Best Guide to Deploy Google Chrome Using SCCM | ConfigMgr

Prajwal Desai
Posted by Prajwal Desai
Deploy Google Chrome Using SCCM | ConfigMgr

This guide provides step-by-step instructions to deploy Google Chrome using SCCM. Learn how to set up and manage Chrome Enterprise on your network and devices with this comprehensive guide.

Google provides the essential tools to deploy Chrome Browser for your enterprise. Google also provides instructions, recommendations, and critical considerations for deploying Chrome Browser in an enterprise environment.

The admin tools by the Google team allow administrators to configure, package, and deploy Chrome Browser at the system level. You can also manage policies on an ongoing basis. You can download the latest Chrome browser deployment guide for free. The guide is published by Google and is useful for Windows administrators who want to deploy the Chrome browser to their organization.

This Chrome browser deployment guide will cover the steps to download, package, and deploy Google Chrome enterprise with ConfigMgr. The guide uses the Windows Installer (MSI) version of Chrome Browser for enterprise for deployment, which is available for Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Download Google Chrome Enterprise [MSI Installer]

Before we create an application for the Chrome browser in SCCM, let’s download the Google Chrome Enterprise (offline msi installer). To download the latest version of Google Chrome browser, visit the Google Chrome Enterprise download link.

The Google Chrome browser for enterprise is available for the following operating systems:

  • Chrome for Windows 64-bit
  • Chrome Windows 32-bit
  • Chrome DMG for macOS (x86)
  • Chrome PKG for macOS (x86)
  • Chrome DMG Universal Installer for macOS (x86 and ARM)
  • Chrome PKG Universal Installer for macOS (x86 and ARM)

Since most of the organizations use Windows 10/11 OS, it is recommended you download the Windows 64-bit version of chrome. In case your organization has a mix of 32-bit and 64-bit computers, download both the chrome 64-bit and 32-bit offline installers and package it in SCCM. For your information, when you download Google Chrome enterprise installer, the package includes the following.

  • Chrome MSI Installer
  • ADM/ADMX templates with 300+ user and device policies
  • Legacy Browser Support policy
  • Manageable automatic updates

The Google Chrome Enterprise download is roughly 97.5 MB in size, and it’s an offline installer. This means when you install Chrome on the client computers, it doesn’t require internet connectivity for installation.

When you visit the Chrome download center, choose the following options:

  1. Channel: Stable
  2. File Type: MSI
  3. Architecture: 64 bit

Save the googlechromestandaloneenterprise64.msi to a folder where SCCM can access it. You may also download the icon or logo for Google Chrome. We will assign this logo to the app while creating the application in SCCM, and it will appear in Software Center along with the application for users.

Download Google Chrome Enterprise MSI Installer
Download Google Chrome Enterprise MSI Installer

Create Google Chrome Application in SCCM

Perform the following steps to create a new application for Google Chrome in ConfigMgr.

  • Launch the Configuration Manager console.
  • Navigate to Software Library\Application Management\Applications.
  • Right-click Applications and select Create Application.
Create Google Chrome Application in SCCM
Create Google Chrome Application in SCCM

On the General page, specify the settings for Google Chrome application. Select Automatically detect information about this application from installation files. Select Type as Windows Installer (*.msi file) and specify the location of Google Chrome .msi file. Click Next.

Create Google Chrome Application in SCCM
Create Google Chrome Application in SCCM

The advantage of MSI installers is that SCCM can read the information from the file and import it without any hassle. The following information is imported by SCCM from the Google Chrome enterprise MSI installer.

Application name: Google Chrome
Publisher: 
Software version: 

Deployment type name: Google Chrome - Windows Installer (*.msi file)
Product Code: {5328F9DA-2494-33C9-A12A-C1D73EB09992}
Installation behavior: Install for system

Content location: \\corpcm\sources\Applications\Chrome\
Number of files: 1
Content files: 
     googlechromestandaloneenterprise64.msi
Create Google Chrome Application in SCCM
Create Google Chrome Application in SCCM

On the General Information window, specify the application name, publisher information, software version and other details.

Google Chrome Install Command: msiexec /i “googlechromestandaloneenterprise64.msi” /q

Set the installation behavior to install for system if resource is device, otherwise install for user. Click Next.

Specify Chrome Browser Details
Specify Chrome Browser Details

On the Summary window, verify the Chrome deployment settings and select Next.

