How to Install Google Chrome Web Browser on Ubuntu 24.04

Google Chrome is a fast and secure web browser built for the modern web. It is available for all major operating systems and allows you to sync bookmarks, history, and passwords across devices.

This guide explains how to install Google Chrome on Ubuntu 24.04 using the official Google package and repository.

Quick Reference #

Installing Google Chrome on Ubuntu #

Chrome is not open source and is not included in the standard Ubuntu repositories. The official .deb package adds the Google signing key and repository so Chrome stays updated automatically.

Download Google Chrome #

Open a terminal and use wget to download the latest stable package:

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

Install Google Chrome #

Install the package with apt. Running this command requires sudo privileges :

sudo apt install ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

When prompted, enter your password to complete the installation.

Starting Google Chrome #

Open the Activities overview by pressing the Super key, search for “Google Chrome”, and launch it:

You can also start Chrome from the terminal:

google-chrome

When you start Chrome for the first time, you will be asked whether you want to set it as the default browser and enable crash reports:

Chrome then opens the welcome page:

From here, you can sign in with your Google account and sync your settings.

Set Chrome as Default Browser #

To set Chrome as the default browser from the command line, run:

xdg-settings set default-web-browser google-chrome.desktop

To verify the current default browser:

xdg-settings get default-web-browser

google-chrome.desktop

Updating Google Chrome #

During installation, the official Google repository is added to your system. Verify the repository file with cat :

cat /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.sources

Example output:

### THIS FILE IS AUTOMATICALLY CONFIGURED ###
# Changes to this file will not be preserved.
# This file will not be recreated if removed.
X-Repolib-Name: Google Chrome
Types: deb
URIs: https://dl.google.com/linux/chrome-stable/deb/
Suites: stable
Components: main
Architectures: amd64
Signed-By: /usr/share/keyrings/google-chrome.gpg

Current Chrome packages write this file in the deb822 format, so the name ends in .sources rather than .list. Older releases used a single-line /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list instead, and on a system that has been running Chrome for a while the package migrates that legacy file for you, removing it or commenting out its Google entry the next time Chrome updates. If both files are present, the .list one is the leftover and no longer supplies the repository. The Signed-By line points at the Google signing key, which the package installs separately at /usr/share/keyrings/google-chrome.gpg so the repository keeps working when Chrome is removed but not purged.

Chrome updates are delivered through the standard Ubuntu update process:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Uninstalling Google Chrome #

To remove Google Chrome from your system but keep the Google repository configured, run:

sudo apt remove google-chrome-stable

Then clean up unused dependencies:

sudo apt autoremove

Neither command touches your browser profile in ~/.config/google-chrome, so bookmarks and settings survive a reinstall.

To remove Chrome together with its repository file and signing key, purge the package instead:

sudo apt purge google-chrome-stable
sudo apt update

Purging deletes /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.sources, /usr/share/keyrings/google-chrome.gpg, and /etc/default/google-chrome, leaving nothing Google-related in your APT configuration.

Troubleshooting #

The installation fails with dependency errors
Fix broken dependencies and re-run the install:

sudo apt --fix-broken install
sudo apt install ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

Chrome does not start after installation
Close any running Chrome processes and start it again:

pkill -f google-chrome
google-chrome

Repository file is missing and Chrome no longer receives updates
Reinstalling the package on its own does not bring the file back. Chrome records that it has already configured the repository by setting repo_add_once="false" in /etc/default/google-chrome, and it only recreates the file when that value is true. Flip the value back and reinstall:

sudo sed -i 's/^repo_add_once=.*/repo_add_once="true"/' /etc/default/google-chrome
sudo apt install --reinstall ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

Confirm that /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.sources exists again, then run sudo apt update.

FAQ #

What is the difference between Chrome and Chromium?
Chromium is the open-source project that Chrome is built on. Chrome adds proprietary features such as automatic updates, licensed media codecs (AAC, H.264), and tighter Google account integration.

How do I import bookmarks from another browser?
In Chrome, open the three-dot menu, then choose Bookmarks and lists > Import bookmarks and settings, and select the browser you want to import from.

Can I install Chrome Beta or Dev channels?
Yes. Replace google-chrome-stable with google-chrome-beta or google-chrome-unstable in the download URL and install command.

Conclusion #

Google Chrome installs on Ubuntu 24.04 from the official .deb package, which also adds the Google repository so the browser stays updated through apt. If you prefer a fully open-source browser, Chromium is the closest alternative.

About the authors

Dejan Panovski

Dejan Panovski is the founder of Linuxize, an RHCSA-certified Linux system administrator and DevOps engineer based in Skopje, Macedonia. Author of 1000+ Linux tutorials with 20+ years of experience turning complex Linux tasks into clear, reliable guides.

View author page