Ask a hundred people what they think the best web browser is.
And I’m willing to bet the majority will say Chrome.
That browser has over 3 billion users, after all.
And it’s the best, design and functionality-wise.
Now the question is…
Can you install it on your Samsung TV?
Continue reading to find out:
- The best web browser for Samsung devices.
- 7 easy steps to install Chrome on a Samsung TV.
- What you can use Chrome for on your Samsung TV.
- And a lot more…
How to install Chrome on Samsung TV – 7 steps
Before we dive into the steps, there’s something you should know.
It’s actually not possible to install Chrome directly on a Samsung TV.
Why?
It’s because Samsung TVs already have a built-in web browser. It’s called Samsung Internet Browser or S-Browser for short.
And believe it or not…
It’s actually based on Chrome.
“How’s that even possible?”
Well, back in 2013, Google developed an open-source web browser project called Chromium.
This project revealed the bulk of Chrome’s source codes. And Google allowed other companies to copy and use them.
Now, Samsung was among those that copied the codes. And they modified it enough to develop their web browser.
So, in other words, the codes that make up the S-Browser are already similar to Chrome.
And that’s why Samsung no longer allows users to install another browser. The one that’s on your TV is already good enough.
However, if you still want to use Chrome on your Samsung TV…
There are a couple of easy workarounds.
One involves the use of Chromecast. The steps of which you can find below.
And the other is by screen mirroring your laptop or computer. You’ll find a guide for that in the Bonus section.
#1: Plug the Chromecast into your Samsung TV
Samsung TVs generally have multiple HDMI ports. You may choose any one of them to connect your Chromecast to.
Just remember the port number because you’ll be switching your Samsung TV to that input.
#2: Connect the Chromecast to a power source
Plug the micro USB end of the cable into the Chromecast. And plug the USB A end into the power adapter.
Then connect the adapter to an outlet.
#3: Switch your Samsung TV to the correct TV input
Remember the HDMI port where you plugged the Chromecast?
Well, change your TV’s input to that. Just press the Source button on your remote. And select the port that has the Chromecast device.
#4: Download and install the Google Home app on your phone
If you don’t have the app yet, just download it. It’s available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
#5: Link the Chromecast device to the Google Home app
After downloading the app, launch it on your phone. And sign in with your Google account.
Then follow these steps to link it to your Chromecast:
Step #1: Click the plus sign in the upper left corner of the app’s home screen.
Step #2: Select Set up device.
Step #3: Click New devices. And then enter your home’s nickname and address for labeling purposes.
Step #4: Grant location access to the app.
Step #5: The app should start searching for your Chromecast. Once it finds the device, you’ll see a device name on both the app and your TV screen. If they match, click Next.
Step #6: A code should appear on both the app and the Chromecast. See to it that they match.
And then click Yes once you’ve verified that they’re identical. This should link the Chromecast device with the Google Home app.
Step #7: Connect your Chromecast device to the internet. Just select your WiFi network. And type in your password.
#6: Open a Google Chrome browser on your laptop
Grab a laptop or a computer. And from there, launch the Google Chrome browser.
After opening it, go to the website you want to display on your Samsung TV.
#7: Cast the Chrome content from your laptop to your Samsung TV
On the Chrome browser on your computer, click the Menu icon. It’s the one with 3 vertical dots.
When the dropdown menu appears, click the Cast option. And then, look for your Chromecast device and select it.
You should now see your entire Google Chrome tab on your Samsung TV.
You might also want to know: 3 Ways To Cast To Samsung TV Without Chromecast
Bonus: How to use Chrome on your Samsung TV via a laptop
Using Chrome on a Samsung TV via Chromecast is easy.
But you know what’s even easier?
Using a laptop.
With this method, you don’t even need to buy another gadget like Chromecast. All you need is a laptop with an HDMI port and an HDMI cable.
“What if my laptop only has a VGA port?”
Not a problem. You’ll just need to use an HDMI to VGA adapter.
Now, here are the steps to use Chrome on a Samsung TV through a laptop:
Step #1: Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the laptop.
