How to Install Google Chrome on Arch Linux

Unlike other distros, Arch Linux doesn’t come with Google Chrome in its official repositories—but that doesn’t mean you can’t install it easily. In this quick guide, I’ll show you how to install Chrome using the AUR (Arch User Repository).

Why Use Chrome on Arch?

Some users prefer Chromium, the open-source base of Chrome, but if you need:

• Full Google account sync
• Built-in Widevine DRM (Netflix, Spotify, etc.)
• Native Google services support

Then installing Google Chrome is the way to go.

Step 1: Make Sure You Have an AUR Helper

The easiest way to install Chrome is through an AUR helper like yay.

If you don’t have yay yet, install it like this:

sudo pacman -S git base-devel

git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git

cd yay

makepkg -si

Step 2: Install Google Chrome from the AUR

Once yay is installed, run:

yay -S google-chrome

It’ll pull the latest Google Chrome package from the AUR, compile it, and install it.

You’ll be asked to review PKGBUILD details—press Enter to accept the defaults unless you know what you’re doing.

Step 3: Launch Google Chrome

After installation, you can launch it from your applications menu or via terminal:

google-chrome-stable

To set it as your default browser:

xdg-settings set default-web-browser google-chrome.desktop

Optional: Keep Chrome Updated

Because Chrome is installed via the AUR, you’ll need to keep it updated using your AUR helper:

yay -Syu

This checks for both system and AUR package updates, including Chrome.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Can’t install yay? Double-check you have base-devel installed and you’re cloning the AUR properly.
• Dependencies fail? Make sure your system is up to date:
  sudo pacman -Syu
• Want Chromium instead? Just run:
  sudo pacman -S chromium

Final Thoughts

Installing Google Chrome on Arch Linux is quick and reliable using an AUR helper like yay. It gives you access to the full Chrome experience while staying true to Arch’s rolling-release model.

If you prefer a manual install (without an AUR helper), or want to use Flatpak or Snap instead, let me know in the comments and I’ll walk you through that too.