Yandex Browser
Also called yandex, яндекс браузер
A Chromium browser from Yandex with Alice and Yandex services. On Windows the process is browser.exe.
What you need to know
Yandex Browser is browser.exe. It is not Chrome.
Yandex ships a Chromium browser with Alice and Yandex services. chrome.exe under Google is Chrome. Extra browser.exe rows are still this product.
- What is it?
- Web browser
- Still current?
- Yes, see Current status
- Official download?
- Use the vendor link in this article
What is Yandex Browser?
Yandex Browser is Yandex's Chromium desktop browser. The Windows executable is browser.exe under a Yandex folder.
If you have never used it
If you were told to install Yandex Browser, this is Yandex Chromium, not Google Chrome. Download it from browser.yandex.com. The process is browser.exe, not chrome.exe. Alice and Yandex search are Yandex features. Uninstalling Chrome does not remove this browser.
What is it used for?
Daily tabs on the same engine family as Chrome, with Yandex defaults.
Account, Translate, and other Yandex surfaces. Chrome does not ship these.
Optional voice assistant Yandex markets in the browser. It is not Cortana and not Chrome.
Who is it for?
- People who already live in a Yandex account
- Users whose region or workplace standardizes on Yandex Browser
- Anyone who saw browser.exe and assumed Chrome
Current status
Yandex Browser (2012) is a current web browser from Yandex. The vendor still points Windows users at https://browser.yandex.com/.
How old is it?
Yandex shipped the browser in 2012 on Chromium. It is newer than Chrome (2008) and much newer than IE. Current Windows builds still bundle Yandex services.
Versions
Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.
System requirements
Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.
Minimum
| Operating system | A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per the vendor |
|---|---|
| RAM | Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more. |
Resource profile
- CPU demand
- Follows what you open inside the app
- RAM demand
- Follows documents, tabs, or libraries
Installed processes
These executables belong to this product when it is installed.
| browser.exe | Main Windows executable |
|---|
Startup components
Yandex Browser can keep background apps and start with Windows from its own settings.
File locations
| Typical install | C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Local\Yandex\YandexBrowser\ |
|---|
File formats
Common problems
People end chrome.exe to fix Yandex
Wrong exe. Yandex is browser.exe under a Yandex path.
Unexpected Yandex search after install
That is the browser default, not a Windows hijack by itself. Change search in Yandex settings.
Getting unstuck
Open file location on browser.exe
A Yandex\YandexBrowser path is this product. Google\Chrome is Chrome.
Use yandex.com/support/browser
Sync, Alice, and crash help live there. Chrome Help will not name Alice.
Install from browser.yandex.com
A Yandex turbo browser listing is junk.
Alternatives
Chrome or Edge if you want Chromium without Yandex services. Firefox if you want Gecko.
Official help and downloads
Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.
| Download | browser.yandex.com/ Official installer or vendor page |
|---|---|
| Help | yandex.com/support/browser/ Vendor support |
| Official site | browser.yandex.com/ Start here, not a random exe host |
Related hardware
RAM and a current GPU driver, same class as other Chromium browsers.
Technical details
Technical details
Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.
- Yandex Browser official site · Vendor product page
- Yandex Browser help · Vendor support
- Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.
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