Google has confirmed that Google Chrome will soon support ARM64 Linux systems, closing a long-standing platform gap for Linux users running ARM-based hardware. The announcement came through the Chromium project’s official blog, which stated that Chrome for ARM64 Linux devices is expected to launch in Q2 2026.
Once released, the ARM64 version will offer the same capabilities available on other platforms. This includes Chrome extensions, Google account synchronization, security updates, and seamless integration with Google services.
ARM Linux Users Finally Get Native Chrome
For years, Chrome has been available on x86-based Linux systems, as well as ARM-based platforms such as macOS with Apple Silicon and Windows on ARM. However, Linux systems using ARM processors have not received official Chrome builds.
Because of this limitation, many users running Linux on ARM hardware have relied on Chromium, the open-source browser project that serves as Chrome’s foundation. Chromium provides the same core web technologies, but it lacks several proprietary features that come with Chrome.
For example, Chromium typically does not include:
Built-in Google account synchronization
Certain media codecs
Official Google service integrations
Some security and DRM components
While Chromium works well for general browsing, many users prefer Chrome because of these additional capabilities.
Rising Demand for ARM Linux Support
According to Google, delivering Chrome for ARM64 Linux required significant engineering work. The company needed to ensure the browser maintains the same security, stability, and performance standards that users expect on other operating systems.
Demand for ARM Linux support has been growing rapidly in recent years. Several factors have contributed to this trend, including:
Increased popularity of single-board computers (SBCs)
Growth in ARM-based developer platforms
Experimental ARM laptops running Linux
Expansion of AI and edge computing hardware
As a result, developers and enthusiasts have been asking for an official Chrome version optimized for ARM Linux.
Package Support for Popular Linux Distributions
Google plans to distribute the ARM64 version of Chrome in the same way it currently distributes Chrome for x86 Linux systems.
Initial support will include:
Debian-based distributions such as Ubuntu and Debian
RPM-based distributions like Fedora, RHEL, and openSUSE
Users will be able to download and install Chrome directly from Google’s official Chrome website once the release becomes available.
Collaboration With NVIDIA for Developer Platforms
Google is also working with NVIDIA to simplify installation on certain ARM-based developer systems. One example mentioned is NVIDIA’s DGX Spark AI workstation, which is designed for AI and machine learning workloads.
This collaboration aims to ensure Chrome installs smoothly on these specialized systems and works well with their hardware configurations.
At the same time, users running other Linux distributions will still be able to download the browser manually from Google’s website.
A Major Step for the ARM Linux Ecosystem
The upcoming Chrome release represents an important milestone for the ARM Linux ecosystem. Developers, hobbyists, and enterprise users running ARM hardware will finally have access to the full Chrome browser experience without relying solely on Chromium.
With ARM processors becoming more common in modern computing, this move helps ensure Linux users on ARM devices receive the same software support available on traditional platforms.
If everything goes as planned, the official Chrome for ARM64 Linux release in Q2 2026 will mark a significant step toward broader ARM adoption across the Linux desktop and developer community.