This article explains how to download and install Chrome for Mac as well as the benefits of using Chrome on a Mac.
What to Know
- To install: Download Chrome for Mac, launch googlechrome.dmg, and drag the Chrome icon to the Applications folder.To clean up the installer files: Go to Finder > Google Chrome > Downloads and drag googlechrome.dmg to the trash.
How to Download and Install Chrome for Mac
Every Mac comes with Apple’s Safari web browser installed on it, and lots of people use it. Safari is far from the only browser you can use on a Mac, however. While the built-in option has benefits, you may want a different program, like Google Chrome. Here’s how to put Google’s browser on your Mac.
- Go to the download page for Chrome on the Mac you want to install it on. The site detects that you’re using a Mac and automatically suggests the right version for you.
- Click Download Chrome for Mac.
- The installer program for Chrome downloads to your designated Downloads folder. Open the Downloads folder and double-click the file called googlechrome.dmg to launch the installer.
- Drag the Chrome icon to the Application folder icon. The installer will copy Chrome to your computer.
- Before you start using your new browser, clean up the installer files. If you don’t, those files will use up space on your hard drive unnecessarily. Open a Finder window and click the arrow next to Google Chrome in the sidebar.
- Return to the Downloads folder and drag googlechrome.dmg to the trash.
- Go to your Applications folder and double-click Google Chrome to start using your new web browser.
- If you expect to use it often, drag it to the Dock for easy access.
The Benefits of Using Google Chrome on a Mac
Some of the most common and compelling reasons people prefer to use Chrome include:
Go to the download page for Chrome on the Mac you want to install it on. The site detects that you’re using a Mac and automatically suggests the right version for you.
Click Download Chrome for Mac.
The installer program for Chrome downloads to your designated Downloads folder. Open the Downloads folder and double-click the file called googlechrome.dmg to launch the installer.
Drag the Chrome icon to the Application folder icon. The installer will copy Chrome to your computer.
Before you start using your new browser, clean up the installer files. If you don’t, those files will use up space on your hard drive unnecessarily. Open a Finder window and click the arrow next to Google Chrome in the sidebar.
Return to the Downloads folder and drag googlechrome.dmg to the trash.
Go to your Applications folder and double-click Google Chrome to start using your new web browser.
If you expect to use it often, drag it to the Dock for easy access.
- Chrome ties into the Google ecosystem: You can sign in to your Google account using Chrome and use all the services and data in your Google account, right there in your browser. If you’re a heavy user of Google services, Chrome is the simplest and best-integrated way to access them.
- Chrome is highly compatible: Although it doesn’t happen much these days, some sites won’t load or function correctly in Safari. In those situations, you might have better luck with Chrome.
- Chrome is available on many platforms: Because it comes from Apple, Safari is available only on Macs and iOS devices (it comes installed on the iPhone and iPad, too). Apple used to offer Safari for Windows but discontinued that version in 2012. Chrome, however, runs everywhere: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, and more.
- Chrome has a massive library of extensions: You can expand your browser’s functionality by installing extensions. Safari supports extensions, too, but Chrome has a much bigger selection. With over 10,000 extensions available for Chrome, you can add a huge array of features, including ad-blocking, web developer tools, and more.
Don’t worry about being permanently committed to Chrome. If you use it for a while and find that it’s not the right browser for you, you can always uninstall it from your Mac.
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