diff --git chrome/common/media/component_widevine_cdm_hint_file_linux.cc chrome/common/media/component_widevine_cdm_hint_file_linux.cc
index 1084e82141790..ebd1b051d81b9 100644
--- chrome/common/media/component_widevine_cdm_hint_file_linux.cc
+++ chrome/common/media/component_widevine_cdm_hint_file_linux.cc
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include "base/values.h"
 #include "base/version.h"
 #include "chrome/common/chrome_paths.h"
+#include "third_party/widevine/cdm/widevine_cdm_common.h"
 
 #if BUILDFLAG(IS_CHROMEOS_LACROS)
 #include "base/command_line.h"
@@ -32,6 +33,26 @@ namespace {
 const char kPath[] = "Path";
 const char kLastBundledVersion[] = "LastBundledVersion";
 
+// 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+// component updater runs sometime later and finds a newer version of the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;
+}
+
 // Returns the hint file contents as a Value::Dict. Returned result may be an
 // empty dictionary if the hint file does not exist or is formatted incorrectly.
 base::Value::Dict GetHintFileContents() {
@@ -58,8 +79,7 @@ base::Value::Dict GetHintFileContents() {
   hint_file_path = command_line->GetSwitchValuePath(
       switches::kCrosWidevineComponentUpdatedHintFile);
 #else
-  CHECK(base::PathService::Get(chrome::FILE_COMPONENT_WIDEVINE_CDM_HINT,
-                               &hint_file_path));
+  CHECK(GetHintFilePath(&hint_file_path));
 #endif  // BUILDFLAG(IS_CHROMEOS_LACROS)
 
   DVLOG(1) << __func__ << " checking " << hint_file_path;
@@ -98,8 +118,7 @@ bool UpdateWidevineCdmHintFile(const base::FilePath& cdm_base_path,
   NOTREACHED_NORETURN() << "Lacros should not be updating the hint file.";
 #else
   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 dict;
   dict.Set(kPath, cdm_base_path.value());