Ungoogled Chromium What It Is and How to Install
Ungoogled Chromium What It Is and How to Install
If you have been searching for “ungoogled chromium what it is and how to install,” you probably want a browser that gives you the speed and familiarity of Chrome but without Google’s tracking and services. That is exactly what ungoogled chromium offers. It is a modified version of the Chromium browser, which is the open-source foundation that Chrome is built on, but with all the Google-specific code and integrations removed. The result is a browser that works and feels like Chrome but respects your privacy far more.
What Makes Ungoogled Chromium Different
Google Chrome is based on Chromium, an open-source project that Google maintains. While Chromium itself is free and open, Google adds their own proprietary features on top of it, including various tracking mechanisms, their search engine integration, and services that send data back to Google’s servers. Ungoogled chromium takes the clean Chromium code and strips away everything Google added, then applies additional modifications to further enhance privacy.
When you use regular Chrome, Google collects a significant amount of data about your browsing habits. This includes your search history, the sites you visit, how long you stay on pages, and various other metrics. Even if you are logged out of your Google account, Chrome still gathers this information. Ungoogled chromium eliminates this collection by removing the code that sends data to Google in the first place.
Another key difference is the removal of Google-specific URLs and services. In Chrome, things like the Chrome Web Store, Google Update service, and various internal links point to Google servers. Ungoogled chromium replaces these with neutral alternatives or removes them entirely. This means when you use the browser, your traffic goes to the open web rather than routing through Google’s infrastructure.
The browser also disables features that could compromise privacy. For example, it turns off URL tracking parameters that Google adds to search results, prevents certain types of web servicing that could identify you, and removes pre-fetching mechanisms that might leak information about pages you plan to visit.
Benefits of Using Ungoogled Chromium
The main benefit is obvious: much better privacy without sacrificing the browsing experience. If you like how Chrome works but are uncomfortable with Google’s data collection, ungoogled chromium gives you the best of both worlds. You still get the clean interface, the extensive extension ecosystem, and the fast rendering engine that makes Chrome pleasant to use.
Since it is based on Chromium, you can install almost any extension that works in Chrome. This includes popular privacy tools like ad blockers, password managers, and other add-ons that help you stay secure online. You are not locked into a limited selection like you might be with some other privacy-focused browsers.
Performance is another advantage. Because ungoogled chromium is built on the same foundation as Chrome, it performs just as well. There is no noticeable speed difference, and since it removes some of the background processes that Chrome runs for tracking and updates, it might actually feel slightly lighter on your system.
You also get more control over your browsing experience. Without Google’s default settings baked in, you can configure the browser exactly how you want it. This includes choosing your own default search engine, managing cookies the way you prefer, and customizing various browser behaviors without fighting against Google defaults.
How to Install Ungoogled Chromium
Installing ungoogled chromium is straightforward, though the exact steps depend on your operating system. The browser is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. There are also builds available for Android, though the options are more limited on mobile.
For Windows users, the easiest way is to download a pre-built installer from the official ungoogled chromium website or from trusted distribution sources. The installer works like any other Windows application. You download the file, run it, and follow the prompts to install the browser on your computer. Once installed, you can set it as your default browser if you choose.
On macOS, you can download a disk image file that contains the browser application. After downloading, you open the disk image and drag the ungoogled chromium app into your Applications folder. From there, you can launch it like any other application. You may need to grant it permission to run in your security settings the first time you open it.
Linux users have several options depending on their distribution. Many distributions include ungoogled chromium in their package managers, or you can download AppImage or tarball files directly. The installation process varies by distribution, but the ungoogled chromium website provides detailed instructions for various Linux setups.
After installation, you will notice the browser looks almost identical to Chrome. The main difference is in the settings and behavior. You can start using it right away, but it is worth taking a few minutes to configure your preferences, such as setting your preferred search engine and adjusting privacy settings to your comfort level.
Things to Consider Before Switching
While ungoogled chromium is an excellent choice for privacy-conscious users, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, because it removes Google services, some features might work differently. For example, if you rely on Chrome sync to share bookmarks and settings across devices, you will need to find an alternative solution since ungoogled chromium does not include this feature.
The browser does not update automatically like Chrome does. You will need to manually download new versions when they are released, or use the update mechanism provided by your operating system’s package manager if you installed it that way. This is actually a privacy feature since it prevents any update-related data from being sent to Google, but it does require a bit more attention from you.
Some websites might behave slightly differently because they rely on Google services that are no longer present. This is rare for everyday browsing, but you might encounter occasional issues with certain web applications that expect Chrome’s full feature set. Most sites work perfectly fine, but it is something to be aware of if you switch from Chrome entirely.
Making the Most of Your Privacy Browser
Once you have ungoogled chromium installed, there are additional steps you can take to maximize your privacy. Consider pairing it with a privacy-focused search engine like DuckDuckGo or Startpage. This ensures that even your search queries are not being tracked.
If you open many tabs and want to keep your browsing efficient while maintaining privacy, consider using tab management extensions. Tools like Tab Suspender Pro can help you organize tabs and conserve system resources without compromising your privacy setup.
Review your browser settings to disable any features you do not need. Things like prediction services, safe browsing features that send data to Google, and various web APIs can often be turned off for maximum privacy. The default ungoogled chromium settings are already quite privacy-friendly, but fine-tuning them to your preferences can make your browsing even more secure.
Tips from the team behind Tab Suspender Pro and the Zovo extension suite at zovo.one