For a long time now, Linux users running ARM hardware have been stuck without an official build of Google Chrome. Sure, Chromium has been available, and some people have managed to cobble together workarounds, but the real Chrome browser has simply not existed for ARM64 Linux. That will finally change soon.
Google says Chrome for ARM64 Linux devices is coming in the second quarter of 2026. The announcement puts Linux alongside other ARM platforms that already received official Chrome support. Apple’s ARM-based Macs got their optimized Chrome build back in 2020, and Windows on ARM followed in 2024. Linux, oddly enough, has been waiting its turn.
When the ARM64 build arrives, Google says Linux users will get the same Chrome experience found on other platforms. That means syncing bookmarks, tabs, and history with a Google account, access to the Chrome Web Store, built-in page translation, and the usual assortment of extensions people rely on every day.
Security features will also carry over. Google highlights its Enhanced Protection mode in Safe Browsing, which uses AI alongside known threat databases to help block phishing and malware. Chrome will also continue to offer tools like Google Password Manager, password breach alerts, and Google Pay autofill for online purchases.
Google says getting Chrome running properly on ARM64 Linux required quite a bit of work behind the scenes to make sure the browser remains stable, secure, and consistent with builds on other operating systems.
The timing makes sense. ARM hardware is becoming far more common in the Linux world. That includes developer laptops, servers, embedded systems, and newer AI-focused machines.
Google even calls out one example. NVIDIA’s DGX Spark, a compact AI supercomputing device built around its Grace Blackwell architecture, will support Chrome installation through NVIDIA’s package management tools. On other Linux distributions, users will simply be able to download the ARM64 build directly from Google’s website.
If I’m being honest, this feels like a finally moment.
Look, ARM-based Linux systems have been around for years. Developers run them. Hobbyists run them. Entire cloud infrastructures run them. Yet the official Chrome browser never showed up for ARM64 Linux, even while other ARM platforms received support.
Of course, many Linux users will continue to stick with Firefox or Chromium. That is part of the culture of the platform, and it is unlikely to change. But having an official Chrome build removes one more barrier for people who depend on Google’s browser, whether it is for specific extensions, development work, or simply habit.
More importantly, the move is another reminder that ARM64 Linux is no longer some fringe setup. Between AI workloads, cloud servers, and a growing number of ARM-powered computers, the architecture is becoming a normal part of the Linux ecosystem.
And with Chrome finally joining the party, it is clear that even Google now sees it that way.
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