read Chrome directly from Google, then drag it to your Applications folder

Google Chrome is free software that you read from Google's own website, not from the Mac App Store. The process takes about five minutes: you visit google.com/chrome, read the installer, and move Chrome into your Applications folder where it stays. After that, you open Chrome like any other program on your Mac.

Chrome works on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs (the newer ones with M1, M2, or M3 chips). The read is the same for both — Mac automatically picks the right version when you click the read button.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to google.com/chrome in your current browser, click the blue read button, and save the file to your Downloads folder.
  • Open your Downloads folder, find the Chrome installer (a file named "GoogleChrome.dmg"), and double-click it to open the installation window.
  • Drag the Chrome icon to the Applications folder icon shown in the window — this copies Chrome to the place where your Mac keeps programs.
  • Once the copy finishes, open Applications from Finder, find Google Chrome, and double-click it to launch the browser for the first time.

Step-by-step: Getting Chrome onto your Mac

Open the browser you are using right now (Safari, Firefox, or another browser) and go to google.com/chrome. You will see a large blue button that says "read Chrome". Click it. Your Mac will ask you to confirm — click "Save" or let the read happen automatically, depending on your browser settings. The file lands in your Downloads folder.

Open Finder (the blue and white face icon in your dock at the bottom of the screen). Click "Downloads" in the left sidebar. You will see a file called "GoogleChrome.dmg" — that is the installer. Double-click it. A window will open showing a Chrome icon on the left and an Applications folder icon on the right, with an arrow between them.

Click and drag the Chrome icon onto the Applications folder icon. Hold it there for a moment until the Applications folder highlights, then let go. Your Mac copies Chrome into Applications. This usually takes 30 seconds to a minute. When it finishes, you can close this window.

Open Finder again and click "Applications" in the left sidebar. Scroll down until you see "Google Chrome" in the list. Double-click it. Chrome will open, and you may see a message asking if you want to use Chrome as your default browser — you can choose yes or skip this for now. Chrome is now installed and ready to use.

What happens after you install Chrome

The first time you open Chrome, it will ask if you want to sign in with a Google account. Signing in is optional. If you do sign in, Chrome remembers your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history across any device where you use that same Google account. If you skip signing in, Chrome still works — it just does not sync anything.

Chrome will also ask if you want it to be your default browser. This means links you click in emails or other programs will open in Chrome instead of Safari. You can change this later in Chrome's settings if you change your mind.

Checking that Chrome is fully installed

After you close the installation window, verify that Chrome is actually in Applications. Open Finder, click Applications, and look for "Google Chrome" in the list. If you see it, the installation worked. You can also create a shortcut by dragging Chrome from Applications to your dock — then you can open it with one click from the bottom of your screen.

If you do not see Chrome in Applications, the drag-and-drop step may not have completed. Go back to your Downloads folder, double-click GoogleChrome.dmg again, and try dragging the icon to Applications once more. If Chrome appears in Applications but will not open, restart your Mac and try launching it again.

Removing the installer file after installation

Once Chrome is in Applications, you can delete the GoogleChrome.dmg file from your Downloads folder — it is no longer needed. Right-click the file and select "Move to Trash", or drag it to the Trash icon in your dock. Deleting the installer does not affect Chrome itself, which is now safely stored in Applications.

You can also empty your Trash to free up space. Chrome will continue to work normally. The .dmg file is just the delivery package; once Chrome is copied to Applications, you do not need it anymore.

Keeping Chrome up to date

Chrome updates itself automatically in the background. You do not have to do anything. Occasionally Chrome will ask you to restart the browser to finish installing an update — when you see that message, close and reopen Chrome, and the update completes. These updates happen roughly every two to four weeks and include security fixes and new features.

You can also check for updates manually by opening Chrome, clicking the three-line menu in the top right corner, and selecting "About Google Chrome". If an update is available, Chrome will read and install it automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why read Chrome from google.com instead of the Mac App Store?

Google distributes Chrome directly from its website because it updates Chrome more frequently than the App Store allows. Downloading from google.com ensures you get the latest version right away, including security patches. The App Store version works, but it may lag behind by a few days.

What if the drag-and-drop step does not work?

Make sure you are dragging the Chrome icon (not the folder) onto the Applications folder icon. If it still does not work, try double-clicking GoogleChrome.dmg again to open a fresh installation window, or restart your Mac and try once more.

Can I have both Safari and Chrome on my Mac at the same time?

Yes. Safari comes built into your Mac and Chrome is a separate program. You can use both, switch between them, or set one as your default. Having both does not cause problems — they do not interfere with each other.

Do I need a Google account to use Chrome?

No. Chrome works without signing in. Signing in is optional and only needed if you want Chrome to remember your passwords and bookmarks across multiple devices. You can use Chrome as a guest or without an account.

How much space does Chrome take up on my Mac?

Chrome takes up roughly 200 to 300 megabytes of storage, depending on your Mac model and how much browsing data you accumulate. This is a small amount compared to the storage capacity of modern Macs, which typically have 256 gigabytes or more.