In this guide, we'll walk you through installing the Brave Beta Browser on your Chromebook using Linux apps (Crostini). Brave has quickly become a popular browser choice for privacy-conscious users, offering built-in ad blocking, tracker protection, and a focus on speed and security. The Beta version gives you early access to upcoming features while remaining relatively stable for daily use.
Please follow along with the video tutorial below, which demonstrates each step of the process. We've also included all the necessary commands further down this page for easy reference and copying.
System Requirements
Important: This tutorial will only work on Chromebooks with an Intel or AMD CPU that support Linux Apps (Crostini). Unfortunately, this method is not compatible with Chromebooks using an ARM64 architecture CPU, as Brave's official repository only provides x86_64 (amd64) packages.
You can check our comprehensive list of all currently supported Chromebooks with Linux Apps (Crostini) support to confirm your device is compatible.
Why Choose Brave Browser?
Before we dive into the installation, let's briefly discuss why you might want to use Brave. This browser stands out for several reasons:
- Privacy by Default: Brave blocks ads and trackers automatically, protecting your privacy without requiring extensions or configuration.
- Performance: By blocking unwanted content, pages load significantly faster and consume less bandwidth.
- Built on Chromium: Brave is based on the same engine as Google Chrome, so it offers familiar functionality and compatibility with Chrome extensions.
- Brave Rewards: An optional feature that allows you to earn cryptocurrency tokens for viewing privacy-respecting ads.
- Cross-Platform: Available on desktop and mobile devices with sync capabilities.
Prerequisites: Enabling Linux Apps
Before installing Brave, you'll need to enable Linux apps on your Chromebook if you haven't already. This feature, also known as Crostini, allows you to run Linux applications directly on Chrome OS.
To enable Linux apps:
- Open your Chromebook's Settings by clicking the time in the bottom-right corner and selecting the gear icon.
- Scroll down and click on Advanced in the left sidebar.
- Find and click on Developers.
- Next to "Linux development environment," click Turn On.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to set up Linux. The default settings work well for most users.
- Wait for the installation to complete. This may take several minutes.
Once Linux apps are enabled, you'll have access to a Terminal application from your app drawer, which we'll use for the installation process.
Installation Instructions
Now we're ready to install Brave Beta. The process involves adding Brave's official repository to your system, which ensures you'll receive automatic updates through Chrome OS's built-in update mechanism for Linux apps. We'll execute a series of commands in the Terminal - don't worry if you're not familiar with command-line interfaces; simply copy and paste each command as shown below.
Step 1: Install Required Packages
First, we need to ensure that certain prerequisite packages are installed. These packages enable secure downloading and repository management:
sudo apt install apt-transport-https curl gnupgWhen prompted, press Enter to confirm the installation. You may need to type Y and press Enter if asked to continue.
Step 2: Add Brave's Security Key
Next, we'll download and add Brave's GPG key. This cryptographic key verifies that the software you're downloading is authentic and hasn't been tampered with:
curl -s https://brave-browser-apt-beta.s3.brave.com/brave-core-nightly.asc | sudo apt-key --keyring /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/brave-browser-prerelease.gpg add -Step 3: Add the Brave Repository
Now we'll add Brave's repository to your system's list of software sources:
echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://brave-browser-apt-beta.s3.brave.com/ stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-beta.listStep 4: Update Package Lists
After adding a new repository, we need to update our system's package lists to include the newly available software:
sudo apt updateStep 5: Install Brave Browser Beta
Finally, we can install Brave Beta:
sudo apt install brave-browser-betaPress Enter to confirm when prompted. The installation will download approximately 80-100 MB of data, so it may take a few minutes depending on your internet connection.
Step 6: Launch Brave (Optional Performance Flag)
Once installed, you can launch Brave from your app drawer. However, if you want to test it immediately or use a performance optimization flag, you can launch it from the terminal with:
brave-browser-beta --disable-framerate-limitThe --disable-framerate-limit flag can improve smoothness on some Chromebook displays, though it's not necessary for regular use. After this initial test, you can simply launch Brave from your app menu like any other application.
First Launch and Setup
When you first open Brave, you'll be greeted with a welcome screen. Here are a few tips for getting started:
- Import Settings: If you're switching from Chrome or another browser, Brave offers to import your bookmarks, passwords, and other settings.
- Configure Shields: Brave Shields is the built-in privacy protection. You can customize its behavior from the shield icon in the address bar.
- Rewards (Optional): Decide whether you want to participate in Brave Rewards. This is completely optional and can be enabled or disabled at any time.
- Search Engine: Choose your preferred default search engine from the settings.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If you encounter any problems during installation, here are some solutions:
Permission Denied Errors
Make sure you're copying the commands exactly as shown, including the sudo at the beginning where indicated. You may be prompted for your Linux password.
Repository Update Failures
If the apt update command fails, check your internet connection. You can also try running sudo apt update again after a moment.
Brave Won't Launch
If Brave doesn't appear in your app drawer after installation, try restarting your Chromebook. You can also launch it directly from the terminal by typing brave-browser-beta.
Display or Performance Issues
Some Chromebooks may experience graphical glitches with Linux apps. Try launching Brave with different flags such as --disable-gpu or --use-gl=egl if you experience problems.
Keeping Brave Updated
One of the advantages of installing Brave through the official repository is that updates are handled automatically through Chrome OS's Linux app update system. When updates are available, you'll see a notification to update your Linux apps. You can also manually check for updates by opening the Terminal and running:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgradeAdditional Resources
For more information about Brave Browser and its features, visit the official Brave website. The commands used in this tutorial are based on Brave's official Linux installation documentation.
You can also reference the Google Doc used in the tutorial for a quick reference.
If you found this guide helpful, you might also be interested in our Chromebook comparison and Buyers Guide. You can also join our mailing list to be notified about all major Chromebook sales.
Need Help?
If you have any questions or run into issues not covered in this guide, please don't hesitate to reach out via a YouTube comment on the video above. We're here to help and typically respond within 24 hours. When asking for help, please include details about your Chromebook model and the specific error message you're seeing, if any.
Enjoy browsing with enhanced privacy and performance with Brave Beta on your Chromebook!
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