How to Install Google Chrome on Ubuntu

Google Chrome is a popular web browser developed by Google, known for its speed, simplicity, and extensive ecosystem of extensions. If you’re running Ubuntu and wish to install Chrome, this guide will walk you through the process step-by-step.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:
* An Ubuntu operating system installed.
* An active internet connection.
* Administrator (sudo) privileges on your system.

Step-by-Step Installation

Follow these instructions carefully to install Google Chrome on your Ubuntu system.

Step 1: Download the Google Chrome .deb Package

The first step is to download the official Google Chrome installation package.
1. Open your preferred web browser (e.g., Firefox, which is pre-installed on Ubuntu).
2. Navigate to the official Google Chrome download page: https://www.google.com/chrome/
3. Click on the “Download Chrome” button.
4. On the download page, select the “64 bit .deb (For Debian/Ubuntu)” option.
5. Click “Accept and Install” to start the download. The file, typically named google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb, will usually be saved in your Downloads folder.

Step 2: Open a Terminal

The installation process will be completed using the command line.
1. Open the terminal application on your Ubuntu system. You can do this by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard, or by searching for “Terminal” in your applications menu.

Step 3: Navigate to the Downloads Directory

Use the cd command to change your current directory to where you downloaded the .deb package.
1. In the terminal, type the following command and press Enter:
bash
cd ~/Downloads
This command will move you into your Downloads directory, where the Chrome package should be located.

Step 4: Install the Google Chrome .deb Package

Now, use the dpkg command to install the downloaded package.
1. Execute the following command in your terminal:
bash
sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
* sudo grants administrative privileges for the command.
* dpkg is the package manager for Debian-based systems like Ubuntu.
* -i stands for install.
* You will be prompted to enter your user password. Type it in and press Enter. (Note: The characters you type won’t be visible on the screen for security reasons).

Step 5: Fix Broken Dependencies (If Necessary)

Sometimes, the dpkg command might report dependency issues. This means that Google Chrome requires other software packages that are not yet installed on your system. You can easily fix this.
1. If you encounter dependency errors during Step 4, run the following command:
bash
sudo apt --fix-broken install
This command will automatically identify and install any missing dependencies that Google Chrome needs to function correctly. After this command completes, Google Chrome should be properly configured.

Step 6: Launch Google Chrome

Once the installation is complete, you can launch Google Chrome.
1. From the Applications Menu: Search for “Google Chrome” in your applications menu and click on its icon.
2. From the Terminal: You can also launch Chrome directly from the terminal by typing:
bash
google-chrome-stable
The first time you launch Chrome, it might ask if you want to make it your default browser and if you want to send usage statistics to Google.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Google Chrome on your Ubuntu system. You can now enjoy browsing the web with Google’s popular browser. Chrome will automatically add a repository to your system, ensuring that it receives updates along with your other system software.