Google Finally Announces Chrome for ARM64 Linux After Years of Waiting
The browser arrives on ARM Linux devices long after landing on macOS and Windows on Arm
The announcement closes one of the more conspicuous gaps in Chrome''s platform support. ARM64 Linux users — including those running Raspberry Pi setups, Ampere-based cloud instances, and various single-board computers — have been forced to use Chromium builds or alternative browsers while waiting for official support.
The delay was particularly notable given that Google had already done the heavy lifting of porting Chrome to ARM architectures for both macOS (Apple Silicon) and Windows on Arm (Qualcomm Snapdragon). The Linux port required additional work around different graphics stacks and distribution packaging but the core browser engine was already ARM-ready.
The move comes as ARM-based computing continues to grow beyond mobile, with cloud providers like AWS (Graviton), Ampere, and others pushing ARM server adoption.
Analysis
Why This Matters
ARM64 Linux is increasingly important in cloud computing, edge devices, and developer workstations. Chrome''s absence forced workarounds and limited the viability of ARM Linux as a desktop platform.
Background
Chrome has supported ARM on Android since inception and added macOS ARM support with Apple Silicon in 2020. Windows on Arm support followed. Linux ARM64 was the last major platform without official Chrome builds despite growing adoption.
Key Perspectives
The announcement is a win for the ARM Linux ecosystem and validates the platform''s growing importance. For developers running ARM-based cloud instances or single-board computers, official Chrome support eliminates a friction point for testing and development.
What to Watch
Performance benchmarks comparing ARM64 Linux Chrome to x86 builds, and whether this signals broader attention to ARM Linux as a first-class platform from other major software vendors.