Thorium

🌐 Thorium — Optimized Chromium Browser

Thorium is a Chromium-based web browser that aims to combine a familiar browsing experience with performance-focused builds, additional customization, and useful changes to Chromium's default behavior. It retains the familiar foundations of Chromium while adding its own patches, interface options, and privacy-related controls.

⚡ Performance and Media

- Uses compiler and linker optimizations, including ThinLTO and Profile-Guided Optimization (PGO), in supported release builds. - Provides architecture-specific builds designed for different processors. - Expands media support with additional codecs and playback options where supported by the platform. - Offers platform-specific builds for Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, and other supported systems through separate repositories.

🎨 Browser Customization

- Provides additional tab-management options and interface controls. - Supports themes, tab behavior adjustments, and other configurable browsing features. - Includes a customizable download experience, with parallel downloading enabled by default in the documented configuration. - Offers Chromium-compatible internal pages and settings.

🔒 Privacy and Extensions

- Includes Global Privacy Control support and changes to selected Chromium privacy defaults. - Provides controls related to history retention, clearing data on exit, and encrypted ClientHello where supported. - Supports browser extensions, including Manifest V2 compatibility and an extension toggle menu. - Includes uBlock Origin preinstallation for supported new profiles when the relevant Chromium provider processes them; existing profiles may behave differently.

Some features depend on the operating system, build variant, browser profile, and available components.

📱 Platform Compatibility

Thorium is a multi-platform project. Android builds are distributed separately and support ARM32 and ARM64 devices. Always choose a release built for your device and platform; some optimized desktop builds require specific CPU instruction sets.

📜 License

The linked Thorium repository identifies its project license as the BSD 3-Clause License. This permits use, modification, and redistribution subject to its conditions, including preservation of copyright and license notices. Chromium and bundled components may have separate license terms.

⚠️ Important Disclaimer

Thorium is an independent Chromium-based project, not Google Chrome. Extension compatibility, media playback, and certain features may vary across platforms and releases. Use official project releases and select the correct build for your device.

A familiar Chromium experience, with more control and performance-focused builds.