Install Google Chrome in Ubuntu 18

Google Chrome is not installed by default in Ubuntu Linux 18.04 LTS 'Bionic Beaver' and Linux Mint 18, two of my favorite Linux distros. Installing of Google chrome is easy and simple but requires basic knowledge of terminal.

Google Chrome is not included in Ubuntu's repositories because is a proprietary application. As an alternative you can use Chromium(open Software center and install Chromium-browser - open source version of Google Chrome ). It cannot be installed by simply browsing the Software Manager. Instead, it should be installed by commands which:

  • add repository
  • add repository key
  • update your repository list
  • install the Google chrome package

These instructions works both on Ubuntu 18 and Linux Mint 18(all versions Cinnamon, Mate, XFCE).

Install Google chrome

You need to open your terminal by: CTRL+ALT+T and then type this commands:

echo "deb [arch=amd64] http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/chrome.list

wget -q -O - https://dl-ssl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub | apt-key add -

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install google-chrome-stable

Add chrome Icon

Ubuntu

  1. Start Google Chrome
  2. Right click the icon in launcher
  3. Add to favorites / Lock to Launcher

Linux Mint

  1. Go to start menu
  2. Section Internet
  3. Find Google Chrome
  4. Right click on Google Chrome
  5. From the submenu select add to panel or add to desktop.

Additional information

If you want to test and use Google Chrome in headless mode(without graphical interface) then you can check this article:

Install google chrome healess on ubuntu 16.04

If you want to uninstall Google Chrome:
Uninstall Google chrome Ubuntu 16.04

In case of performance issues or adding extensions:
Slow load of Google Chrome and adding extensions

Note: that Google Chrome is available only in 64 bit versions. A year ago Google decide to stop 32 bit version.