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henrypp/chrlauncher

Free

Small and very fast portable launcher and updater for Chromium.

FreeFree tier
Type
Open Source
Visit Website GitHub (38 stars)

About henrypp/chrlauncher

Chrlauncher is a small, fast, and portable launcher and updater specifically designed for Chromium on Windows. It can also launch any Chromium-based or Firefox-based browser as a launcher, but only updates Chromium. The tool supports auto-downloading updates, command-line arguments, setting Chromium as the default browser, and integration with Chrome++ to disable profile encryption. It runs on Windows 7 through 11 in both 32-bit and 64-bit environments requiring an SSE2-capable CPU. Configuration is handled via a simple .ini file.

Key Features

Portable executable (no installation required)
Automatically downloads and installs Chromium updates
Supports Chromium-based and Firefox-based browsers as launcher
Can set Chromium as the default system browser
Chrome++ integration (disables profile encryption)
Command-line arguments for advanced control
Configurable via .ini file
Lightweight and fast
Runs on Windows 7–11, 32/64-bit, SSE2 CPU required

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Extremely lightweight (under 1 MB)
  • Very fast execution and updates
  • Portable – no installation or admin rights needed
  • Supports both Chromium and Firefox as launcher
  • Auto-download option for updates
  • Customizable via command-line and .ini
  • Works with Chrome++ for better privacy
Cons
  • Only updates Chromium, not Firefox-based browsers
  • Windows-only (no Linux/macOS support)
  • Setting as default browser requires manual steps (batch and Control Panel)
  • No graphical user interface; configuration is text-based
  • Does not manage multiple browser profiles out of the box

Best For

Keeping a portable Chromium installation updated without bloatUsing Chromium as a lightweight daily browserTesting different Chromium builds easilyAutomating Chromium updates in a portable environmentSetting up a portable browser suite with multiple engines

FAQ

What browsers can chrlauncher launch?
Chrlauncher can launch any Chromium-based browser (e.g., Google Chrome, Opera, Vivaldi) and any Firefox-based browser (e.g., Mozilla Firefox, Basilisk, Pale Moon, Waterfox) as a launcher. However, it only updates Chromium.
How do I set Chromium as my default browser using chrlauncher?
Run the included SetDefaultBrowser.bat file as administrator, then go to Control Panel > Default Programs > Set your default programs, select chrlauncher, and set all checkboxes.
What is Chrome++ and how does chrlauncher support it?
Chrome++ is a tool that disables Chromium's encryption of the user profile with the user SID. Chrlauncher added support for Chrome++ starting with version 2.7. It is recommended to use Chrome++ with chrlauncher.
Can chrlauncher automatically download updates?
Yes, if you set ChromiumAutoDownload=true in the .ini file, chrlauncher will automatically download and install updates. By default, it only shows a tray tip and updates manually.
What are the system requirements?
Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, or 11 (32-bit or 64-bit) with an SSE2-capable CPU. Windows 7 also requires KB2533623 and KB3063858 updates.