How to Install Chromium Browser on Linux Mint

Chromium delivers a privacy-focused browsing experience built on the same foundation as Google Chrome, but without proprietary tracking or Google service integration. Whether you are testing web applications, developing browser extensions, or simply want a Google-free browser for daily use, Chromium gives you full Blink engine compatibility with community-driven transparency. By the end of this guide, you will have a working Chromium installation on Linux Mint with verified update mechanisms and practical launch commands for your chosen installation method.

You will learn how to install Chromium using the Linux Mint repository, the XtraDebs PPA for faster updates, or Flatpak for sandboxed isolation. Additionally, the guide covers APT pinning to lock update sources, verification commands to confirm successful installation, troubleshooting common issues, and complete removal instructions for each method.

Chromium vs Chrome: Understanding the Difference

Chromium is Chrome’s open-source upstream project, providing the same rendering engine and web standards support without proprietary Google components. When you install Chrome, you get Chromium plus Google’s additions: automatic background updates, crash reporting to Google servers, integrated PDF viewer with proprietary codecs, and Widevine DRM for streaming services like Netflix. If you prefer the full Google Chrome experience on Linux Mint, you can install it directly from Google’s official repository.

Chromium removes these proprietary components, meaning the source code is fully auditable, update timing is under your control through your package manager, and no telemetry flows to Google unless you explicitly sign in to sync services. However, this also means some media codecs and DRM modules require manual configuration or separate installation.

Choose Your Chromium Installation Method

Linux Mint offers three paths to install Chromium, each with distinct trade-offs for update frequency, disk usage, and system integration. Before proceeding, review the table below to help you decide which method suits your needs.

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
Linux Mint Repository	Mint Packages	Stable	Automatic via APT	Most users who want stability and simplicity
XtraDebs PPA	Launchpad PPA	Latest stable	Automatic via APT	Users who want faster upstream releases
Flatpak	Flathub	Latest stable	Manual via Flatpak	Users who prefer sandboxed isolation

For most users, the Linux Mint repository method is recommended because it provides stable, tested packages with automatic security updates through your normal system maintenance. Only use the XtraDebs PPA if you specifically need newer Chromium features before they reach the Mint repositories, and choose Flatpak if application sandboxing is a priority for your security model.

Prepare Your System

Before proceeding with any installation method, update your system to ensure package lists are current and dependencies resolve correctly. Open your terminal and run:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

This command refreshes your package index and applies any pending security updates. Once complete, proceed to your chosen installation method below.

Install Chromium Browser on Linux Mint

This section provides step-by-step instructions for each installation method. Follow only the subsection that matches your chosen approach from the comparison table above.

Check if Chromium Is Already Installed

First, check whether Chromium already exists on your system. Run the following command to see the executable path and version number:

command -v chromium && chromium --version

If Chromium is installed, you will see output similar to:

/usr/bin/chromium
Chromium 143.0.7499.169 for Linux Mint

If you see this output, you can skip directly to the launch or update sections. Otherwise, continue with your preferred installation method.

Option 1: Install from the Linux Mint Repository

The simplest way to install Chromium is through the Linux Mint repository, which provides a stable and officially supported version that has been tested for compatibility with your system. Run the following command:

sudo apt install chromium

Once the installation completes, verify it succeeded by checking the installed version:

chromium --version

Expected output confirming successful installation:

Chromium 143.0.7499.169 for Linux Mint

The version number may differ depending on when you install, but any output in this format confirms Chromium is ready to use.

Option 2: Install from the XtraDebs PPA

For users who want faster access to upstream Chromium releases, the XtraDebs PPA provides newer versions than the Linux Mint repository. This community-maintained PPA tracks upstream stable releases and packages them for Ubuntu-based distributions including Linux Mint.

