How to Install Google Chrome on Debian 12 Bookworm

Looking to install Google Chrome on your Debian machine?

If you’re unfamiliar with Debian 12 or simply a beginner to the whole Linux environment, then it can be difficult to install Chrome right away. 

So, don’t worry.

In this step-by-step tutorial, we will guide you on installing Google Chrome on Debian 12 quickly and easily.

Let’s dive right in!

Why Choose Google Chrome Over Debian’s Default Browser?

As an open-source Linux distribution, Debian often comes pre-installed with a default browser like Firefox. While Firefox is a robust and reliable browser, Google Chrome is more prominent and does arguably better than the rest, making it a preferred choice for many users globally.

Here’s why Google Chrome often stands out as the better option:

• Faster Performance: Google Chrome is often perceived to be faster (test results) in loading web pages than the default Debian browser.
• Wide Range of Extensions: Google Chrome offers a vast library of extensions, enabling users to customize their browsing experience to their liking.
• Advanced Developer Tools: Google Chrome provides an advanced set of developer tools that web developers and programmers appreciate.

What You’ll Need

Before proceeding with the installation process, ensure that you have the following:

• A working Debian 12 Bookworm system (guide)
• Sudo access (guide)
• An active Internet connection
• An updated system package repository
• A basic understanding of Linux terminal commands (guide)

If you have all the above requirements, continue reading to install Google Chrome using the steps below.

How to Install Google Chrome on Debian 12 Bookworm: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Update and Upgrade Debian 12 Bookworm

Updating and upgrading Debian 12 Bookworm is necessary while installing new software or packages. Here are steps on how to do it and the reason behind it:

1. To update your system’s package repository with available latest versions of all packages, enter the following command:

sudo apt update

2. Next, we will update all installed packages to their most recent versions. Enter the below command:

sudo apt upgrade

Note: Enter ‘Y‘ when prompted to continue the update or upgrade operation. If there is no prompt, your device is already updated and upgraded.

Step 2: Install curl and apt-transport-https Packages

It is mandatory to have curl and apt-transport-https installed as they play a vital role in the seamless installation of Chrome.

Let’s go over a brief overview of these two packages:

• apt-transport-https – a package that enables the package manager to transfer files and data over https. 
• curl – a command-line tool for transferring data using URLs for safely downloading and installing Google Chrome from its online repository. 

Let’s now proceed to install these two packages.

1. Here is the command to install the curl and apt-transport-https packages:

sudo apt install apt-transport-https curl -y

2. Once you’ve run the previous command, you will have successfully installed both the curl and apt-transport-https packages. If there is an error with the installation, you might have made a mistake while entering the commands or an issue with your internet connection.

Step 3: Add Google Chrome Linux Signing Key

Adding the Google Chrome Linux Signing Key is a crucial step often overlooked due to its significance.

We strongly recommend including this key, as it ensures the authenticity of downloaded packages, guaranteeing they are from Google and remain unaltered or corrupted during installation.

1. To add the Google Chrome Linux Signing Key, simply execute the following command:

curl -fSsL https://dl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub | sudo gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/google-chrome.gpg >> /dev/null

If you notice it carefully, you will notice that the above command comprises three commands. Let’s break each down:

1. curl -fSsL https://dl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub – This command is responsible for downloading the key from the provided URL, and its output indicates the download status. 

2. sudo gpg –dearmor – The main role of this command is to convert the provided key (ASCII-armored key) into binary format. Once executed, you can see that key was imported successfully by gpg.

3. sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/google-chrome.gpg >> /dev/null – Unlike the above two commands, this command doesn’t generate any output. However, the tee command appends the output to the designated file, and >> /dev/null redirects the output to null to eliminate further display in the terminal.

Also Read: How to Update Google Chrome Browser on Ubuntu

Step 4: Add Google Chrome Repository

1. After successfully adding the key, adding the Google Chrome repository to the package sources list on Debian 12 Bookworm is mandatory, as you can tell your system where to download Google Chrome from. Here is the command to do so:

echo deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/google-chrome.gpg] http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list

Usually, there won’t be any output for the command. However, if you find any output, it probably indicates that the repository configuration for Google Chrome has been successfully added to the designated file.

Step 5: Install Google Chrome on Debian 12 Bookworm

Knowing which version of Google Chrome you’re installing on your Debian 12 Bookworm is crucial, as each version is different in terms of features and overall stability. 

Here is a simple explanation for each version and their installation command:

1. Stable version: Most tested and reliable, suitable for everyday use.

sudo apt install google-chrome-stable

2. Beta version: Offers a preview of features that will be released in the next stable release.

sudo apt install google-chrome-beta

3. Unstable version: Includes all the latest features but is also the least tested.

sudo apt install google-chrome-unstable

Note: When installing any version of Google Chrome, enter ‘Y‘ when prompted to continue the installation. If you have entered ‘N,’ your device will terminate the installation process.

This sums up the installation of Google Chrome, and you’re ready to run it. Unfortunately, the command to run different versions of Chrome isn’t the same. Continue reading to know more.  

Step 6: Run Google Chrome on Debian 12 Bookworm

Once you’ve successfully installed your preferred version of Google Chrome, launching it can be achieved via two primary methods: 1) Debian’s graphical user interface (GUI) or 2) via its terminal. 

Let’s walk through both of these procedures:

Option 1: Using the GUI (Recommended)

1. Start by selecting Activities on your desktop.
2. Navigate to the Search box.
3. Type ‘chrome‘, and as the Chrome icon pops up, click on it to launch the browser.

Option 2: Using the Terminal

1. First, access the terminal, which can be done by clicking on Activities in your Taskbar, then typing Terminal in the search box.
2. Depending on the version of Google Chrome you’ve installed, type the following commands:

• For Stable version: google-chrome-stable
• For Beta version: google-chrome-beta
• For Unstable version: google-chrome-unstable

Getting Errors Whilst Installing Chrome on Debian 12 Bookworm? Here’s What to Do.

It is common to face errors during the installation, and if you encounter any issues while installing Google Chrome, here are some troubleshooting solutions you can try: .

1. Ensure your system is up-to-date: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
2. Check if you have a stable internet connection
3. Verify that you’ve added the correct Google Chrome repository (Refer to Step 4)
4. Check that you have superuser permissions

How to Uninstall Google Chrome on Debian 12 Bookworm

If you ever need to uninstall Google Chrome, you can use the following commands:

• For the Stable version: sudo apt remove google-chrome-stable
• For the Beta version: sudo apt remove google-chrome-beta
• For the Unstable version: sudo apt remove google-chrome-unstable

Conclusion

If you’re new to Debian 12 Bookworm, installing Google Chrome might initially seem complicated. However, after following this tutorial, you should have been able to successfully install Google Chrome on your system, regardless of whether you chose the Stable, Beta, or Unstable version, as we have broken it down into easy-to-understand steps.

If you’re stuck with errors, even after performing the troubleshooting steps provided, contact Debian user forums or Google Chrome Help for better assistance.