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How to Uninstall Chromium From Windows, Mac & Linux

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This guide walks you through removing the Chromium browser completely from Windows, macOS, and Linux. You’ll learn the exact steps for each operating system, how to clear leftover files, and what to do if the uninstaller fails or the browser keeps coming back.

What You’ll Need

  • Administrator or sudo access on your computer
  • A backup of any bookmarks or saved passwords you want to keep (Chromium does not sync with a Google account by default)
  • About 10 minutes of time

Step-by-Step

On Windows

  1. Close Chromium completely. Check the system tray (bottom-right corner) for any lingering Chromium icons and right-click them to exit.
  2. Open the Start menu and type “Add or remove programs” (or “Apps & Features” on newer Windows). Press Enter.
  3. In the list, scroll to find “Chromium” or “Chromium Browser”. Click on it and select Uninstall.
  4. If a confirmation prompt appears, click Yes or Uninstall.
  5. Follow the uninstaller wizard if one opens. Usually it just removes the program files.
  6. After the uninstaller finishes, open File Explorer and navigate to %LOCALAPPDATA%\Chromium (paste this into the address bar). If the folder exists, delete it. This contains your profile data, cache, and extensions.
  7. Also check %APPDATA%\Chromium and C:\Program Files\Chromium (or C:\Program Files (x86)\Chromium). Delete any remaining Chromium folders.
  8. Empty the Recycle Bin to permanently delete the files.

On macOS

  1. Quit Chromium if it’s running (press Cmd+Q).
  2. Open Finder and go to the Applications folder.
  3. Drag the Chromium icon to the Trash, or right-click it and select Move to Trash.
  4. Now remove the user data folder. In Finder press Cmd+Shift+G and enter ~/Library/Application Support/Chromium. Move this folder to the Trash as well.
  5. Also check ~/Library/Caches/Chromium and ~/Library/Preferences/com.chromium.Chromium.plist (or similar). Delete these if they exist.
  6. Empty the Trash to complete the removal.

On Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

  1. Close Chromium.
  2. Open a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T).
  3. If you installed it via the package manager, run: sudo apt remove chromium-browser (or chromium depending on your distro).
  4. To also remove configuration files and dependencies, run: sudo apt purge chromium-browser and then sudo apt autoremove.
  5. If you installed it as a Snap (common on Ubuntu), run: sudo snap remove chromium.
  6. If you installed it via Flatpak, run: flatpak uninstall org.chromium.Chromium.
  7. Finally, delete any leftover config folders: rm -rf ~/.config/chromium and rm -rf ~/.cache/chromium.

Common Mistakes

  • Not closing the browser first – The uninstaller may fail if Chromium is still running in the background. Always check the task manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc on Windows, Activity Monitor on Mac, ps aux | grep chromium on Linux) and end any Chromium processes.
  • Forgetting the user data folder – The program files and the profile data are stored separately. If you only run the uninstaller, your bookmarks, history, and settings remain on disk and can be re-created if Chromium is reinstalled.
  • Deleting the wrong folder – Be careful not to delete folders named “Chrome” or “Google Chrome” – that’s a different browser. Only delete folders that say “Chromium”.
  • Using the wrong package manager on Linux – If you installed Chromium via Snap but try to remove it with apt, it won’t work. Check how it was installed first.

Tips

  • Before uninstalling, export your bookmarks: in Chromium go to Bookmarks > Bookmark Manager > Organize > Export bookmarks to HTML file.
  • If you use Chromium for testing or development, consider using a portable version that doesn’t require installation – then you can just delete the folder.
  • On Windows, after uninstalling, run a disk cleanup tool to remove temporary files that might have been left behind.
  • If you’re removing Chromium because of a malware infection, also scan your system with a reputable antivirus or anti-malware tool.

Troubleshooting

Uninstaller doesn’t start or fails

If the uninstaller won’t run, try restarting your computer and then uninstalling again. If that fails, use a third-party uninstaller tool (like Revo Uninstaller on Windows) that can force-remove stubborn programs.

Chromium keeps coming back after reinstall

This usually happens because leftover files in the user data folder cause the browser to be re-created, or because a scheduled task or startup entry re-downloads it. Check your startup programs (Task Manager > Startup on Windows, System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items on Mac) and disable anything related to Chromium. Also delete the leftover folders as described above.

“Chromium” is not in the list of installed programs

If you don’t see it in the uninstall list, it might be a portable version. Look for the Chromium folder in your Downloads or Documents folder and just delete it. If you can’t find it, search your entire system for “chromium” using File Explorer or Finder.

Error messages during uninstall

If you get an error like “Another instance is running”, open the Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac), find all Chromium processes, and end them. Then try again. If you get a permission error, make sure you’re logged in as an administrator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chromium the same as Google Chrome?

No. Chromium is the open-source project that Chrome is based on. Chrome adds proprietary features like built-in Flash, auto-updates, and Google branding. Uninstalling Chromium does not affect Chrome.

Will uninstalling Chromium delete my bookmarks and passwords?

Yes, if you delete the user data folder (as recommended), all your local bookmarks, passwords, and settings will be permanently removed. If you want to keep them, export them before uninstalling.

Can I just delete the Chromium folder instead of using an uninstaller?

On Windows and macOS, just deleting the application folder leaves registry entries (Windows) and other files behind. It’s better to use the proper uninstall method, then manually delete the leftover folders.

How do I know which package manager installed Chromium on Linux?

Run which chromium or which chromium-browser in the terminal. If it returns a path like /snap/bin/chromium, it’s a Snap. If it’s /usr/bin/chromium, it’s likely from apt. You can also check with dpkg -l | grep chromium or snap list | grep chromium.

Is it safe to uninstall Chromium?

Yes, it’s completely safe. Chromium is just a web browser. Removing it won’t affect your operating system or other applications, as long as you don’t delete system files by mistake.

Why is Chromium installed on my computer if I never installed it?

Chromium is sometimes bundled with other software (like certain download managers or media players) or installed as a dependency for some apps. It may also be a sign of adware if it appeared without your knowledge. After uninstalling, scan your system for potentially unwanted programs.

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