First, add the XtraDebs repository to your system:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xtradeb/apps -y

Once added, refresh the package list to include packages from the new repository:

sudo apt update

Next, install Chromium from the XtraDebs PPA:

sudo apt install chromium

Once the installation completes, verify the installed version:

chromium --version

Expected output:

Chromium 143.0.7499.169 for Linux Mint

Configure APT Pinning for XtraDebs

If you already had Chromium installed from the Linux Mint repository before adding the XtraDebs PPA, APT may continue using the Mint repository for updates because both provide the same package name. To ensure your system prioritizes the XtraDebs PPA, configure APT pinning with a preferences file:

echo "Package: chromium
Pin: release o=LP-PPA-xtradeb-apps
Pin-Priority: 700" | sudo tee /etc/apt/preferences.d/chromium-pin

This configuration tells APT to prefer packages from the XtraDebs PPA (priority 700) over the default repositories (priority 500). After creating the pin file, verify the configuration by checking the package policy:

apt-cache policy chromium

Expected output showing the XtraDebs PPA with priority 700:

chromium:
  Installed: 143.0.7499.169-1xtradeb1.2404.1
  Candidate: 143.0.7499.169-1xtradeb1.2404.1
  Version table:
 *** 143.0.7499.169-1xtradeb1.2404.1 700
        700 http://ppa.launchpad.net/xtradeb/apps/ubuntu noble/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     143.0.7499.169~linuxmint1+wilma 500
        500 http://packages.linuxmint.com wilma/upstream amd64 Packages

The asterisks indicate the currently installed version, and the 700 priority confirms APT will use XtraDebs for future updates.

Option 3: Install via Flatpak

Flatpak on Linux Mint runs applications in a sandboxed environment, isolating them from the rest of your system for enhanced security and preventing conflicts with other software. Linux Mint includes Flatpak with the Flathub repository enabled by default, so you can install Chromium directly without additional setup.

Install Chromium from Flathub:

sudo flatpak install flathub org.chromium.Chromium -y

The -y flag automatically confirms the installation prompts. Once installation completes, verify it succeeded:

flatpak info org.chromium.Chromium

Expected output showing the installed Flatpak application:

Chromium Web Browser - The web browser from Chromium project

          ID: org.chromium.Chromium
         Ref: app/org.chromium.Chromium/x86_64/stable
        Arch: x86_64
      Branch: stable
     Version: 143.0.7499.169
     License: BSD-3-Clause
      Origin: flathub
  Collection: org.flathub.Stable
Installation: system
   Installed: 1.2 GB

Flatpak sandboxing restricts filesystem access by default, which means Chromium may not automatically access all your local files. You can grant additional permissions through Flatseal or by configuring Flatpak overrides if needed.

Launch Chromium Browser

After installation, start Chromium from the terminal or the application menu, depending on your workflow. The launch method differs slightly based on how you installed it.

Launch from Terminal

Terminal launches give you direct control and allow you to pass command-line flags for specific browser behaviors. Use the command that matches your installation method.

For APT installations (Linux Mint repository or XtraDebs PPA):

chromium

For Flatpak installations:

flatpak run org.chromium.Chromium

Useful Command-Line Flags

Additionally, power users can append flags to customize browser behavior. The following flags work with both APT and Flatpak installations:

• --incognito: Launch in private browsing mode without saving history, cookies, or site data. Useful for temporary sessions or testing.
• --new-window: Force a fresh browser window rather than opening a tab in an existing session. Helpful when you need isolated browsing contexts.
• --disable-extensions: Start Chromium without loading any extensions. Use this for troubleshooting extension-related problems or testing baseline browser behavior.
• --user-data-dir=/path/to/profile: Use a separate profile directory, allowing multiple browsing identities or isolated test configurations.

For example, to launch Chromium in incognito mode with extensions disabled:

chromium --incognito --disable-extensions

Launch from Applications Menu

GUI launches integrate with your desktop environment’s application launcher and window management. Open the Linux Mint application menu, navigate to Internet, and select Chromium Web Browser. This works identically regardless of installation method since both APT and Flatpak register desktop entries automatically.

Update Chromium Browser

To keep Chromium current with the latest features, performance improvements, and security patches, run the appropriate update command. The update method depends on how you installed the browser.

Update APT Installations

Both Linux Mint repository and XtraDebs PPA installations receive updates through the standard APT upgrade process. To update Chromium alongside your other system packages, run the following command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

If you configured APT pinning for the XtraDebs PPA, updates will automatically come from that source. Otherwise, APT uses whichever repository provides the newer version.

Update Flatpak Installation

Flatpak applications update independently from the system package manager. Update all Flatpak applications, including Chromium:

sudo flatpak update

Alternatively, update only Chromium without touching other Flatpak applications:

sudo flatpak update org.chromium.Chromium

Troubleshoot Common Chromium Issues

If you encounter issues with Chromium, the following solutions address the most common problems users experience on Linux Mint.

