Download Chrome directly from Google

The fastest way to get Chrome on your Mac is to visit google.com/chrome in your current browser. You'll see a blue "Download" button. Click it, and Google will automatically detect that you're on a Mac and download the Intel or Apple Silicon version that matches your machine.

The file arrives as a disk image (.dmg file) in your Downloads folder. Double-click it to open the installer window. You'll see the Chrome icon on the left and an Applications folder icon on the right with an arrow between them. The disk image is temporary — you'll delete it after installation is complete.

Key Takeaways

  • Download Chrome from google.com/chrome, which automatically detects your Mac's processor type and downloads the correct version for your machine.
  • Drag the Chrome icon into the Applications folder to complete installation, which takes about 30 seconds on most Macs.
  • Open Chrome from your Applications folder or Spotlight search, then sign in with your Google account to sync bookmarks, passwords, and settings across all your devices.
  • Chrome updates itself automatically in the background every time you launch it, so you never have to manually check for updates.
  • You can delete the installer disk image after Chrome is installed; it's no longer needed and takes up space in your Downloads folder.

Drag Chrome into your Applications folder

In the installer window, click and drag the Chrome icon (the colorful circle) onto the Applications folder icon. Your Mac will copy Chrome into the Applications folder where it belongs. This usually takes 10 to 30 seconds depending on your Mac model and how much free storage space you have.

Once the copy finishes, you can close the installer window and eject the disk image. Right-click the disk image icon on your desktop and select "Eject", or drag it to the Trash. The disk image file is no longer needed after installation.

Open Chrome and sign in with your Google account

Open Spotlight search by pressing Command + Space, type "Chrome", and press Enter. Chrome will launch. On first startup, you'll see a welcome screen asking whether you want to set Chrome as your default browser and whether you want to sign in with a Google account.

If you have a Google account, click "Sign in" and enter your email and password. Signing in syncs your bookmarks, history, passwords, saved payment methods, and open tabs across all your devices — your Mac, iPhone, Android phone, and any other computer where you use Chrome. If you don't have a Google account, you can skip this step and use Chrome without signing in, though you won't get the benefit of syncing across devices.

Set Chrome as your default browser (optional)

If you want Chrome to open when you click links in emails or other apps, you can make it your default browser. Open Chrome, click the three-line menu in the top right corner, select "Settings", then click "Default browser" on the left side. Click the "Make default" button, and your Mac will ask you to confirm the change in System Settings.

You can change your default browser back to Safari or another browser at any time using the same steps. Having Chrome installed does not force it to be your default — you control which browser opens links.

Update Chrome automatically

Chrome checks for updates every time it launches and installs them in the background without interrupting your work. You don't have to do anything — updates happen automatically. If a major update is waiting, Chrome will show a colored circle in the three-line menu icon, and you can click "Relaunch" to apply it immediately.

To check your current Chrome version and see whether updates are available, click the three-line menu, hover over "Help", and select "About Google Chrome". This page shows your version number and automatically checks for the latest version. Chrome will download and install any available update in the background.

Troubleshooting installation problems

If the installer won't open or Chrome won't launch after installation, restart your Mac and try again. If you see a message that Chrome is damaged or can't be opened, your Mac's security settings may be blocking it. Go to System Settings, click "Privacy & Security" on the left, scroll down to "Security", and look for a message about Chrome. Click "Open Anyway" next to Chrome's name to allow it to run.

If Chrome still won't install, delete it from Applications and download a fresh copy from google.com/chrome. Make sure you have at least 200 MB of free storage space on your Mac before installing. If you're running an older version of macOS, check that your Mac meets Chrome's system requirements — Chrome requires macOS 10.15 or later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to uninstall Safari to use Chrome?

No. You can have both Safari and Chrome installed at the same time. Many people use Safari as their default browser and Chrome for specific tasks. You can switch between them whenever you want, and both will work without interfering with each other.

Will Chrome slow down my Mac?

Chrome uses more memory than Safari, especially if you have many tabs open. On newer Macs with 8 GB of RAM or more, the difference is usually not noticeable. On older Macs or machines with less RAM, you may notice slower performance if you run Chrome alongside other demanding apps.

Can I sync my bookmarks from Safari to Chrome?

Yes. Open Chrome, click the three-line menu, select "Bookmarks", then "Import bookmarks and settings". Choose Safari from the dropdown, check the boxes for what you want to import, and click "Import". Your Safari bookmarks will appear in Chrome's bookmark bar and sync across your other devices.

What if I want to remove Chrome later?

Open Finder, click "Applications" on the left sidebar, find Google Chrome in the list, right-click it, and select "Move to Trash". Chrome will be removed from your Mac. Your Google account and synced data remain on Google's servers and will reappear if you install Chrome again and sign in with the same account.