Get Google Chrome running on your computer in five minutes
Installing Google Chrome means going to Google's download page, running the installer file, and letting it set itself up. The whole process takes about five minutes on any computer. Chrome works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and the steps are slightly different for each one, but the idea is the same: download, install, done.
After installation finishes, Chrome opens automatically and you can start using it right away. You do not need to restart your computer. If you already use another browser, Chrome can import your bookmarks and passwords during setup, so you do not lose anything.
Key Takeaways
- Download Chrome directly from google.com/chrome — this is the only official source and it is always free.
- On Windows, run the installer file and Chrome installs itself without asking many questions.
- On Mac, drag the Chrome icon into your Applications folder after downloading the disk image file.
- Chrome can import your bookmarks and saved passwords from your old browser during the first setup.
- After installation, Chrome appears in your Start menu (Windows), Applications folder (Mac), or system menu (Linux).
Installing Chrome on Windows
Go to google.com/chrome in whatever browser you are using now. Click the blue "Download Chrome" button. A file called ChromeSetup.exe will download to your computer — this is the installer.
Open your Downloads folder and double-click ChromeSetup.exe. Windows may ask if you want to allow this program to make changes to your device — click "Yes". The installer runs automatically and Chrome installs itself without asking you to choose where to put it or what features to turn on. This takes about two minutes.
When installation finishes, Chrome opens automatically. You will see a welcome screen asking if you want to sign in with a Google account. You can sign in now, skip this step, or do it later — all three options work fine. If you want to bring over bookmarks or passwords from Internet Explorer, Edge, or Firefox, click "Import browsing data" on the welcome screen and choose which browser to import from.
After setup, Chrome appears in your Start menu and on your desktop (if you chose to add a shortcut). You can now close the welcome screen and start browsing.
Installing Chrome on Mac
Open Safari or whatever browser you use now and go to google.com/chrome. Click "Download Chrome". A file called googlechrome.dmg will download — this is a disk image, which is how Mac software usually comes packaged.
Open your Downloads folder and double-click googlechrome.dmg. A window opens showing the Chrome icon and an Applications folder icon. Drag the Chrome icon onto the Applications folder. This copies Chrome to the right place on your Mac. The copy takes about 30 seconds.
After dragging, you can close the window and eject the disk image (drag it to the Trash, or right-click it and choose "Eject"). Open your Applications folder and double-click Google Chrome to start it for the first time. Mac may ask if you want to open an app downloaded from the internet — click "Open". Chrome then opens and shows you the welcome screen.
On the welcome screen, you can sign in with a Google account, skip this step, or import bookmarks and passwords from Safari, Firefox, or another browser. After you finish setup, Chrome stays in your Applications folder and also appears in your Dock if you want to pin it there.
Installing Chrome on Linux
The steps depend on which Linux distribution you use. On Ubuntu and most other distributions, open your software manager (called Ubuntu Software, Software Center, or something similar depending on your version). Search for "Google Chrome" and click the result. Click the Install button and enter your password when prompted.
On some Linux versions, you may need to download the installer file from google.com/chrome instead. Download the .deb file (for Ubuntu, Debian, and similar) or the .rpm file (for Fedora, Red Hat, and similar). Open your file manager, find the downloaded file, right-click it, and choose "Open With" and then "Software Install" or "Package Manager". Enter your password and let the installation finish.
After installation, Chrome appears in your applications menu. Click it to open Chrome for the first time. The welcome screen works the same way as on Windows and Mac — you can sign in, skip this step, or import from Firefox or another browser.
What to do if the installer does not work
If ChromeSetup.exe (Windows) or googlechrome.dmg (Mac) will not open, your browser may have blocked it as a security precaution. Go back to google.com/chrome and download it again. If it still will not open, check your Downloads folder for a file with a name like "ChromeSetup.exe.crdownload" — this means the download did not finish. Delete it and download again.
On Windows, if you see an error message during installation, make sure you have administrator rights on your computer. If you do not, you may need to ask whoever manages your computer to install it for you. On Mac, if you cannot drag Chrome into Applications, try right-clicking the Chrome icon and choosing "Copy", then right-click in the Applications folder and choose "Paste".
If Chrome still will not install after trying these steps, restart your computer and try again. Restart fixes most installation problems because it clears out temporary files that may be getting in the way.
Signing in and syncing your data
After Chrome opens for the first time, you can sign in with a Google account. This is optional — Chrome works fine without signing in. If you do sign in, Chrome remembers your bookmarks, passwords, browsing history, and settings across any computer where you sign in with the same account.
To sign in, click your profile icon in the top right corner of Chrome (it looks like a circle with your initial or a generic person icon). Click "Sign in to Chrome" and enter your Google account email and password. Chrome then syncs your data in the background — this takes a few seconds to a few minutes depending on how much data you have.
If you do not have a Google account, you can create one for free at accounts.google.com. You do not need to use Gmail — you can use any email address you already have.
Making Chrome your default browser
After installing Chrome, you can make it your default browser so that links you click in emails, documents, and other programs open in Chrome instead of your old browser. On Windows, open Chrome, click the three-line menu icon in the top right, go to Settings, click "Default browser" on the left, and then click "Make default". Windows may ask you to confirm — click "Switch anyway".
On Mac, open Chrome, click "Chrome" in the menu bar at the top, go to Settings, click "Default browser" on the left, and click "Make default". On Linux, the steps vary by distribution, but usually you open your system settings, find the "Default Applications" section, and choose Chrome as your web browser.
You can change your default browser back anytime by following the same steps in your old browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay for Chrome?
No. Chrome is free to download and use. Google makes money from search and ads, not from selling the browser itself. There are no hidden costs or premium versions.
Can I have Chrome and another browser on the same computer?
Yes. You can install Chrome alongside Firefox, Safari, Edge, or any other browser. They do not interfere with each other. You can use whichever one you want for any task, or use different browsers for different purposes.
What if I want to uninstall Chrome later?
On Windows, go to Settings, click "Apps", find Google Chrome, and click "Uninstall". On Mac, open your Applications folder, drag Chrome to the Trash, and empty the Trash. On Linux, open your software manager, find Google Chrome, and click "Remove". Uninstalling Chrome does not delete your Google account or any data stored in Google services like Gmail or Drive.
Will Chrome slow down my computer?
Chrome uses more memory than some other browsers, especially if you have many tabs open. If your computer is old or has very little RAM, you might notice it runs slower with Chrome open. You can try it and see — if it feels too slow, you can uninstall it and use a lighter browser instead.
Is Chrome safe to use?
Chrome includes built-in protections against malware and phishing sites, and Google updates it automatically with security fixes. Like any browser, your safety also depends on not clicking suspicious links or downloading files from untrusted sources. Chrome is considered as safe as Firefox, Safari, and Edge.