How to Install Ungoogled Chromium on Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04 and 22.04

If you want Chromium’s browser engine without Google account hooks and background Google service calls, you can install Ungoogled Chromium on Ubuntu through a native PPA package or a Flatpak build. The browser stays close to the normal Chromium experience while removing Google web-service integration, blocking many internal Google requests, and adding privacy and control tweaks that standard Chromium does not include.

This guide covers Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04, and 22.04. The upstream project lists the XtraDeb PPA for Ubuntu and Flathub for distro-independent installs, so the steps below focus on managed update paths instead of one-off contributor binaries or random .deb downloads.

Choose an Ungoogled Chromium Install Method on Ubuntu

Two practical methods are available on current Ubuntu LTS releases. Use the PPA when you want a native package that updates with APT, or use Flatpak when you prefer sandboxed application packaging and the same app build across releases.

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
XtraDeb PPA	XtraDeb Launchpad PPA	Current packaged build for Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04, and 22.04	Via APT	Users who want a native .deb package with system package-manager updates
Flatpak	Flathub	Current stable Flatpak	Via Flatpak	Users who want sandboxing or do not want to add a PPA

For most Ubuntu users, the PPA method is the cleanest native install path because it integrates with APT and installs the matching ungoogled-chromium-sandbox package. Choose Flatpak when you prefer application sandboxing, want to avoid third-party APT sources, or already manage desktop apps through Flathub.

If you searched for an official Ubuntu download, note that current Ungoogled Chromium GitHub releases do not attach ready-to-install Ubuntu .deb files. For Ubuntu, use the upstream-listed XtraDeb PPA for native packages or Flathub for the Flatpak build.

Looking for standard Chromium instead of the privacy-focused fork? Use the separate Chromium Browser on Ubuntu guide so you do not mix package names or update channels.

Method 1: Install Ungoogled Chromium via XtraDeb PPA

Update Ubuntu Before Installation

First, refresh your package index and upgrade existing packages before adding the PPA. This step ensures your system has the latest dependency versions and reduces the chance of conflicts during installation.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

If your account cannot use sudo yet, configure administrator access first with the add a user to sudoers on Ubuntu guide, then return to these commands.

Additionally, if the upgrade includes kernel updates or other core components, reboot your system before continuing so the new packages take effect.

On trimmed Ubuntu installs, make sure the helper package that provides add-apt-repository is available before importing the PPA:

sudo apt install software-properties-common

Import the XtraDeb PPA

The XtraDeb Ungoogled Chromium package page points to the Launchpad PPA used below. Add the repository with the standard Ubuntu PPA helper:

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

The XtraDeb PPA contains many desktop applications, not only Ungoogled Chromium. Pin the PPA before installing the browser so unrelated XtraDeb packages do not become preferred candidates by accident:

printf '%s\n' \
'Package: *' \
'Pin: release o=LP-PPA-xtradeb-apps' \
'Pin-Priority: 100' \
'' \
'Package: ungoogled-chromium*' \
'Pin: release o=LP-PPA-xtradeb-apps' \
'Pin-Priority: 700' \
| sudo tee /etc/apt/preferences.d/ungoogled-chromium-pin

The first stanza keeps the rest of the PPA at priority 100. The second stanza gives Ungoogled Chromium packages priority 700, so APT can still select the browser from XtraDeb. If you already use XtraDeb for other applications, adjust the package list before expecting those applications to update from the PPA.

Refresh your package index after adding the PPA and pin file:

sudo apt update

Install Ungoogled Chromium

Now that the PPA is configured and package index updated, install Ungoogled Chromium using APT:

sudo apt install ungoogled-chromium

Verify the Installation

Finally, confirm the browser is accessible by checking its version after installation completes:

ungoogled-chromium --version

The exact Chromium build changes as XtraDeb publishes updates. Relevant output should show a Chromium version built for your Ubuntu release:

Chromium 147.x built on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS

Method 2: Install Ungoogled Chromium via Flatpak

Flatpak provides a sandboxed installation that works independently of Ubuntu’s APT sources. Use this method when you prefer Flathub packaging, want to avoid adding the XtraDeb PPA, or already manage desktop apps with Flatpak.

Flatpak is not pre-installed on Ubuntu. If you have not set it up yet, follow the Flatpak installation guide for Ubuntu to install Flatpak and prepare Flathub before continuing.

Enable Flathub Repository

First, ensure the Flathub repository is available on your system. The --if-not-exists flag prevents errors if you have already added it previously:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Confirm that Flathub is available at system scope before installing the browser:

flatpak remotes | grep '^flathub'

Expected output:

flathub system

Install Ungoogled Chromium from Flathub

Next, install the browser using the Flatpak command. The -y flag automatically confirms the installation prompt:

sudo flatpak install flathub io.github.ungoogled_software.ungoogled_chromium -y

During installation, Flatpak will download the application and any required runtimes. This process may take a few minutes depending on your internet connection.

