Introduction
Google Chrome is a free web browser from Google. With its clean design and advanced features, Chrome has quickly become one of the most popular web browsers worldwide. In this lesson, we’ll talk about the features of Google Chrome, how to download and install Chrome to your computer, and how to sign in to Chrome using a Google account.
To learn more about how Chrome was created, check out this Google Book on Chrome’s History.
Downloading Chrome
Unlike Internet Explorer or Safari, Chrome does not come pre-installed with your operating system. To use Chrome, you must first download and install it to your computer. The process is simple and should take no more than a few minutes.
To download and install Chrome:
- Using your current web browser, navigate to www.google.com/chrome.
- The Google Chrome download page will appear as shown below. Locate and left-click on the Download Chrome button.
- The following screen will appear:
- The Google Chrome Installer will open automatically (if it does not, left-click on the “download Chrome manually” circled in red above). The download and installation process may vary depending on the current web browser and operating system you are using. Step-by-step instructions will appear in the browser window if you are not sure how to proceed.
- The installer will close when finished, and Google Chrome will open.
Accessing Chrome
- If you are using Windows, Chrome will add a shortcut on your desktop. Whenever you want to open Chrome, just double-click the icon. You can also access it from the Start menu or pin it to the taskbar.
If you want to use Google Chrome as your only web browser, you can set it as your default browser. Review our lesson on Customizing Chrome to learn how.