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Since the Chromium PPA is no longer maintained, for those of us preferring to use Chromium over Chrome, we have two options:

  1. Build and Install from Source
  2. Download either 'beta' or daily builds (in a zip file)

Unfortunately for me, option 1 is overly complicated. I know how to compile most any other applications in Ubuntu but I've never been able to get chromium to build correctly.

I am currently using option 2. In Chromium I have the Chromium Updater installed (Chromium Updater from Chrome Web Store). This gives me quick access to the most recent 64bit versions.

Once downloaded, I install to /home/myuser/opt/chrome-linux. From this directory I can run the chrome binary. It works perfectly except for the fact that I cannot get it to act as my default browser.

I've tried, as root, installing the binary in /opt/chrome-linux/ with a symbolic link to the chrome binary in /usr/bin. Unfortunately, this doesn't work as a non root user.

So my question is - How do I properly install a downloaded Chromium zip build so that it's listed as an option for the default browser?

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Sadly, a year later, and there's still no answer for this. :( The latest builds I'm using now days is from download-chromium.appspot.com – ClarifyLinux May 15 at 19:40

1 Answer

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This way is not the best way, I will keep trying to find out the proper way but I figured this out and you can use this way for now if you really want to use chrome.

Extract the chrome-linux.zip. Open the Terminal, using the ctrl + alt + t. Then go cd *FOLDER WHERE YOU SAVED AND EXTRACTED*/chrome-linux (You have changed directories (cd) in to the chrome-linux folder that you extracted). Now you have to change the chrome file into an executable file. You type the command chmod 755 chrome. (chmod will change the file type, and 755 is the number that represents 'executable'). Now that you've changed that file into an executable file, then go ./chrome and chrome will launch. You can then in Chrome mark Chrome as default browser in settings, etc.

You will have to go this process everytime you want to use Chrome. (Not the chmod 755 chrome part, just the cd *FOLDER WHERE YOU SAVED AND EXTRACTED*/chrome-linux part where you go into the chrome -linux folder.

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That's because the chromium builds are very old. They are no longer being updated via the PPA. You are likely referring to Google Chrome. Regaridng saving in the right place, as mentioned, I believe I am but I cannot execute the app unless I'm root. – ClarifyLinux Mar 18 '12 at 17:11
I dont think Google Chrome is on Software Center. Just Chromium. – jaorizabal Mar 18 '12 at 17:14
the current version of chromium offered by by the software center is "17.0.963.79~r125985-0ubuntu0.11.04.1 (chromium-browser)". The latest builds are at version 19. – ClarifyLinux Mar 18 '12 at 18:28
Where did you get that information? – jaorizabal Mar 18 '12 at 22:12
the software center. Also, you can look into synaptic - same thing. – ClarifyLinux Mar 18 '12 at 22:22
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