How to Install Chromium Browser on Ubuntu 26.04

Learning how to install Chromium browser on Ubuntu 26.04 gives you access to a fast, open-source web browser that serves as the foundation for Google Chrome. Unlike Chrome, Chromium is fully open-source and ships without proprietary Google components such as automatic updates, crash reporting, and certain media codecs. On Ubuntu 26.04 Resolute Raccoon, you have several installation methods to choose from, each with its own trade-offs in terms of system integration, update speed, and sandboxing. This guide walks you through all practical approaches so you can pick the one that best fits your workflow.

Software Requirements

Understanding Chromium on Ubuntu 26.04

Chromium is the open-source project behind Google Chrome. While Chrome bundles proprietary features like Widevine DRM, automatic updates, and crash reporting, Chromium strips all of that away and gives you a clean, community-driven browser. On Ubuntu 26.04, which runs Wayland as the default display server, Chromium works natively through the Ozone platform layer without requiring any X11 compatibility workarounds.

Canonical has historically packaged Chromium exclusively as a Snap since Ubuntu 19.10. Therefore, the chromium-browser APT package in the default Ubuntu repositories is actually a transitional package that installs the Snap version. If you prefer a native .deb package instead, you will need Flatpak, a third-party PPA, or the Debian repositories. Each method has its own characteristics worth considering before you choose.

Installing Chromium via Snap

The Snap package is the most straightforward way to install Chromium on Ubuntu 26.04. Snap is pre-installed on the system, so no additional setup is needed. The Snap version runs in a confined sandbox, which adds a layer of security but may limit access to certain system directories.

1. Install the Chromium Snap: Run either of the following commands to install Chromium. Both result in a Snap installation since the chromium-browser APT package is a transitional wrapper that redirects to the Snap Store:

   $ sudo snap install chromium

   or equivalently:

   $ sudo apt install chromium-browser

2. Launch Chromium: Start the browser from the terminal or your application menu:

   $ chromium

3. Verify the installation: Confirm the installed version:

   $ chromium --version

Installing Chromium via Flatpak

Flatpak offers an alternative sandboxed installation. This method requires Flatpak to be installed on your system first.

1. Install Flatpak: If you have not already done so, install Flatpak on your Ubuntu 26.04 system and add the Flathub repository:

   $ sudo apt install flatpak
   $ sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub 

   A reboot or re-login may be required for Flatpak applications to appear in your application menu.

2. Install Chromium from Flathub: Use the fully qualified application ID to install:

   $ flatpak install flathub org.chromium.Chromium

3. Log out and log back in: After installation, you must log out and log back in for Chromium to appear in your desktop application menu. You can still launch it immediately from the terminal without re-logging.
4. Launch Chromium: Run the Flatpak version from the terminal:

   $ flatpak run org.chromium.Chromium

   Alternatively, search for Chromium in your desktop application menu.

Installing Chromium via PPA

If you prefer a traditional .deb package with tighter system integration, the Chromium Team PPA provides native packages that bypass the Snap wrapper entirely. This method gives you a package managed through APT with direct filesystem access and typically faster startup times.

1. Add the Chromium Team PPA: Add the stable channel PPA to your system:

   $ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:chromium-team/stable

2. Update package lists and install: Refresh your package cache and install Chromium:

   $ sudo apt update
   $ sudo apt install chromium-browser

3. Verify the installation: Check the installed version to confirm:

   $ chromium-browser --version

Installing Chromium from Debian Repositories

Another option for obtaining a native .deb package is to install Chromium directly from the Debian repositories. The Debian project maintains its own Chromium packages independently of Canonical. The version available may be older than the latest upstream release, but it is a well-maintained, properly packaged .deb without any Snap involvement.

1. Add the Debian repository: Create a new sources file for the Debian stable (trixie) repository:

   $ sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-chromium.list << 'EOF'
   deb  trixie main
   EOF

2. Add the Debian archive keyring: Install the keyring package so APT can verify packages from the Debian repository:

   $ sudo apt install debian-archive-keyring

$ sudo gpg --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 6ED0E7B82643E131 78DBA3BC47EF2265 762F67A0B2C39DE4
$ sudo gpg --export 6ED0E7B82643E131 78DBA3BC47EF2265 762F67A0B2C39DE4 | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/debian-trixie.gpg > /dev/null

3. Pin Chromium from Debian: Create an APT pinning rule to ensure only Chromium (and not other packages) is pulled from the Debian repository. This prevents unintended package replacements:

   $ sudo tee /etc/apt/preferences.d/debian-chromium.pref << 'EOF'
   Package: *
   Pin: origin deb.debian.org
   Pin-Priority: 1
   
   Package: chromium chromium-common chromium-sandbox chromium-l10n
   Pin: origin deb.debian.org
   Pin-Priority: 500
   EOF

   The first rule sets all Debian packages to the lowest priority, while the second rule elevates only the Chromium-related packages to a normal install priority.

4. Install Chromium: Update the package cache and install:

   $ sudo apt update
   $ sudo apt install chromium

5. Verify the installation: Confirm that the Debian version is installed:

   $ chromium --version

Setting Chromium as the Default Browser

After installation, you may want to set Chromium as your system’s default web browser. The method depends on how you installed it.

1. Set default via GNOME Settings: Open Settings, navigate to Default Applicationsand select Chromium from the Web browser dropdown. This is the recommended approach on Ubuntu 26.04’s GNOME desktop.
2. Set default via the command line: For Snap or .deb installations, use the xdg-settings command:

   $ xdg-settings set default-web-browser chromium.desktop

   For the Flatpak installation, the desktop file name differs:

   $ xdg-settings set default-web-browser org.chromium.Chromium.desktop

3. Verify the change: Confirm the default browser setting:

   $ xdg-settings get default-web-browser

   

Conclusion

You now have multiple ways to install Chromium browser on Ubuntu 26.04. The Snap method is the quickest and requires no additional setup. Flatpak provides a similar sandboxed experience with access to the broader Flathub ecosystem. The PPA route delivers a native .deb package with better system integration, while the Debian repository method offers a stable, well-maintained alternative at the cost of running a slightly older version. Regardless of the method you choose, Chromium runs natively on Wayland in Ubuntu 26.04 without any extra configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between Chromium and Google Chrome on Ubuntu 26.04? Chromium is the open-source base that Google Chrome is built upon. Chrome adds proprietary components including Widevine DRM for streaming services, automatic update mechanisms, and crash reporting. Chromium excludes these features, making it a lighter and more privacy-respecting option.
2. Can I have multiple versions of Chromium installed at the same time? Yes. Since Snap, Flatpak, and PPA installations use separate packaging systems, they do not conflict with each other. You can install all three side by side, though each will maintain its own profile and settings directory.
3. Why does the Snap version of Chromium start slower than the .deb version? Snap packages use a compressed filesystem image that must be mounted at launch. This adds a small overhead on first start compared to native .deb packages. Subsequent launches are typically faster due to caching.
4. Does Chromium support Wayland natively on Ubuntu 26.04? Yes. Chromium uses the Ozone platform layer to run natively on Wayland. Ubuntu 26.04 defaults to Wayland, and Chromium detects this automatically. No additional flags or configuration are required.