SRWare Iron Browser for Windows

SRWare Iron 150.0.7900.0 is a Chromium-based web browser for Windows from SRWare, first presented on 18 September 2008. People download SRWare Iron to get a browser that looks and works like Chrome but sends less data to Google.

What is SRWare Iron?

Soon after Google released Chrome, privacy advocates criticised it for features that could identify users or report usage: a unique client ID, an installation tracking token, automatic suggestions sent while typing in the address bar, error reports and background update services. SRWare took the open-source Chromium code, removed or disabled these parts and released the result as Iron. The idea has stayed the same through many versions. Iron uses the same engine as Chrome, so pages render identically and extensions from the Chrome Web Store work. What changes is behind the scenes: fewer connections to Google's services and settings that start from a more private default. The browser is available for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. The developer announces each new build on its forum, for example the Iron 150.0.7900.0 release post.

How is it different from Chrome?

• No unique client ID and no installation tracking.
• Address bar suggestions do not send your keystrokes to Google by default.
• No automatic error reporting and no background updater.
• Built-in ad blocking through a user-editable list.
• Portable edition available.

Which Windows versions are supported?

Current releases target Windows 10 and newer. For Windows 7 and 8, SRWare keeps a separate Iron 109 download page with installer and portable builds from 2023-02-06 in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. That older line no longer follows new Chromium releases.

How do I install it?

1. Go to the official SRWare Iron page.
2. Choose the installer or the portable version for your system.
3. Run it and import bookmarks from your old browser if needed.
4. Check for new releases on the site from time to time, because there is no automatic updater.

The Windows installer is about 128.04 MB according to catalogue data.

Is it secure?

Privacy and security are not the same. Iron is released after the Chromium code it is based on, so security fixes may reach it later than they reach Chrome, and you have to install updates manually. Keep an eye on new versions and update promptly.

Who is it for?

Iron suits users who like Chrome but prefer fewer background connections, and those who want a portable Chromium build. If you rely on Google account sync across devices, stable Chrome will be more convenient.

Is it free?

Yes, Iron is free to use, distributed under the developer's end-user licence agreement.

Pros and cons

• Pro: fewer data connections to Google.
• Pro: full Chrome extension compatibility.
• Pro: portable version.
• Con: manual updates.
• Con: releases can lag behind Chrome.
• Con: some Google sync features are missing.

What are the alternatives?

Other privacy-minded browsers on our site include Mullvad Browser, DuckDuckGo and Thorium Browser, plus plain Chromium and Cent Browser.