Verify the Flatpak Installation

Once installation completes, inspect the installed Flatpak metadata:

flatpak info io.github.ungoogled_software.ungoogled_chromium

Relevant lines include the app ID, stable branch, current version, and system installation scope:

ID: io.github.ungoogled_software.ungoogled_chromium
Ref: app/io.github.ungoogled_software.ungoogled_chromium/x86_64/stable
Branch: stable
Version: 147.x
Installation: system

Launch Ungoogled Chromium

Launch from Terminal

If you installed via the PPA, launch the browser directly from your terminal:

ungoogled-chromium

Alternatively, for Flatpak installations, use the Flatpak run command instead:

flatpak run io.github.ungoogled_software.ungoogled_chromium

Launch from Applications Menu

Both installation methods create a desktop entry. To launch graphically, open Activities, select Show Applications, and search for “Ungoogled Chromium.” The PPA package may display the launcher as “Ungoogled-Chromium Web Browser.”

Manage Ungoogled Chromium

Update Ungoogled Chromium

Keep the browser updated through the same package manager you used for installation. Do not mix APT and Flatpak update commands for the same install.

Update via APT (PPA Installation)

If you installed via the XtraDeb PPA, Ungoogled Chromium updates automatically when you run your regular system updates:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Alternatively, to update only Ungoogled Chromium without upgrading other packages, use the --only-upgrade flag:

sudo apt install --only-upgrade ungoogled-chromium

Update via Flatpak

For Flatpak installations, update the Ungoogled Chromium app and its required runtime components with:

sudo flatpak update io.github.ungoogled_software.ungoogled_chromium -y

Remove Ungoogled Chromium

If you decide to remove Ungoogled Chromium, follow the instructions matching your installation method.

Remove APT Installation

First, remove the Ungoogled Chromium package:

sudo apt remove ungoogled-chromium

After package removal, review any orphaned dependencies APT offers to remove. Confirm the list belongs to packages you no longer need before accepting:

sudo apt autoremove

If you added the XtraDeb PPA only for Ungoogled Chromium, remove the repository and the narrow pin file, then refresh APT:

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

If you installed other applications from the XtraDeb PPA, keep the repository and adjust the pin file for those packages instead of deleting the source outright. For more repository cleanup background, see the guide to remove a PPA from Ubuntu.

Remove Flatpak Installation

To remove the Flatpak app and its sandboxed application data, run:

sudo flatpak remove --delete-data io.github.ungoogled_software.ungoogled_chromium -y

Confirm the app is no longer installed:

sudo flatpak list --app --columns=application | grep -Fx io.github.ungoogled_software.ungoogled_chromium || echo "NOT_INSTALLED"

Expected output after successful removal:

NOT_INSTALLED

Then remove unused runtimes and extensions that no remaining Flatpak app needs:

sudo flatpak uninstall --unused -y

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Installing Extensions from Chrome Web Store

Ungoogled Chromium does not include Chrome Web Store integration by default. The Chromium Web Store extension can add Web Store browsing and semi-automatic extension updates, but review its README and permissions before installing it. You can also download CRX files manually and load them from chrome://extensions with Developer Mode enabled.

WebRTC Leak Testing

If WebRTC exposure matters for your threat model, test it after installation with your preferred leak-test site and review any flags or extensions you enable. Ungoogled Chromium removes Google integration, but browser privacy still depends on your settings, extensions, and network environment.

APT Cannot Locate the Ungoogled Chromium Package

If APT cannot locate ungoogled-chromium after adding the PPA, refresh your package metadata and check the package candidate:

sudo apt update
apt-cache policy ungoogled-chromium

The policy output should show a candidate from ppa.launchpadcontent.net/xtradeb/apps. If it does not, re-check that the PPA source exists, the pin file was created correctly, and you are using one of the Ubuntu LTS releases covered by this guide. On unsupported Ubuntu releases or derivatives with different repository behavior, the Flatpak method is usually the safer fallback.

Additional Resources

For further information about Ungoogled Chromium and related browser options on Ubuntu, explore these resources:

• Ungoogled Chromium project on GitHub – source code, issue tracker, and project documentation
• Install Chromium Browser on Ubuntu – standard Chromium installation without the Ungoogled Chromium patch set
• Install Brave Browser on Ubuntu – another privacy-focused Chromium-based browser with its own upstream repository
• Install Tor Browser on Ubuntu – separate browser for Tor network access

Conclusion

Ungoogled Chromium now has two practical Ubuntu paths: the XtraDeb PPA for native APT-managed packages on Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04, and 22.04, or Flathub when you prefer Flatpak’s sandbox and release-independent packaging. Keep whichever method you choose updated, and use a different browser guide only if you need a different balance of privacy features, extension compatibility, or upstream packaging.