diff --git chrome/common/media/component_widevine_cdm_hint_file_linux.cc chrome/common/media/component_widevine_cdm_hint_file_linux.cc
index 85a55fdd22a4f..0b935334136cb 100644
--- chrome/common/media/component_widevine_cdm_hint_file_linux.cc
+++ chrome/common/media/component_widevine_cdm_hint_file_linux.cc
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include "base/path_service.h"
 #include "base/values.h"
 #include "chrome/common/chrome_paths.h"
+#include "third_party/widevine/cdm/widevine_cdm_common.h"
 
 namespace {
 
@@ -37,14 +38,33 @@ base::FilePath GetPath(const base::Value& dict) {
   return path;
 }
 
+// On Linux the Widevine CDM is loaded into the zygote at startup. When the
+// component updater runs sometime later and finds a newer version of the
+// Widevine CDM, don't register it as the newer version can't be used. Instead,
+// save the path to the new Widevine CDM in this file. Next time at startup this
+// file will be checked, and if it references a usable Widevine CDM, use this
+// version instead of the old (potentially bundled) CDM.
+// Add this method instead of using chrome::FILE_COMPONENT_WIDEVINE_CDM_HINT
+// because only directories (not files) can be configured via
+// base::PathService::Override.
+bool GetHintFilePath(base::FilePath* hint_file_path) {
+  base::FilePath user_data_dir;
+  if (!base::PathService::Get(chrome::DIR_USER_DATA, &user_data_dir))
+    return false;
+  // Match the file name in chrome/common/chrome_paths.cc
+  *hint_file_path = user_data_dir
+      .AppendASCII(kWidevineCdmBaseDirectory)
+      .Append(FILE_PATH_LITERAL("latest-component-updated-widevine-cdm"));
+  return true;
+}
+
 }  // namespace
 
 bool UpdateWidevineCdmHintFile(const base::FilePath& cdm_base_path) {
   DCHECK(!cdm_base_path.empty());
 
   base::FilePath hint_file_path;
-  CHECK(base::PathService::Get(chrome::FILE_COMPONENT_WIDEVINE_CDM_HINT,
-                               &hint_file_path));
+  CHECK(GetHintFilePath(&hint_file_path));
 
   base::Value dict(base::Value::Type::DICTIONARY);
   dict.SetStringPath(kPath, cdm_base_path.value());
@@ -62,8 +82,7 @@ bool UpdateWidevineCdmHintFile(const base::FilePath& cdm_base_path) {
 
 base::FilePath GetLatestComponentUpdatedWidevineCdmDirectory() {
   base::FilePath hint_file_path;
-  CHECK(base::PathService::Get(chrome::FILE_COMPONENT_WIDEVINE_CDM_HINT,
-                               &hint_file_path));
+  CHECK(GetHintFilePath(&hint_file_path));
 
   if (!base::PathExists(hint_file_path)) {
     DVLOG(2) << "CDM hint file at " << hint_file_path << " does not exist.";