How to install the Brave browser on a Chromebook

This guide will walk you through installing the Brave browser on your Chromebook using Linux apps (Crostini). Brave is a privacy-focused browser built on Chromium that blocks ads and trackers by default, offering faster page loads and enhanced security. While Chrome OS comes with Google Chrome pre-installed, many users prefer Brave for its built-in ad-blocking capabilities, cryptocurrency wallet features, and commitment to user privacy.

Before You Begin: Compatibility Requirements

This tutorial will only work on Chromebooks with an Intel or AMD CPU that supports Linux Apps (Crostini). Unfortunately, this method is not compatible with Chromebooks using an ARM64 architecture CPU, as Brave's official repository only provides packages for x86-64 systems.

You'll also need to have Linux apps enabled on your Chromebook. If you haven't set this up yet, you can find the option in your Chromebook's Settings under "Advanced" > "Developers" > "Linux development environment."

You can verify which Chromebooks support Linux apps using our compatibility guide.

Understanding the Installation Process

Installing Brave on a Chromebook involves adding Brave's official repository to your system and then installing the browser through the package manager. This method ensures you'll receive automatic updates and have access to the latest security patches. The process requires using the Linux terminal, but don't worry—we'll explain each step clearly.

Step-by-Step Installation Instructions

Follow along with the video tutorial above for a visual guide, or use the commands below. Each command performs a specific function in preparing your system and installing Brave.

Step 1: Install Required Dependencies

First, we need to install some essential packages that allow your system to securely download and verify software from external repositories. These tools include apt-transport-https (for secure connections), curl (for downloading files), and gnupg (for cryptographic verification).

sudo apt install apt-transport-https curl gnupg

Step 2: Add Brave's GPG Key

This step downloads Brave's cryptographic key and adds it to your system's trusted keyring. This ensures that any packages you download from Brave's repository are authentic and haven't been tampered with.

curl -s https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/brave-core.asc | sudo apt-key --keyring /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/brave-browser-release.gpg add -

Step 3: Add Brave's Repository

Now we'll add Brave's official repository to your system's list of software sources. This tells your package manager where to find Brave browser packages.

echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/ stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list

Step 4: Update Package Lists

After adding the new repository, we need to refresh the package database so your system knows about the newly available Brave browser package.

sudo apt update

Step 5: Install Brave Browser

Finally, we can install Brave browser. This command will download and install the browser along with any additional dependencies it requires.

sudo apt install brave-browser

Step 6: Launch Brave Browser

You can now launch Brave from your Chromebook's app launcher, or use this command to start it from the terminal with the framerate limit disabled, which can improve performance for video playback and animations:

brave-browser --disable-framerate-limit

Additional Resources

For your convenience, here are some helpful resources:

• Google Doc with all commands used in this tutorial
• Official Brave Browser website
• Official Brave Linux installation instructions

Troubleshooting Tips

If you encounter any issues during installation:

• Permission errors: Make sure you're including "sudo" before commands that require administrative privileges.
• Connection issues: Verify your Chromebook has a stable internet connection before running the commands.
• Package not found: Double-check that you ran the "sudo apt update" command after adding the repository.
• Architecture mismatch: Confirm your Chromebook has an Intel or AMD processor, not an ARM processor.

Why Choose Brave?

Brave browser offers several advantages over traditional browsers, particularly for privacy-conscious users. It blocks third-party ads and trackers by default, which not only protects your privacy but also speeds up page loading times and reduces bandwidth usage—especially beneficial on Chromebooks with limited resources. Brave also includes features like HTTPS Everywhere, script blocking, and optional Tor integration for enhanced anonymity.

Additionally, Brave Rewards allows you to earn Basic Attention Tokens (BAT) by viewing privacy-respecting ads, and you can support your favorite content creators directly through the browser.

Need Help?

If you have any questions or run into any issues following this guide, please feel free to reach out via a YouTube comment on the video above. We're here to help and typically respond within 24 hours!

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