read Chrome directly from Google and run the installer
Open your web browser — Safari, Firefox, or whatever you use now — and go to google.com/chrome. The page shows a blue "read" button. Click it. Your Mac will read a file called "googlechrome.dmg" to your Downloads folder, usually within 30 seconds on a normal internet connection.
Once the read finishes, open your Downloads folder (click the Finder icon in your dock, then click Downloads on the left side). You will see the googlechrome.dmg file. Double-click it. A window opens showing the Chrome logo on the left and an Applications folder on the right, with an arrow between them.
Drag the Chrome icon to the Applications folder. Your Mac copies Chrome into the place where all your programs live. When the copy finishes, you can close this window and delete the googlechrome.dmg file from Downloads — you do not need it anymore.
Key Takeaways
- Go to google.com/chrome in any browser and click read to get the installer file.
- Open the downloaded file from your Downloads folder and drag Chrome into your Applications folder.
- Open Applications, find Google Chrome, and double-click it to launch the browser for the first time.
- Sign in with your Google account to sync bookmarks, passwords, and settings across devices.
- You can delete the installer file after Chrome is in your Applications folder.
Launch Chrome and set it as your default browser
Open your Applications folder (click Finder, then Applications in the sidebar). Scroll down until you see "Google Chrome" and double-click it. Chrome opens and may ask you to confirm — click "Open" if a dialog appears. The browser window loads and shows the Chrome home page with a search box.
To make Chrome your default browser so links open in Chrome instead of Safari, go to Chrome menu (top left) and click Settings. On the left side, click "Default browser." Click the "Make default" button. Your Mac now opens web links in Chrome by default.
Sign in to sync your information across devices
In the top right corner of Chrome, click your profile picture or the circle with your initial. Click "Sign in to Chrome." Enter your Google account email and password. Chrome asks which information to sync — bookmarks, passwords, history, and settings are checked by default.
If you use Chrome on your phone or another computer with the same Google account, this sync means your bookmarks and passwords appear on all your devices. You can change what syncs by going back to Settings, clicking "You and Google," then "Sync and Google services," and unchecking anything you do not want to sync.
Understand what Chrome needs permission to do
When you first use Chrome, your Mac may ask for permission to access your contacts, calendar, or location. Chrome only asks for these when a website you visit actually needs them — for example, a maps website needs your location. You can always say "Don't Allow" and the website will still work, just without that feature.
You can also change these permissions later. Go to Chrome menu, click Settings, then Privacy and security, then Site settings. You will see a list of what websites can access (location, camera, microphone, and so on). Click any one to see which sites have permission and change it.
Install extensions if you need them
Extensions are small programs that add features to Chrome — things like password managers, ad blockers, or grammar checkers. You do not need any extensions to use Chrome, but if you want one, go to chrome.google.com/webstore. Search for what you want, click the extension, and click "Add to Chrome." Your Mac asks you to confirm, and the extension appears in the top right corner of your browser.
Be careful about which extensions you install. Only add ones from developers you recognize or that have many reviews from other users. Each extension you add can see what websites you visit, so fewer extensions means more privacy.
Troubleshoot if Chrome will not open or install
If Chrome will not open after you drag it to Applications, your Mac may have blocked it for security reasons. Open Applications, right-click Chrome, and click "Open." Your Mac shows a warning. Click "Open" again. This tells your Mac that you trust Chrome, and it will open normally from then on.
If the read fails or stops, your internet connection may have dropped. Go back to google.com/chrome and read again. If your Mac says it cannot open the googlechrome.dmg file, try downloading it again — the file may have been corrupted. If you still have trouble, restart your Mac and try once more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use my Google account to use Chrome?
No. Chrome works without signing in. You just will not have bookmarks and passwords sync across devices. You can sign in later anytime by clicking your profile picture in the top right corner.
Can I use Chrome and Safari at the same time?
Yes. Both can be installed and open at the same time. You can set one as your default browser and still open the other whenever you want. Many people use both for different reasons.
Does Chrome take up a lot of space on my Mac?
Chrome takes roughly 200 to 300 megabytes of space, depending on your Mac model. That is small compared to most programs. If you need to remove it later, drag Chrome from Applications to the Trash.
What is the difference between Chrome and Google?
Google is the search engine and company. Chrome is the web browser that Google makes. You can use Google search in Safari, Firefox, or any other browser. Chrome is just one way to access Google.
Will Chrome slow down my Mac?
Chrome uses more memory than Safari because it runs each website in its own separate process. On newer Macs with 8 gigabytes of RAM or more, you will not notice a difference. On older Macs with less RAM, you might see your Mac slow down if you have many Chrome tabs open at once.