For example, you will not be able to use streaming media like Amazon Prime or Netflix using the Chromium browser. Though it does not have the complete features of chrome, it’s pretty much the same except for some proprietary libraries used for digital rights management.ĭue to this, there are some limitations for the usage. Since Chromium is an open-source version of the original Google Chrome browser, we can use that for installing on our Pi.
GOOGLE CHROME FOR RASPBERRY PI INSTALL
If you want Chrome on Raspberry Pi, you can install the Chromium browser with nearly the same features. But wait! There is a workaround for this. This one too is not supported on the Pi’s hardware. The Chromebook is the only ARM-based desktop that currently supports the chrome web browser. Unfortunately, it’s not supported on our Raspberry Pi’s hardware. Google Chrome is one of the fastest and most popular browsers in this era. Either way, it’s an option.In this guide, I will show you how exactly you can install Chromium browser on Raspberry Pi with explanations and screenshots. With a minimal amount of elbow grease and a low-cost hardware investment, this approach might help determine to answer the question: Is a Chromebox right for you? Or maybe this would give you just enough performance and flexibility to use as a Chromium OS-based “Chromebox” for a while.
![google chrome for raspberry pi google chrome for raspberry pi](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1JxiV-SoS-w/maxresdefault.jpg)
Given that Google Stadia may work on Chromium-based browsers, I’m betting you might be able to do some high-resolution cloud gaming though.Īs you can see in Barnatt’s hands-on video, this gets you a solid test bed for the Chromebox experience. The only downside there if you wanted to try that is that it’s currently meant for businesses and enterprises.
GOOGLE CHROME FOR RASPBERRY PI FULL
Note that in the above video, you’ll see this setup is capable of streaming a full Windows desktop if you subscribe to Microsoft’s Windows 365 service. The only differences are the Google proprietary bits that I mentioned previously. And both the interface and experience are practically the exact same as using a standard Chromebox, Chromebook, or Chrome OS tablet. You’ll have to enter a Gmail address, just like on Chrome OS, to use Chromium OS. With your bootable microSD card flashed, you just insert it to your Pi, boot up, and you’ll see what looks like the standard Chrome OS setup screen. I’ve used that app many times in the past to create bootable system images. You’ll need that as well as an app to flash the image to a microSD card Barnatt recommends Balena Etcher, which I second. Then again, you might have a spare Raspberry Pi lying around I have a few as they’re handy little devices!įydeOS, the folks behind a Chromium-based distro of the same name, has a downloadable Chromium OS image here.
![google chrome for raspberry pi google chrome for raspberry pi](https://hackster.imgix.net/uploads/attachments/273958/chrome-raspberrypi_k3BR8E43P5.jpg)
Or, if you already have a keyboard and mouse, the Raspberry Pi 4B kit with 8 GB of memory, a case, microSD card, and power supply can be had for just under $150.Ĭonsidering base model Chromeboxes start around $250 to $300, this can save you some money for trying Chromium OS and you can always use the Raspberry Pi hardware for any other computing project in the future. You can pick up a 4 GB Raspberry Pi 400 computer for just under $100 on Amazon but don’t forget to add a power supply. If you recall, that’s the low-cost all-in-one Raspberry Pi computer I suggested for younger students when Chromebooks were hard to find in stock.