If you’re using an HDMI to VGA adapter, connect the HDMI cable to that. And then plug the adapter into your laptop’s VGA port.
Step #2: Plug the other end of the HDMI cable into one of your Samsung TV’s ports. Again, ensure that you know the port number.
Step #3: Open the Google Chrome browser on your laptop.
Step #4: Change your Samsung TV’s input to where you connected the HDMI cable.
At this point, the Google Chrome browser should now appear on your TV. You may start browsing the web through your laptop with your Samsung TV as the monitor.
“I still can’t see my laptop screen on my Samsung TV. Why’s that?”
If your laptop’s still not visible on the screen…
You’ll just have to go to your laptop’s Display settings. And from there, ensure that you select TV.
On Windows, you can find the display options on the Control Panel. Just press the Windows key + R. Then type “control panel” to open it.
On MacBooks, you can access Display by clicking the System Preferences icon.
For a visual guide on connecting a laptop to a Samsung TV, you may watch this:
What can you use Chrome for on a Samsung TV?
You can use Chrome for any web-browsing activities on a Samsung TV. You can stream videos from the web versions of services like Netflix. And you can also play audio through music streaming sites. However, these are only possible with a Chromecast or a laptop connected to your Samsung TV.
The truth is, your Samsung TV already has everything you need for streaming or browsing.
You can simply install apps like Netflix or Spotify for watching or listening. And you can use the Samsung Internet Browser for web browsing.
However, I can understand if you’d still like to use Chrome on your Samsung TV.
It has a sync feature, after all. So you can easily access websites you’ve previously viewed on other devices.
So if you really want to browse the web via Chrome on your Samsung TV…
Just refer to the guides below.
How to stream a movie, series, or music from Chrome to Samsung TV
Step #1: Follow the guides in the previous section for connecting a Chromecast or a laptop to your TV.
Step #2: Open a Google Chrome tab on your computer.
Step #3: Go to the official site of the streaming service you’ll be watching from.
If you’re not sure what the actual web address is, simply do the following:
- Go to Google’s home page.
- Type the name of the streaming service.
- Click Search.
Usually, the first link that comes up is the official one.
Step #4: Log in to your account.
Step #5: Select the media file you’ll be playing on your Samsung TV. If you’re simply screen mirroring your laptop via HDMI, you should now see the content on your TV.
But if you’re using a Chromecast, proceed to the next step.
Step #6: Open the Chrome browser’s menu by clicking the 3-dot icon. Then click Cast and select your Chromecast device.
How to browse the web on your Samsung TV via Chrome
Step #1: Refer to the guide in the previous section to connect a Chromecast or a laptop to your Samsung TV.
Step #2: Launch the Chrome browser on your laptop.
Step #3: Go to the website you want to view on your Samsung TV.
Step #4: If you’re using a Chromecast, click the 3-dot menu icon. And then, select Cast and click your Chromecast device.
The entire Chrome browser should now be displayed on your Samsung TV.
You’ll still have to use your laptop for typing. But your Samsung TV can essentially be a monitor where you can display the Chrome browser.
Is Chrome the best web browser on Samsung TV?
Chrome isn’t the best web browser on Samsung TV. Rather, it’s the Samsung Internet Browser. This is preinstalled and is built specifically for Samsung devices. And since Samsung created it using Google’s source codes, it also performs about as well as Chrome. So it isn’t really necessary to install another browser on your TV.
Chrome’s still far and away the best web browser. But the Samsung Internet Browser’s also an excellent one.
And considering that it’s the one most compatible with your Samsung TV…
It’s also the best web browser for your device.
However, if the Samsung browser app’s not working…
It’s likely because it’s already outdated.
And since it’s a pre-installed app, you can only update it by also updating your TV. Here’s how:
- Press the Home button on your Samsung remote.
- Navigate to Settings and click it.
- Scroll down to Support and select it.
- Select the Software Update option.
- Click the Update Now button.
Your TV should start installing updates for its firmware and apps.