Google Chrome Settings
Google Chrome Settings

Close the application wizard. The Google Chrome application now appears under the list of Applications node in the Configuration Manager console.

Create Google Chrome Application in SCCM
Create Google Chrome Application in SCCM

Specify Software Center Icon for Google Chrome

This is an optional configuration step where you specify the logo for the Google Chrome application so that it is visible for users in Software Center. Specifying an icon also makes it easy to locate the applications in the software center.

To specify a new Google Chrome icon in SCCM

  • Launch the SCCM console.
  • Go to Software Library\Overview\Application Management\Applications.
  • Right-click Google Chrome application and select Properties.
  • Under the properties window, select the Software Center Tab. At the bottom, click Browse and select Google Chrome Icon and click Apply.
  • When you click Apply, the Chrome icon shows up next to the icon field. Click OK to close the properties window.
Specify Software Center Icon for Google Chrome
Specify Software Center Icon for Google Chrome

SCCM Google Chrome Detection Method

Configuration Manager allows you to create multiple detection rules to detect the presence of an application on the computer. If the detection method finds the application is already present, the Configuration Manager won’t re-deploy the same application.

After you have created the Google Chrome application in ConfigMgr, let’s take a look at the detection method. The Chrome detection method is visible under the Application deployment properties > Detection Method tab.

SCCM uses the following detection method for Google Chrome enterprise deployment:

  • Setting Type: Windows Installer
  • Product Code: {5328F9DA-2494-33C9-A12A-C1D73EB09992}
SCCM Google Chrome Detection Method
SCCM Google Chrome Detection Method

Distribute the Chrome Browser Content to Distribution Points

In this step, we will ensure the Chrome browser application content is distributed to SCCM distribution points. The application content has to be distributed to all the distribution points before you perform the chrome deployment. In the ConfigMgr console, right-click on the Google Chrome application and select Distribute Content.

Distribute the Chrome Application to Distribution Points
Distribute the Chrome Application to Distribution Points

In the content window, click Next.

Distribute the Chrome Application to Distribution Points
Distribute the Chrome Application to Distribution Points

On the Content Destination window, select the Add button and choose the distribution points to which you want to distribute the content. Click Next.

Specify the Distribution Points
Specify the Distribution Points

On the Completion window, click Close. The Configuration Manager will now distribute the chrome application content to the selected distribution point servers. You can monitor the application distribution status in the Monitoring workspace of the Configuration Manager console. Learn how you can use right click tools to monitor content distribution in SCCM.

Google Chrome Application Distribution to DP
Google Chrome Application Distribution to DP

Deploy Google Chrome using SCCM

We will now deploy Chrome browser using SCCM to a device collection. You can also create a device collection and include a set of devices for testing the application deployment.

To deploy the Google Chrome application in SCCM console, go to Software Library > Application Management > Application. Right-click Google Chrome Enterprise app and select Deploy.

Deploy Google Chrome using SCCM | ConfigMgr
Deploy Google Chrome using SCCM | ConfigMgr

On the General page of Deploy Software Wizard, click Browse and select a device collection to which you want to deploy the Google Chrome browser application. Click Next.

Deploy Google Chrome using SCCM | ConfigMgr
Deploy Google Chrome using SCCM | ConfigMgr

On the Content page, click Add button and specify the distribution points to which you would like to distribute the Chrome browser application content. You may also select distribution point groups. Since we have already distributed the content to distribution points in our previous step, click Next.

Deploy Google Chrome using SCCM | ConfigMgr
Deploy Google Chrome using SCCM | ConfigMgr

On the Deployment Settings window, specify the settings to control the deployment. Select the Action as Install and Purpose as Available. Learn the difference between Available and Required deployment in SCCM. Click Next.

Deploy Google Chrome using SCCM | ConfigMgr
Deploy Google Chrome using SCCM | ConfigMgr

On the Scheduling window, you get the option to schedule or make this app available at specific time. If not the application will be made available as soon as possible to client computers. Click Next.

Deploy Google Chrome using SCCM | ConfigMgr
Deploy Google Chrome using SCCM | ConfigMgr

Specify the User Experience settings for the deployment and click Next.

