by It will take just a couple of minutes. -sdelat-eto-vruchnuju-12ae2e6.jpg” alt=”Russian users can't update Chrome for Android. Here's how to do it manually” />
Daria Gromova
Russian Android users have noticed that the May 9 Google Chrome update is not installed via Google Play. The latest version is displayed as available, but trying to install it results in an error.
However, you can also update manually – and it's relatively easy to do.
Method 1. Update via APK
1. Download from APKMirror the file of the new version of Chrome – at the time of publication it is 101.0.4951.61. Select the latest version from this link.
2. You will see that there are several files available for devices with different processor architectures. To find out which one your smartphone has, you can download the Droid Hardware Info app from Google Play. Note that most modern devices will use the arm64-v8a + armeabi-v7a version. Choose the APK option, not the Bundle option – in the second case, you will need to download a special installer, while regular APKs install without additional steps.
Droid Hardware InfoInkWiredPrice: Free
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Price: Free
3. Click on the downloaded file and Chrome will prompt you to install the update. Confirm the action.
4. Wait for the process to complete and you have successfully updated to the new build.
This method allows you to install the current version without losing data. If in the future updates via Google Play are not available to you again, the procedure can be repeated with a more recent version.
Method 2. Update with APK and the Trichrome library
If the previous method and restarting the smartphone did not help, you have to go the more difficult way.
1. Download from APKMirror the file of the new version of stable Chrome (not beta), the current version of the Trichrome Library and the Split APKs Installer app. The latter allows the installation of individual program components. Select architecture arm64-v8a + armeabi-v7a and Chrome with Bundle shortcut.
2. Install and run Split APKs Installer and click on the “Install APK” button on the main screen. Select “System filekeeper” (that is, import a file from the device's memory).
3. Select the Chrome file you downloaded earlier. Allow installation of applications from unknown sources if SAI issues a warning.
4. When prompted to update Chrome, click Install. Next, wait for a notification from SAI that the update was successful.
If the application does not start, try restarting your smartphone.
Method 3. Update via VPN
The most radical option, which requires more time and a reliable VPN service.
1. Sign out of your Russian-language Google account following these instructions. Make sure everything worked: launch Google Play, which should prompt you to sign in to your account. Then restart your smartphone.
2. As soon as the smartphone turns on, turn on the VPN of any region except Russia (for example, the USA).
2. Open Google Play and create a new account. The language of the system does not matter: the region of the account is determined by geolocation.
3. After completing the registration, make sure everything works correctly: prices in the store must be in the currency of your VPN region.
4. Without turning off the VPN, open the Chrome page and click the Refresh button.
5. After updating, you can return to your Google account.
This method can also be used for other applications that have stopped updating in Russia (for example, Strava).
