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How to Install Chromium Browser via PPA in Ubuntu 20.04, 20.10

Last updated: May 24, 2021 — 8 Comments

Since Ubuntu replaced Chromium in its universe repository with Snap package, users are looking for deb package or apt method to install the browser.

The Linux Mint team has been maintaining the chromium deb package for a while. You can install the package in Ubuntu and keep updated. It’s stable and trustworthy, however the installing process is not as easy as an Ubuntu PPA does.

Another Ubuntu PPA now contains the latest packages (90.0.4430.212 at the moment) for Ubuntu 20.04 and Ubuntu 20.10. The PPA also contains most recent versions of other useful apps, e.g., avidemux, filezilla, youtube-dl, and more. And it’s also trusty.

Chromium package in the PPA is backported from Debian Unstable repository. So it’s marked as ‘Developer build’. If you don’t want to add Linux Mint repository, the PPA can be a good alternative.

1.) Add the Ubuntu PPA:

Firstly open terminal from system app launcher. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xtradeb/apps

2.) Install Chromium:

Same to Linux Mint, the package name has changed from chromium-browser to chromium. Simply run apt command in terminal to install it:

sudo apt install chromium

Add --install-suggests flag in the command if you want to enable minimal shell and WebDriver support.

Remove the PPA:

To remove the Ubuntu PPA, either open Software & Updates -> Other Software and remove the relevant line:

or run command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:xtradeb/apps

In Howtos chromium browser

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!

Chromium in Mint Repository

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):

Linux Mint Keyring

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.

[Updated] Install Flash Player for Chromium, Opera in Ubuntu 16.10

Last updated: March 5, 2017

The Pepper Flash Player installer, pepperflashplugin-nonfree package, does not work any more for Chromium based browsers since Google Chrome 54 removed the latest PPAPI bundle.

failed to install PPAPI

There’s now a new Pepper flash installer available for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 14.04, that installs PPAPI directly from adobe website.

For those who want to install the latest PPAPI Flash Player (so far it’s 23.0.0.185), you can download the source tarball from Adobe website and install it manually.

1. Go to link below:

Download Adobe Flash (PPAPI)

Check your OS type from System Settings -> Details, then select in download page:

Linux (64-bit) or Linux (32-bit)
FP 23.0 PPAPI

2. Extract the downloaded .tar.gz package, and navigate to the result folder.

3. pepperflashplugin-nonfree is still required to work as a wrapper. Install it if you don’t have it via command (Press Ctrl+Alt+T to open terminal):

sudo apt install pepperflashplugin-nonfree

4. Now move the libpepflashplayer.so file from downloaded folder to /usr/lib/pepperflashplugin-nonfree directory.

You can do this via command:

sudo mv ~/Downloads/flash_player_ppapi_* var MailPoetForm = {"ajax_url":"https:\/\/ubuntuhandbook.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","is_rtl":""};

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