Chromium guides
Everything that is confusing about downloading and running Chromium, explained once and properly.
Start here
- Which Chromium build should I use?Chromium has no official download for end users. Here is what actually differs between theChromium vs ChromeWhat Google actually adds when it turns Chromium into Chrome, feature by feature, and whicIs Chromium safe to download?Chromium itself is safe. The risk is entirely about where you download a compiled build frVerify your downloadHow to check a Chromium download against its published SHA-256 checksum on Windows, macOS
Installing and updating
- How to update ChromiumChromium has no automatic updater. Here is what that actually means for your security, andPortable ChromiumHow to run Chromium from a folder or a USB stick without installing it, keep the profile aInstalling extensions in ChromiumChrome Web Store access works in most Chromium builds and is deliberately removed in ungooChromium on Windows 7, 8 and XPWhich Chromium builds still run on Windows versions Google dropped, what the last supporteChromium on iPhone and iPadWhy no real Chromium build exists for iOS, what Chrome for iOS actually is, and what changOpening Chromium on macOS when it says it cannot be openedWhy macOS blocks third-party Chromium builds on first launch, and the correct way to open
How Chromium works
- Google sync and API keys in ChromiumWhy browser sign-in is missing from most Chromium builds, what API keys have to do with itWidevine DRM in ChromiumWhy Netflix, Spotify and Prime Video fail in some Chromium builds, what Widevine is, and wVideo codecs in ChromiumWhy some video plays and some does not, what H.264, AAC and H.265 have to do with patents,What ungoogled-chromium actually changesA precise account of what ungoogled-chromium removes, what it does not, and the specific tOfficial Chromium snapshots, and why they are not for daily useWhat Google's automated Chromium builds are, how to download a specific revision, and why How Chromium version numbers workWhat each part of 152.0.7977.65 means, how revisions relate to versions, and how to tell w
Advanced
- Chromium command-line flagsThe command-line switches actually worth knowing, how to set them permanently on each platChromium internal pagesThe chrome:// pages that are genuinely useful for diagnosing problems, checking what your The Chromium profile and user data directoryWhere Chromium keeps bookmarks, passwords, extensions and history on each platform, how to