following message:
Check your desired choices; Google Chrome will now launch!
The advantage of installing Chrome through the official installer is that you will be updated if a newer version of the software is available.
Uninstalling Google Chrome
Let us look at the following two ways to uninstall Google Chrome completely from your system:
- Through the Command Line
- Through the Graphical Interface
Through the Command Line
To uninstall Google Chrome, run these commands from your Terminal:
$ sudo apt-get purge google-chrome-stable
(This command will remove the Chrome installation.)
$ rm ~/.config/google-chrome/ -rf
(This command will remove custom settings such as any plugins you might have installed for your Chrome.)
Please continue with Y to remove the installation.
Through the Graphical Interface
Please follow the following steps to uninstall Google Chrome through the Ubuntu graphical interface:
Open Synaptic Package Manager from Ubuntu Dash.
Please install it through the Ubuntu Software if it is already not installed in your system.
You will be asked to provide authentication, as only a superuser can uninstall a software on Ubuntu.
Search for Google Chrome through the search button as follows:
You will be able to view the google-chrome-stable entry in the search results marked in green color.
Select google-chrome-stable, right click and then click Mark for Complete Removal from the menu.
Google Chrome will be selected for removal.
Now click the Apply button located at the top.
The following dialog will appear:
Click Apply in order to completely remove Google Chrome.
Google Chrome will be removed from your system. Now obviously we don’t need our system to give us updates for it; follow the next steps to disable updates for Chrome.
Open Software and Updates from Ubuntu Dash and click the Other Software tab.
- Select the http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/stable main entry and click the Remove button.
- Specify the password for the superuser and click Authenticate.
You have now uninstalled Google Chrome from your system and disabled updates for it.
We have seen that after all, it is not too difficult to install and uninstall Google Chrome from Ubuntu. You only need to run a few commands or utilize the user-friendly graphical interface to install a non-Linux software.
