How to Install Chromium on Linux Using Your Distribution’s Packages

Install Chromium through the package source maintained for your Linux distribution. On Ubuntu, use Snap; Debian, Arch Linux, and Fedora provide Chromium through their own package repositories. Other distributions can use Snap after installing and enabling snapd. The steps below use official package names and current project instructions, so you can pick the section that matches your system.

Chromium is an open-source web browser project. Its package name and delivery format vary by distribution, so avoid copying an installation command from a different Linux release. Use a terminal account with administrator privileges, and enter your password when sudo asks for it.

Install Chromium from your distribution’s repository

Ubuntu: install the Snap package

On current Ubuntu releases, the APT package named chromium-browser is transitional: it directs users to the Chromium Snap instead of installing a standalone browser package. Install the Snap directly with the command below. Snap support is included by default on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and later, according to Canonical’s setup guide.

sudo snap install chromium

When installation finishes, open the applications menu and search for Chromium. The Ubuntu package listing identifies the transitional package, and the official Snap Store instructions for Ubuntu provide the install command.

Debian: use APT

Debian publishes Chromium in its own repositories. Refresh APT’s package index, then install the package named chromium:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install chromium

The repository version follows your Debian release and its security-update policy, so it may differ from the newest upstream release number. Check the Debian stable package page if APT reports that it cannot find Chromium or if you want to confirm package details.

Arch Linux: use Pacman

Arch Linux provides a package named chromium. Arch does not support partial system upgrades, so update the system and install Chromium together:

sudo pacman -Syu chromium

Review the proposed package changes before confirming. See the Arch package listing and the Arch guidance on partial upgrades for details.

Fedora: use DNF

Fedora’s repositories include the chromium package. Open a terminal and run:

sudo dnf install chromium

DNF resolves dependencies and asks you to approve the transaction before it installs anything. The Fedora Packages page shows the package and the Fedora releases that publish it.

Use Snap on other Linux distributions

Snap is a practical option when your distribution does not offer Chromium in its enabled repositories or you prefer Canonical’s cross-distribution package. First check whether Snap is ready:

snap version

If the command is missing or cannot connect to the Snap daemon, install snapd using the instructions for your exact distribution and release. Some systems also require enabling the daemon or logging out and back in before Snap commands work. Canonical maintains a distribution-by-distribution snapd installation guide; follow it instead of applying another distribution’s repository commands.

For openSUSE, the official Chromium Snap guide explains the Snappy repository and service setup for the supported openSUSE versions. Configure that repository and enable Snap as directed before installing Chromium:

sudo snap install chromium

For this route, see the official Chromium instructions for openSUSE or the Chromium page in the Snap Store.

Launch Chromium and check that it installed

Use the desktop application menu to open Chromium, or launch it from a terminal. To check the installed build, run:

chromium --version

If the shell says the command is not found, confirm that the installation completed and try launching Chromium from the application menu. On some distributions the executable name or desktop launcher can differ; consult that distribution’s package page before creating a custom shortcut.

Update Chromium and fix common install issues

Packages installed with APT, Pacman, or DNF receive updates through the normal system-update process. Keep your system’s package index and updates current, then install available updates using the package manager for your distribution. Snap packages refresh automatically, but you can request an update manually:

sudo snap refresh chromium

• “Unable to locate package”: verify that you chose the right section, refresh the package index, and check that the required repository is enabled for your release.
• “snap: command not found”: install and enable snapd using the official instructions for your distribution, then start a new login session if the guide requires it.
• The browser does not open: launch it from a terminal to see any error message, then check for incomplete package updates or missing system dependencies.

Avoid adding an unofficial repository just to get a newer version unless you trust its maintainer and understand how it will receive security updates. For most users, the distribution repository or the official Chromium Snap page is the simplest place to start.