Google Brings Chrome to ARM Linux: A Long-Awaited Step for Modern Linux Devices

 [[{“value”:”by George Whittaker

Google has officially announced that Chrome is coming to ARM64 Linux systems, marking a major milestone for both the Linux and ARM ecosystems. The native browser is expected to launch in Q2 2026, finally closing a long-standing gap for users running Linux on ARM-based hardware.

For years, ARM Linux users have relied on Chromium builds or workarounds to access a Chrome-like experience. That’s about to change.

Why This Announcement Matters

Until now, Google Chrome on Linux was limited to x86_64 systems, leaving ARM-based devices without an official build.

That meant users had to:

Use Chromium instead of Chrome

Run emulated versions of Chrome

Miss out on proprietary features like sync, DRM support, and Google services

With this new release, ARM Linux users will finally get the full Chrome experience, including seamless integration with Google’s ecosystem.

What Users Can Expect

The upcoming ARM64 version of Chrome will bring the same features users expect on other platforms:

Google account sync (bookmarks, history, tabs)

Access to the Chrome Web Store and extensions

Built-in features like translation, autofill, and security protections

Support for DRM services and media playback

This brings ARM Linux closer to feature parity with macOS (ARM support since 2020) and Windows on ARM (since 2024).

The Rise of ARM on Linux

The timing of this move reflects a broader shift in computing. ARM-based hardware is rapidly gaining traction across:

Laptops powered by Snapdragon and future ARM chips

Developer boards like Raspberry Pi

High-performance systems such as NVIDIA’s ARM-based AI desktops

Google itself highlighted growing demand for Chrome on these systems, especially as ARM expands beyond mobile devices into mainstream computing.

Partnerships and Deployment

Google is also working with hardware vendors to streamline adoption. Notably, Chrome will be integrated into NVIDIA’s Linux-on-ARM DGX Spark systems, making installation easier for high-performance AI workstations.

For general users, Chrome will be available for download directly from Google once released.

Why This Took So Long

Interestingly, this move comes years after Chrome was already available on ARM-based platforms like Apple Silicon Macs and Windows devices.

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