Prefer installing Chromium web browser via deb over the snap package? Linux Mint 20 now includes the browser and keeps it updated in its own repository for both Ubuntu based and LMDE editions.
Since Ubuntu 20.04, chromium browser in the main repository is a dummy package. It’s redirected to the SNAP (containerized software package) when you trying to install it.
The Linux Mint team argued against this change and removed the package from its main repositories.
When it starts replacing packages for no good reason though, when it starts harming our interaction with upstream projects and software vendors and reducing our choice, it becomes a threat.
Now the Chromium browser is back to the official repositories for both Linux Mint and LMDE. And it’s a deb package built by the Linux Mint team.
How to Install Chromium Deb Package in Ubuntu 20.04:
Though there’s already an Ubuntu PPA that maintains the deb package, the one from Linux Mint is available for choice:
Just click the button below, download the deb package, install it and you’re done!
Note: For Ubuntu grab the package with “ulyana” in filename. For Debian download the one with “debbie” in filename.
Add the Linux Mint repository & receive updates:
You can add the Linux Mint repository, so you’re able to receive the package updates through Software Updater.
1. Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to add the Linux Mint 20 upstream repository:
sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://packages.linuxmint.com ulyana upstream" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mint.list'
2. Download and click install the key (its “linuxmint-keyring_2016.05.26_all.deb” so far):
3. Set the priority to make Ubuntu only install chromium from Linux Mint repository.
Run command to create and open the configuration file in text editor:
sudo gedit /etc/apt/preferences.d/mint-ulyssa-pin
When it opens, paste below lines and save the file.
# Allow upgrading only chromium from Ulyssa repository Package: chromium Pin: origin packages.linuxmint.com Pin-Priority: 500 # Never prefer other packages from the Ulyssa repository Package: * Pin: origin packages.linuxmint.com Pin-Priority: 1
4. Finally check updates and install the web browser:
sudo apt update sudo apt install chromium
Note the package is chromium rather than chromium-browser.
To remove Linux Mint repository:
Simply go to Software & Updates -> Other Software tab and remove the repository line.
“Add the Linux Mint repository in Ubuntu: Though it’s NOT recommended..”
Why? Please explain. Because you like Snap/Flatpak excrement?
My fault. You can download & install the deb from the direct link. Adding Linux Mint repository is optional.
And Linux Mint upstream repository is a system repository that contains many software packages and libraries. I’m not sure but it might contain packages that have dependency libraries from Linux Mint main repository. There are also Mint “Import”, “Backport”, and “Romeo” repositories. It’s not a good idea to keep the different system repositories unless you know what you’re doing.
Great news! What about VAAPI support?
A great informative article about chromium and how to install it on Linux mint.
did not work for me, installing keyring gave this message:
W: GPG error: http://packages.linuxmint.com ulyana Release: The following signatures couldn’t be verified because the public key is not available: NO_PUBKEY A6616109451BBBF2
E: The repository ‘http://packages.linuxmint.com ulyana Release’ is not signed.
N: Updating from such a repository can’t be done securely, and is therefore disabled by default.
N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details
Download & install the keyring (step 2)
I did, multiple times. I downloaded and used gdebi to install the keyring. Still not sure why it did not work for me?
linuxmint-keyring_2016.05.26_all.deb
GnuPG key of the Linux Mint repository
The Linux Mint repository digitally signs its Release files. This package contains the repository keys used for that.
This package was originally put together by Michael Vogt
The keys in the keyrings don’t fall under any copyright. Everything
else in the package is covered by the GNU GPL.
Debian support files Copyright (C) 2006 Michael Vogt
based on the debian-keyring package maintained by James Troup
Debian support files for debian-archive-keyring are free software; you
can redistribute them and/or modify them under the terms of the GNU
General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation;
either version 2, or (at your option) any later version.
Debian support files for debian-archive-keyring are distributed in the
hope that they will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even
the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License with
your Debian system, in /usr/share/common-licenses/GPL, or with the
Debian GNU debian-archive-keyring source package as the file COPYING.
If not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street,
Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
That’s weird… But the repository and keyring work on my Ubuntu 20.04 laptop.
Did you try to download & install chromium .deb via the direct link?
Yes. I am just using Slimjet instead. It the closest Chromium clone. While I am a big fan of Linux, I don’t get to worried about keeping my machine completely open source,
Hey Ji, thanks for guide, I tried it on KDE neon, but the new ppa desperately wants to update packages like these
console-setup-linux/ulyana,ulyana 1.194ubuntu3mint1 all [upgradable from: 1.194ubuntu3]
I dont want to break my system.
Here’s full list
console-setup-linux/ulyana,ulyana 1.194ubuntu3mint1 all [upgradable from: 1.194ubuntu3]
console-setup/ulyana,ulyana 1.194ubuntu3mint1 all [upgradable from: 1.194ubuntu3]
desktop-file-utils/ulyana 0.24+linuxmint1 amd64 [upgradable from: 0.24-1ubuntu3]
firefox-locale-en/ulyana 85.0.1+linuxmint1+ulyssa amd64 [upgradable from: 85.0.1+build1-0ubuntu0.20.04.1]
firefox/ulyana 85.0.1+linuxmint1+ulyssa amd64 [upgradable from: 85.0.1+build1-0ubuntu0.20.04.1]
keyboard-configuration/ulyana,ulyana 1.194ubuntu3mint1 all [upgradable from: 1.194ubuntu3]
software-properties-common/ulyana,ulyana 2.0.5 all [upgradable from: 0.98.9.4]
Update step 3. with a little change about setting the priority. It should fix the problem.
Thank you, that helped, very cool.