Install Google Chrome on Windows Server with a Powershell Script

October 29, 2016August 29, 2017 - by Ryan - 7 Comments. 22.7K

Among the first things we usually want to do right after we've installed a brand-new Windows Server is to also install Google Chrome. Doing that won't always be easy, though, because Internet Explorer Enhanced Security - which is activated by default in Windows Server - won't allow to download the required setup package.

In order to fix this you have two options: either disable the Enhanced Security entirely by following these steps or execute the following Powershell Script, which will install Google Chrome in a matter of seconds:

$LocalTempDir = $env:TEMP; $ChromeInstaller = "ChromeInstaller.exe"; (new-object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('http://dl.google.com/chrome/install/375.126/chrome_installer.exe', "$LocalTempDir\$ChromeInstaller"); & "$LocalTempDir\$ChromeInstaller" /silent /install; $Process2Monitor =  "ChromeInstaller"; Do { $ProcessesFound = Get-Process | ?{$Process2Monitor -contains $_.Name} | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Name; If ($ProcessesFound) { "Still running: $($ProcessesFound -join ', ')" | Write-Host; Start-Sleep -Seconds 2 } else { rm "$LocalTempDir\$ChromeInstaller" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Verbose } } Until (!$ProcessesFound)

$LocalTempDir = $env:TEMP; $ChromeInstaller = "ChromeInstaller.exe"; (new-object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('http://dl.google.com/chrome/install/375.126/chrome_installer.exe', "$LocalTempDir\$ChromeInstaller"); & "$LocalTempDir\$ChromeInstaller" /silent /install; $Process2Monitor = "ChromeInstaller"; Do { $ProcessesFound = Get-Process | ?{$Process2Monitor -contains $_.Name} | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Name; If ($ProcessesFound) { "Still running: $($ProcessesFound -join ', ')" | Write-Host; Start-Sleep -Seconds 2 } else { rm "$LocalTempDir\$ChromeInstaller" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Verbose } } Until (!$ProcessesFound)

Although this isn't an one-liner technically, it can be used as one: just copy it, paste it into a Powershell prompt and you'll be good to go. Needless to say, you'll need to have an internet connection available, otherwise it won't work.

Many thanks to this Gist for the idea and to this other Gist for the actual implementation.

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About Ryan

IT Project Manager, Web Interface Architect and Lead Developer for many high-traffic web sites & services hosted in Italy and Europe. Since 2010 it's also a lead designer for many App and games for Android, iOS and Windows Phone mobile devices for a number of italian companies. Microsoft MVP for Development Technologies since 2018.

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7 Comments on “Install Google Chrome on Windows Server with a Powershell Script”

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Erik van der Neut says:

September 10, 2017 at 10:02

Even easier is to just install FireFox first (which doesn’t pose any problems), and then from FireFox install Chrome. I just did this in Windows Server 2016, and it was easy without having to change any settings or run any obscure command line scripts.

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1. Henok Araya says:
  
  February 5, 2019 at 13:13
  
  Thank you Erik, that was the simplest solution:-)
  
  Reply
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Callazzans says:

August 1, 2019 at 15:40

Obrigado pela dica! Dessa forma foi bem simples instalar o Chrome no servidor.

Thanks for the tip! So it was pretty simple to install Chrome on the server.

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sagar says:

December 13, 2019 at 13:47

what about if i want to install other software like VLC,Adobe,skype and so on….
is there any easyiest way ? means with exe how to install on VM by using Powershell script

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Vic says:

July 2, 2021 at 12:04

Great script!

Just in case you need use proxy and proxy port.

$LocalTempDir = $env:TEMP; $ChromeInstaller = “ChromeInstaller.exe”;
$WebClient = New-Object System.Net.WebClient;
$WebProxy = New-Object System.Net.WebProxy(“http://my_proxy:1234”);
$WebClient.Proxy = $WebProxy;
$WebClient.DownloadFile(‘http://dl.google.com/chrome/install/375.126/chrome_installer.exe’, “$LocalTempDir\$ChromeInstaller”); & “$LocalTempDir\$ChromeInstaller” /silent /install; $Process2Monitor = “ChromeInstaller”; Do { $ProcessesFound = Get-Process | ?{$Process2Monitor -contains $_.Name} | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Name; If ($ProcessesFound) { “Still running: $($ProcessesFound -join ‘, ‘)” | Write-Host; Start-Sleep -Seconds 2 } else { rm “$LocalTempDir\$ChromeInstaller” -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Verbose } } Until (!$ProcessesFound)

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