Specify User Experience Settings
Specify User Experience Settings

The Chrome enterprise application is now distributed to the DP, and the client machines should now have the application listed in the Software Center. This completes the steps for Google Chrome deployment using SCCM. The Chrome application is now visible under the Applications node of the ConfigMgr console.

Deploy Chrome Browser Using SCCM ConfigMgr
Deploy Google Chrome using SCCM ConfigMgr

Test Google Chrome Application Installation on Client Computers

In this section, we will verify if the Google Chrome Enterprise application installs fine on the client computers. Log in to a client computer, and launch the Software center. Click on the Applications tab and select the Google Chrome Enterprise application and click Install.

Test Google Chrome Application Installation on Client Computers
Test Google Chrome Application Installation on Client Computers

The Google Chrome browser application is now downloaded from the local distribution point server for installation. You can review the Chrome application installation progress using AppEnforce.log using the CMtrace log tool. To know the location of this file and other files, refer to the SCCM Log files.

Matched exit code 0 to a Success entry in the exit codes table confirms that the Google Chrome application has been installed successfully. The Google Chrome enterprise application installation is successful.

App enforcement environment: Context: Machine Command line: msiexec /i "GoogleChromeStandaloneEnterprise64.msi" /q
 Allow user interaction: No    UI mode: 1
 User token: null Session Id: 1
 Content path: C:\Windows\ccmcache\e
 Working directory:     AppEnforce
 Prepared working directory: C:\Windows\ccmcache\e
 Found executable file msiexec with complete path C:\Windows\system32\msiexec.exe
 Prepared command line: "C:\Windows\system32\msiexec.exe" /i "GoogleChromeStandaloneEnterprise64.msi" /q /qn
 Valid MSI Package path = C:\Windows\ccmcache\e\GoogleChromeStandaloneEnterprise64.msi
 Advertising MSI package [C:\Windows\ccmcache\e\GoogleChromeStandaloneEnterprise64.msi] to the system.
 Executing Command line: "C:\Windows\system32\msiexec.exe" /i "GoogleChromeStandaloneEnterprise64.msi" /q /qn with user context
 Working directory C:\Windows\ccmcache\e
 Post install behavior is BasedOnExitCode
 Waiting for process 4532 to finish.  Timeout = 120 minutes.
 Process 4532 terminated with exitcode: 0
 Looking for exit code 0 in exit codes table…
 Matched exit code 0 to a Success entry in exit codes table.
Test Google Chrome Application Installation on Client Computers
Test Google Chrome Application Installation on Client Computers

Deploy Google Chrome Updates with SCCM

I am sure by now, you know that to deploy Chrome browser using ConfigMgr is easy. Chrome checks for new updates regularly, and when an update is available, Chrome applies it automatically when you close and reopen the browser.

A user can manually check for new Chrome Updates and install them with following steps:

  • On your computer, launch the Google Chrome app.
  • At the top right, click More. Click Help > About Google Chrome.
  • If you are running the latest version of Chrome, you will see Google Chrome is up-to-date.
  • If not, click Update Google Chrome. After the updates install, click Relaunch.

Manually updating the Chrome browser is not a solution for large organizations. Moreover, not all users are aware of the steps to update the Chrome browser when there is a zero-day patch released for Chrome.

But what about deploying the Google Chrome browser updates using SCCM? How do I push the Chrome updates to endpoints and keep them updated to the latest version? The answer is using the third-party patching solutions integrated with SCCM.

Google doesn’t provide catalogs that you can import into SCCM and deploy the updates. Read SCCM catalogs for third-part software updates. In such cases, you can use third-party tools such as ManageEngine, PatchMyPC that will ensure the latest updates for Chrome and other applications are pushed via SCCM. These tools integrate with SCCM and efficiently deploy Chrome updates to endpoints.

For instance, if you are running Patch My PC in your setup, you can quickly synchronize the Google Chrome updates into the SCCM console. All you need to do is select the Google Chrome product under the Updates section and run the publishing service. Once the Google Chrome updates are synchronized in SCCM, you can deploy it similar to software updates deployment.

Deploy Google Chrome Updates with SCCM
Deploy Google Chrome Updates with SCCM

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Prajwal Desai
Posted by Prajwal Desai
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Prajwal Desai is a Microsoft MVP in Intune and SCCM. He writes articles on SCCM, Intune, Windows 365, Windows Server, Windows 11, WordPress and other topics, with the goal of providing people with useful information.
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