How Do I Remove Chrome in Ubuntu?

Removing Chrome (or Chromium) from Ubuntu involves several steps to ensure complete removal, including the application itself and associated configuration files. Here's how:

Using the Command Line

The most effective way to uninstall Chrome is using the command line. This method ensures a clean removal of all associated files and packages.

Removing Google Chrome

If you installed Google Chrome using the .deb package, use the following command in your terminal:

sudo apt-get purge google-chrome-stable
sudo apt-get autoremove

The purge option removes the application and its configuration files. autoremove then cleans up any remaining unused dependencies.

Removing Chromium

For Chromium, the package name is different:

sudo apt-get purge chromium-browser
sudo apt-get autoremove

This command works similarly to the Google Chrome removal, ensuring a complete uninstall.

Removing Configuration Files (Optional but Recommended)

While the above commands remove the main application files, some configuration data might remain in your home directory. To remove this, manually delete the following directory (if it exists):

rm -rf ~/.config/chromium

This step is optional, but recommended for a truly clean removal. Caution: Be certain you've targeted the correct directory before executing this command. Mistakes can lead to data loss.

Verifying Removal

After running the above commands, you can verify that Chrome or Chromium is no longer installed. Try running the application; it should not launch. You can also check for the presence of remaining files in the /usr/bin directory.

Alternative Method: Using the Software Center (GUI)

For a more visual approach, you can use the Ubuntu Software Center (or another package manager GUI). Locate Chrome or Chromium in the list of installed applications, select it, and choose the "Remove" or "Uninstall" option. This method is less thorough than the command-line approach and may not remove all associated configuration files.