Google released native version of Chrome for Windows on ARM

So discreetly and without much fuss, Google launched a native version of Chrome for Windows on ARM. Users have noticed that the latest version of Canary is now running natively on Windows 10 and 11 computers with Qualcomm chips.

Google released native version of Chrome for Windows on ARM

Google has not yet made an official announcement or indicated specific timelines on when it intends to release Chrome for Windows on ARM in the Stable Channel. As of now, the only way to get Chrome to run natively on your Surface Pro 9 5G, Surface Pro X, or other ARM-based Windows computer is to download Chrome Canary from the official website.

Keep in mind that nightly builds are unstable and are often riddled with bugs or instabilities, so it’s best to wait a little longer before making the ARM64 version of Google Chrome your primary browser. I remember that Firefox and Edge already support Windows on ARM, so there are alternatives for those who don’t want to use Chrome.

However, Google making its browser compatible with ARM on Windows is a big deal, considering this app’s dominant position in the desktop market. Although it can run “as is” on Windows computers with ARM processors, emulated applications offer inferior performance and energy efficiency. So with Microsoft, Qualcomm and other manufacturers planning to bring Windows on ARM to more devices thanks to the recent announcement of the Snapdragon X Elite, ARM-optimized Chrome on Windows couldn’t come at a better time.

Here’s how you can check whether you’re running a native or emulated application on your computer:

So open the Task Manager (you can right-click on the taskbar in Windows 11).

On the Processes tab, right-click the application you want to check and select Go to details.

Meanwhile check the Architecture column. Native applications appear as Arm64.

Windows was the only ARM-supported platform without native Google Chrome. The company optimized Chrome for Apple Silicon Macs a long time ago, and it also has a dedicated ARM version for its Chromebooks.