Video or Audio Playback Fails

Unlike Ubuntu’s Snap-based Chromium, the Linux Mint version already includes H.264 and AAC codecs for most media playback. If video or audio fails on specific websites, first verify you are using the Mint repository version rather than an older installation. Reinstalling from the Mint repository ensures codec support:

sudo apt reinstall chromium

After reinstalling, restart Chromium. If playback issues persist on specific sites, the problem is often site-specific rather than codec-related.

Netflix and Other DRM Content Does Not Work

However, Chromium does not include Widevine DRM by default, which means streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ will not play protected content. If you need DRM support, consider using Google Chrome instead or installing a Widevine plugin manually. For most users who need streaming, installing Google Chrome on Linux Mint is the simpler solution.

Chromium Crashes on Launch

If Chromium fails to start or crashes immediately, a corrupted user profile is often the cause. First, try launching with extensions disabled to rule out extension conflicts:

chromium --disable-extensions

If this approach works, an extension is causing the crash. Re-enable extensions one at a time to identify the problematic one. However, if Chromium still crashes, try launching with a fresh profile to isolate the issue:

chromium --user-data-dir=/tmp/chromium-test

If this temporary profile works, then the problem is in your main profile. You can either reset your profile by renaming the configuration directory, or selectively delete cache files.

Hardware Acceleration Issues

If you experience visual glitches, screen tearing, or poor performance, hardware acceleration may be misconfigured for your graphics driver. To check the status, open Chromium and type chromium://gpu in the address bar, then press Enter.

If hardware acceleration features show as “Software only, hardware acceleration unavailable,” try launching Chromium with these flags to force GPU acceleration:

chromium --enable-features=VaapiVideoDecoder --ignore-gpu-blocklist

Alternatively, if hardware acceleration causes problems, you can disable it entirely:

chromium --disable-gpu

Remove Chromium Browser

When you no longer need Chromium, uninstall it using the method that matches your installation source. Each method requires different cleanup steps to fully remove the browser and its configuration.

Remove APT Installation

For installations from the Linux Mint repository or XtraDebs PPA, remove the package and clean up dependencies:

sudo apt remove chromium
sudo apt autoremove

The autoremove command removes packages that were automatically installed as dependencies and are no longer needed by any other packages.

If you installed from the XtraDebs PPA and want to remove the repository as well:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:xtradeb/apps -y
sudo rm -f /etc/apt/preferences.d/chromium-pin
sudo apt update

The first command removes the PPA from your sources list, the second removes any pinning configuration you created, and apt update refreshes your package cache to reflect the removed repository.

Remove Flatpak Installation

Remove the Flatpak package along with its application data:

sudo flatpak uninstall --delete-data org.chromium.Chromium

The --delete-data flag removes Chromium’s sandboxed data directory, including your browser profile, bookmarks, and cached data within the Flatpak sandbox.

After uninstalling, clean up unused Flatpak runtime dependencies that are no longer required by any application:

sudo flatpak uninstall --unused

Remove User Configuration Files

APT and PPA uninstallation does not remove your personal Chromium profile data stored in your home directory. For a complete cleanup, remove the configuration directory:

The following command permanently deletes your Chromium profile, including bookmarks, saved passwords, extensions, and browsing history. Export any data you want to keep before proceeding.

rm -rf ~/.config/chromium

For Flatpak installations, user data is stored in the sandboxed directory. If you used --delete-data during uninstallation, this data is already removed. Otherwise, delete it manually:

rm -rf ~/.var/app/org.chromium.Chromium

Useful Resources

• Chromium Browser on Flathub
  Official Flathub page for the Chromium Flatpak with version history and release notes.
• XtraDebs PPA on Launchpad
  View the XtraDebs PPA repository for package versions, build information, and supported Ubuntu releases.
• XtraDebs Official Website
  Additional information about the XtraDebs project and its package offerings.
• Chromium in Linux Mint Repository
  Search for Chromium packages across all Linux Mint releases in the official repository.
• Chromium Project Homepage
  Official documentation, source code, and developer resources for the Chromium project.

Conclusion

Chromium provides a privacy-focused browser with full Chrome compatibility on Linux Mint through three installation paths: stable Mint packages, faster XtraDebs PPA updates, or sandboxed Flatpak isolation. Each method integrates with your existing update workflow, so security patches arrive without manual intervention. For users who need streaming DRM support, Google Chrome remains an alternative with those features included.