FunOS

Thorium Browser is an optimized, privacy-respecting Chromium fork known for its speed and wide multimedia support. Built with performance in mind, it offers advanced compiler optimizations and additional features not found in standard Chromium or Google Chrome. This guide will walk you through the complete process of installing and uninstalling Thorium Browser on FunOS, including how to add its repository, launch the browser, and cleanly remove it if needed.

What is Thorium Browser?

Thorium Browser is a Chromium-based web browser enhanced for speed, privacy, and broader media compatibility. Named after the radioactive element Thorium (No. 90), it is designed to deliver a better browsing experience by including features like:

• Support for HEVC/H.265, Widevine DRM, and MPEG-DASH
• Performance optimizations using AVX, SSE4.2, and PGO
• Restored FTP support, JPEG XL, and Live Caption
• Enhanced privacy with DNS-over-HTTPS, Do Not Track enabled by default, and FLoC disabled
• Better Linux desktop integration through patches for font rendering, VAAPI, GTK dark mode, and more

Thorium is updated regularly to track the latest stable version of Chromium and is available for Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, and Raspberry Pi.

How to Install Thorium Browser on FunOS

Step 1: Open a Terminal

There are several ways to open a Terminal in FunOS:

• Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner, then select Terminal
• Click the Terminal icon in the Tray
• Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + T

Step 2: Add the Thorium Repository

Add the official Thorium APT repository by entering the following command:

sudo wget --no-hsts -P /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ http://dl.thorium.rocks/debian/dists/stable/thorium.list

This command downloads the repository configuration file to your system’s sources list directory.

Step 3: Update the Package List

Run the following command to fetch the latest list of packages, including Thorium:

sudo apt update

Step 4: Install Thorium Browser

To install the browser, execute:

sudo apt install thorium-browser

Wait until the installation is complete.

Step 5: Reload the Menu

After installation, reload the JWM menu so that Thorium Browser appears:

• Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner
• Click Reload menu

Launching Thorium Browser

To launch Thorium Browser:

• Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner
• Navigate to the Internet category
• Click Thorium Browser

Alternatively, you can run it from Terminal by typing:

thorium-browser

How to Uninstall Thorium Browser on FunOS

If you no longer need Thorium Browser, follow these steps to completely remove it from your system.

Step 1: Open a Terminal

Use the Menu, Tray icon, or Ctrl + Alt + T shortcut to open a Terminal.

Step 2: Remove Thorium Browser

Run the following command:

sudo apt remove --purge thorium-browser

This will uninstall Thorium and remove its configuration files managed by the package system.

Step 3: Remove Any Unused Dependencies

To clean up any leftover packages that are no longer needed:

sudo apt autoremove --purge

Step 4: Remove the Thorium Repository

Delete the repository file from your system:

sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/thorium.list

Step 5: Update the Package List

Update APT to reflect the removal of the Thorium repository:

sudo apt update

Step 6: Remove User Data (Optional)

To completely remove all user-specific Thorium data:

rm -rf $HOME/.cache/thorium
rm -rf $HOME/.config/thorium

This step is optional but recommended if you want to do a clean reinstallation in the future.

Step 7: Reload the Menu

As with installation, update the JWM menu to remove the Thorium entry:

• Click the Menu button in the lower-left corner
• Click Reload menu

Conclusion

Thorium Browser is an excellent choice for users who want a fast, secure, and feature-rich Chromium alternative. With support for additional codecs, privacy-focused patches, and optimized performance, it’s well-suited for modern web browsing on FunOS. By following the steps above, you can easily install or remove Thorium Browser as needed. Enjoy a more powerful and private browsing experience on your lightweight FunOS system.