Chromium for Windows

Chromium for Windows is a build of the free, open-source web browser project maintained by The Chromium Developers. It is available from chromium.org; the spec sheet below explains what Chromium is, how it differs from a regular browser install and what to keep in mind before using it every day.

Specifications

What Chromium is

Chromium is the open-source project behind a whole family of browsers. It started in 2008, originally building on WebKit, and its code is public for anyone to read, modify and reuse. Many popular browsers take Chromium as their base and add their own services, branding and update systems on top. Using Chromium directly gives you the engine and interface without those extras: no built-in account sync from a vendor, no bundled services and a very plain look. Developers use it to test websites on the newest engine code, privacy-minded users like the clean base, and some people simply prefer an unbranded browser. Raw Chromium builds follow the development branch closely. That brings new features early, but also the risk of rough edges.

How to download

1. Read the official download Chromium page, which explains where official builds come from.
2. Download the Windows build and extract or install it as described there.
3. Launch Chromium and set your search engine and privacy options.
4. Plan how you will keep it updated, since raw builds may not update themselves like a branded browser.

Safety notes

Unofficial Chromium packages from random sites can be modified, so stick to the sources listed by the project. Because development builds change quickly, update often to receive security fixes. For banking or work, a stable browser with automatic updates is the safer choice.

Who should use it

Chromium makes the most sense for web developers who want to see upcoming engine changes, for testers who compare browsers side by side, and for experienced users who enjoy a minimal, unbranded browser and do not mind handling updates themselves. If you just want a fast browser that looks after itself, one of the branded browsers built on the same code is the easier path, and it will keep security patches flowing without any effort on your part.

Pros and cons

• Pro: free and fully open source.
• Pro: clean browser without vendor services.
• Pro: newest engine features early.
• Con: updates are your responsibility.
• Con: development builds can be less stable.

Alternatives

Browsers in our listings that build on similar foundations with automatic updates include Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave Browser and Thorium Browser. The project's code is at chromium.googlesource.com, and change logs show what moved between builds.