Harnessing the Power of Open Source with Ubuntu

How to Install Google Chrome on Ubuntu: Complete Beginner-Friendly Guide

Software and App Management
目次

1. Introduction

When using Ubuntu, Firefox is pre-installed as the default browser. However, many users prefer Google Chrome for the following reasons:

  • Fast browsing performance: Google’s optimization technology enables faster page loading.
  • Extensive extensions: A wide variety of extensions are available through the Chrome Web Store.
  • Google Account synchronization: Easily sync bookmarks, history, and passwords across multiple devices.
  • Support for the latest web technologies: Rapid adoption of new JavaScript and CSS features.

This article provides a detailed, beginner-friendly guide on how to install Google Chrome on Ubuntu. It covers simple GUI-based installation methods as well as terminal-based approaches. Troubleshooting tips and FAQs are included at the end, so be sure to read through to the end.

2. Before You Install

Before installing Google Chrome, make sure to check the following requirements.

Check System Requirements

Google Chrome runs only on 64-bit versions of Ubuntu. First, verify whether your Ubuntu system is 64-bit.

Run the following command in the terminal:

uname -m
  • If x86_64 appears: Your system is 64-bit and supported.
  • If i686 or i386 appears: Your system is 32-bit, and Chrome cannot be installed. (Consider using the open-source “Chromium” browser instead.)

Internet Connection and Administrator Privileges

A stable internet connection is required to install Chrome. If you plan to use the terminal, ensure that you have administrator privileges (sudo).

You can verify your privileges with this command:

sudo -v

If no error occurs after entering your password, you are ready to proceed.

3. Installation Methods

This guide introduces three installation methods:

  • Method 1: GUI installation from the official website (for beginners)
  • Method 2: Terminal-based installation
  • Method 3: Installing via the Ubuntu Software Center

Method 1: Download and Install from the Official Website (Beginner-Friendly)

  1. Visit the Google Chrome official website
    Open the default Ubuntu browser (e.g., Firefox) and go to the Google Chrome website.
  2. Download the .deb package
    Click the “Download Chrome” button and choose “64-bit .deb package for Debian/Ubuntu”.
  3. Open the downloaded package
    Navigate to your Downloads folder and double-click the .deb file to launch the software installer.
  4. Start the installation
    Click “Install,” enter your password, and proceed.
  5. Verify installation
    After installation is complete, search for Google Chrome from the “Applications menu” and ensure it launches correctly.

Method 2: Install Using the Terminal (For Advanced Users)

The terminal provides a faster and more streamlined installation option.

  1. Open the terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T)
  2. Download the Google Chrome .deb package
wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
  1. Install the package
sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
  1. Fix any dependency issues
sudo apt --fix-broken install
  1. Confirm installation
google-chrome --version

If the Chrome version is displayed, installation was successful.

Method 3: Use the Ubuntu Software Center

  1. Open Ubuntu Software
  2. Search for “chromium” (open-source version)
  3. Click “Install”
  4. Enter your password and wait for completion
  5. Launch Chromium from the Applications menu

4. Post-Installation Setup and Verification

Launch Google Chrome

You can launch Chrome via the terminal:

google-chrome

Or search for “Google Chrome” in the Applications menu and click it.

Set Google Chrome as the Default Browser

  1. Open Google Chrome
  2. A message appears: “Set Google Chrome as your default browser?”
  3. Click “Set as default”

From now on, Chrome will be used when opening web links.

5. Troubleshooting

Installation Errors

You may encounter errors like:

dpkg: error processing package google-chrome-stable

In such cases, run:

sudo apt --fix-broken install

This command resolves dependency issues automatically.

Chrome Does Not Start

If Chrome does not launch after installation, try clearing the cache or reinstalling.

Clear Cache

rm -rf ~/.config/google-chrome
google-chrome

Reinstall Chrome

sudo apt remove google-chrome-stable
sudo apt update
sudo apt install google-chrome-stable

If the issue persists, check /var/log/syslog for error messages and identify the cause.

6. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1: Can Chrome update automatically?

A1: Yes. Google’s repository is added during installation, enabling automatic updates. To update manually, run:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade google-chrome-stable

Q2: How do I uninstall Chrome?

A2: Run the following command:

sudo apt remove google-chrome-stable

Q3: I cannot type in Japanese

A3: Install ibus-mozc:

sudo apt install ibus-mozc

Restart your system afterward to enable Japanese input.

Q4: Chrome runs slowly

A4: Disable unnecessary extensions and clear the cache.

Disable Extensions

  1. Enter chrome://extensions/ in the address bar
  2. Turn off unwanted extensions

Clear Cache

rm -rf ~/.cache/google-chrome

This can improve performance significantly.

7. Conclusion

This article explained how to install Google Chrome on Ubuntu.

Key Takeaways

  • Learned both GUI and terminal-based installation methods.
  • Covered post-install configuration such as setting Chrome as the default browser.
  • Provided troubleshooting tips for installation errors and launch issues.
  • Included FAQs on updates, uninstallation, Japanese input support, and performance improvement.

Once Google Chrome is installed, you can enjoy a faster and more efficient browsing experience on Ubuntu. Use this guide to complete your installation smoothly! 🚀