Alex Ruben
How To Install Chromium Without Using Snap on Linux/Ubuntu
If you’ve tried running Chromium on Ubuntu, chances are you’ve run into the obnoxious Snap version or just hate how it integrates. It’s kind of weird, but using the Snap package isn’t everyone’s cup of tea — it can be slower, less flexible, and sometimes just annoying to manage. So, this guide is for folks who want a more direct, traditional way to get Chromium, especially if you prefer .deb packages or want to avoid Snap altogether. Doing it this way means you get a cleaner install, more control, and hopefully fewer headaches. It’s not foolproof, but it’s a good way to keep Chromium lean and mean on your system, and you can update easily using apt. Once set up, Chromium should launch faster, and you’ll avoid that extra Snap overlay that gets in the way sometimes.
How to Fix Chromium Installation Hassles in Ubuntu
Remove Any Existing Snap Version of Chromium and Block Reinstallation
If Chromium is already installed as a Snap, odds are it’s the bugging, slower version that runs strangely sometimes. First, you gotta get rid of it. Open your terminal (because this is where magic happens). Run:
sudo snap remove chromium
This kills the Snap versioncold turkey. Sometimes, on some setups, the Snap might keep trying to reinstall after this, which is super frustrating because of course, Ubuntu has to make it harder than necessary. To make sure it stays away, hold back the snapd package so it doesn’t flash back again. Run:
sudo apt-mark hold snapd
This stops it from automatically reinstalling or sneaking back in when you update.
Add a Trusted PPA for the .deb Version of Chromium
Now, this is the tricky but reliable part. You need a PPA — basically a repository that hosts the decent, updater-friendly .deb build of Chromium. Use this command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xalt7/chromium.deb
On the first run, it might ask for your confirmation, so just press Enter. Once it’s added, Ubuntu can now grab Chromium directly from there, skipping that bloated Snap build.
Update Your Package List — Because Why Not
Next, refresh your package list so Ubuntu knows about the new repository. Run:
sudo apt update
This fetches the latest info. Sometimes, you’ll notice errors if the PPA is having issues, or the package info gets stuck… but usually it just works after a refresh.
Install Chromium from the New PPA
Finally, install Chromium the right way. Run:
sudo apt install chromium-browser
This installs what should be the latest, non-Snap version of Chromium, giving you a snappier, more integrated browser experience. Some folks report that on their setups, the command might need to be chromium instead of chromium-browser, but most default repositories use the latter.
Launch Chromium and Double-Check
After installation, just open Chromium from your app menu or run chromium-browser in the terminal. If it launches without the Snap overlay and feels snappier, that’s a good sign you got it right. On some machines, it takes a reboot or a relogin for all changes to settle in, so don’t be surprised if it’s a bit sluggish at first.
Extra Tips & Common Glitches
Usually, keeping things simple helps, but if Chromium still acts weird, double-check:
- Run
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgraderegularly to keep things current. - If Chromium refuses to launch or opens as a Snap still, check your system logs or try reinstalling from the PPA with
sudo apt --reinstall install chromium-browser. - Sometimes, clearing cache or resetting configs might help if Chromium has weird bugs (but that’s more for advanced users).
Wrap-up
This process isn’t perfect, especially with Ubuntu’s Snap obsession, but once you’re done, Chromium should run cleaner, faster, and with more control. Just be aware, if your system updates or adds Snap again, you might have to repeat parts of this—because Linux, right? Anyway, hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Fingers crossed this helps, and you get a leaner Chromium experience.
Summary
- Remove Snap with
sudo snap remove chromium - Hold back Snapd to prevent reinstallation:
sudo apt-mark hold snapd - Add trusted PPA: https://launchpad.net/~xalt7/+archive/ubuntu/chromium.deb
- Update package list:
sudo apt update - Install Chromium:
sudo apt install chromium-browser