Brave runs on Chromium and ships ad-blocking, tracker blocking, and HTTPS upgrades by default. Installing it on Linux takes one of three routes: the official APT or DNF repository, the Brave install script, or a Flatpak from Flathub. Each works, but the native package method is what Brave Software officially recommends for daily use.
System Requirements For Brave Browser On Linux
Brave supports 64-bit AMD/Intel (x86_64) and ARM64 (aarch64) architectures. 32-bit systems are not supported.
The browser runs on Ubuntu 20.04 and later, Debian 11+, Fedora 38+, openSUSE Leap 15.5+, and Arch-based distributions. Minimum 2 GB of RAM is recommended, though 4 GB or more works better for heavier browsing.
Native packages are the officially recommended path. Flatpak and Snap are community-maintained.
How To Install Brave Browser Linux On Ubuntu And Debian
This is the most common route. The Brave team maintains a signed APT repository, so updates flow in alongside your regular system updates.
Add The Brave Repository And GPG Key
Open a terminal and install curl if it’s missing:
sudo apt install curlPull in the signing key:
sudo curl -fsSLo /usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg \
https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpgNow add the repository definition:
sudo curl -fsSLo /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.sources \
https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/brave-browser.sourcesInstall The Brave Package
Refresh your package lists and install:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install brave-browserIf you hit a missing dependency or your package list looks stale, the fix is the same as with any other broken Debian install. The apt-get troubleshooting guide covers what to do when the package manager throws errors during the update step.
Install Brave Browser On Fedora, RHEL, And CentOS
Fedora and other RPM-based systems use DNF. Brave provides a dedicated repo file you can pull directly into your sources.
Add The DNF Repository
Make sure the config-manager plugin is installed:
sudo dnf install dnf-plugins-coreThen add the Brave repository. Newer Fedora versions (DNF 5) use this syntax:
sudo dnf config-manager addrepo --from-repofile=https://brave-browser-rpm-release.s3.brave.com/brave-browser.repoFor older Fedora releases or RHEL/CentOS Stream running DNF 4:
sudo dnf config-manager --add-repo https://brave-browser-rpm-release.s3.brave.com/brave-browser.repoInstall The Package
sudo dnf install brave-browserDNF will prompt to import the GPG key the first time. Type y and press Enter. Once that’s done, Brave appears in your applications menu.
Brave Browser Install On openSUSE
openSUSE uses zypper, and the steps mirror the DNF approach.
sudo zypper addrepo https://brave-browser-rpm-release.s3.brave.com/brave-browser.repo
sudo zypper install brave-browserZypper will ask you to trust the repository key. Accept it, and the install proceeds. The same repo handles future updates through sudo zypper update.
Install Brave On Arch Linux And Manjaro
Brave isn’t in the official Arch repos. It lives in the AUR and needs an AUR helper such as yay, paru, or pikaur.
yay -S brave-binThe brave-bin package pulls the precompiled binary, which is the same build Brave ships to Debian and Fedora users. There’s also brave in the AUR, but that one compiles from source and takes hours.
If you’re installing AUR helpers for the first time, the workflow uses pacman for base packages then clones the helper from AUR. Pin specific versions later through your package manager — the same logic from the specific version pinning guide applies, just with pacman syntax instead of apt.
Use The Brave Install Script
If you’d rather not pick the right command for your distro, Brave ships a one-line installer that detects your system and runs the correct steps.
curl -fsS https://dl.brave.com/install.sh | shFor users who want to verify the script before running it (recommended on production machines):
curl -fsSLO "https://dl.brave.com/install.sh{,.asc}"
gpg --keyserver hkps://keys.openpgp.org --recv-keys D16166072CACDF2C9429CBF11BF41E37D039F691
gpg --verify install.sh.ascRun the script with sh install.sh after the GPG check passes.
Install Brave As A Flatpak
Flatpak gives you a sandboxed install that works on any distro with Flatpak set up. Brave Software maintains the package on Flathub but recommends native packages where available.
flatpak install flathub com.brave.BrowserRun it with flatpak run com.brave.Browser or launch from your applications menu. Flatpak modifies Chromium’s sandboxing in ways the Brave security team has not vetted, so if your distro has a native package, use that instead.
Verify The Installation And Launch Brave
Confirm Brave installed correctly:
brave-browser --versionYou should see a version string like Brave Browser 1.74.51. Launch from the terminal:
brave-browserOr click the Brave icon in your applications menu. On first launch, Brave walks you through importing bookmarks, setting your default search engine, and toggling Brave Rewards.
Times measured on a 100 Mbps connection. Flatpak takes longer due to runtime dependencies.
Update And Remove Brave Browser
Native installs follow your normal update cycle. On Ubuntu and Debian:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade brave-browserOn Fedora:
sudo dnf upgrade brave-browserTo uninstall, swap install for remove:
sudo apt remove brave-browser # Ubuntu/Debian
sudo dnf remove brave-browser # Fedora
sudo zypper remove brave-browser # openSUSE
yay -R brave-bin # Arch
flatpak uninstall com.brave.Browser # FlatpakFor Linux users who want a quick reference on which browser binaries are available system-wide, the x-www-browser man page documents how the alternatives system picks a default browser when multiple are installed.
Common Issues And Fixes
If apt update throws a key error, your GPG keyring file is missing or corrupt. Re-run the curl command from the install steps. The error usually reads NO_PUBKEY followed by a hex string.
For a “command not found” message after install, log out and back in so your shell picks up the new PATH entry. The binary lives at /usr/bin/brave-browser.
If Brave crashes on launch with a sandbox error, your kernel may be missing user namespace support. Check with sysctl kernel.unprivileged_userns_clone. Set it to 1 if disabled.
FAQs
Is Brave Browser Free On Linux?
Yes. Brave is open source under the Mozilla Public License 2.0 and free to download on every supported Linux distribution. There are no premium tiers required for normal browsing.
Which Linux Distros Officially Support Brave?
Brave officially supports Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, openSUSE, and provides AUR packages for Arch. Flatpak and Snap builds work on most other distributions but are community-maintained.
Can I Use Chrome Extensions In Brave On Linux?
Yes. Brave is built on Chromium, so most Chrome Web Store extensions install and run without modification. Open the Chrome Web Store inside Brave and click Add to Brave on any extension.
Why Does Brave Recommend Native Packages Over Snap?
Snap and Flatpak builds modify Chromium’s sandboxing in ways the Brave security team has not fully vetted. Native APT and RPM packages get direct security updates from Brave Software with no sandboxing changes.
How Do I Switch Brave From Stable To Beta Or Nightly On Linux?
Add the beta or nightly repository alongside the stable one, then install brave-browser-beta or brave-browser-nightly. All three channels can run side by side with separate profiles.
