Brave Browser

About this release

Brave is built on the same Chromium engine as the mainstream browsers, so it runs their extensions and renders pages the same way, but it blocks ads and trackers by default from the engine itself rather than through an add on you install afterwards. Because the filtering happens before the page is built, the practical result is pages that load lighter and faster, with less to download and less script running in the background.

The privacy stance runs deeper than blocking. It upgrades connections to encrypted where it can, strips tracking parameters off links, isolates site data so one site cannot follow you to the next, and offers a private window that routes through an anonymity network for the times you want to leave less of a trail. None of it needs configuring, the defaults are the strict setting and you loosen them per site if something breaks.

Everything else is the familiar Chromium browser. Extensions install from the usual store, settings and passwords sync across machines through an account if you want it, and there is a built in reading mode, a video player and tab groups. This is the standalone offline installer, so it sets up without a connection and lands on a fixed version rather than a small web stub.

What it does

• Ad and tracker blocking built into the engine by default
• Chromium base with support for the standard extension store
• Connection upgrading to encrypted where available
• Tracking parameter stripping on links
• Site data isolation so one site cannot follow you to another
• Private window routed through an anonymity network
• Fingerprinting protection with randomised signals
• Settings and password sync across machines
• Built in reading mode, video player and tab groups
• Standalone offline installer that lands on a fixed version

Changes in this version

• Rebased on the current Chromium security baseline
• Improved the default blocking filter lists
• Better performance on script heavy pages
• Reworked the private window connection handling
• Refreshed the offline installer to lock the deployed version

What the package contains

• Brave Browser standalone offline installer
• Both 32-bit and 64-bit payloads
• Notes on adjusting the blocking strictness per site
• Notes on disabling the automatic updater
• Readme with the install order written out step by step

Installation notes

Follow these in order. Most reports of a failed install come from skipping a step rather than from the package itself.

1. Extract the archive to any folder, the installer is self contained.
2. Run the installer, it will set up without needing a connection.
3. Open the browser and set the default search and start page.
4. Adjust the blocking strictness per site if a page misbehaves.
5. Disable the automatic updater if you want the version held.
6. Sign in to sync only if you want settings carried across machines.

System requirements

Things worth knowing

• If a page breaks, loosen the blocking for that one site rather than turning it off everywhere.
• The private anonymity window is slower by nature, use it only when you actually need it.
• The background updater can be disabled if you want the version to stay put.

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Listing information

This entry is catalogued under Internet & Downloaders and carries the tags below. Language coverage is Multilingual, follows the system locale, and the supported platform list is Windows 10, Windows 11. Version 1.93.136 is the current catalogued build, last checked 2 days ago, and the entry has been in the index since it was added 2 years ago.