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This wikiHow teaches you how to fix common errors in the Google Chrome desktop browser, as well as how to uninstall and reinstall the Chrome browser on both desktop and iPhone. Most common errors in Google Chrome stem from using an unsupported version of Chrome or having too many programs or data inside of Chrome.

Part 1
Part 1 of 9:

Basic Fixes

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  1. Especially if you haven't powered down your computer in a few days, restarting your computer will help Chrome run faster with fewer crashes.
  2. Check your Internet connection . If your router isn't working properly or your computer isn't connecting to the network correctly, you'll notice slow load times and error pages. You can generally solve Wi-Fi problems by moving closer to the router and closing background apps that take up large amounts of bandwidth (e.g., Netflix).
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  3. Google Chrome requires the following specifications:
    • Windows - Windows 7 or later.
    • Mac - Mac OS X 10.9 or later.
  4. Run a malware check on your computer. If Chrome is loading weird pages or your home page recently changed without any input, you may have a virus on your computer. Running a virus check should eliminate the virus.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 9:

Updating Chrome

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  1. If you can't open Google Chrome, you'll need to uninstall it from your Windows , Mac , or iPhone .
  2. It's in the top-right corner of the Chrome window. A drop-down menu will appear.
  3. You'll find this option near the bottom of the drop-down menu. A pop-out menu will appear next to the drop-down menu.
  4. It's in the pop-out window. Doing so will take you to the update page; if there is an update available for Google Chrome, it will automatically install.
    • You will be prompted restart Chrome by clicking Restart Chrome after updating.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 9:

Quitting Unresponsive Tabs

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  1. It's in the top-right corner of the window. A drop-down menu will appear.
  2. This option is near the bottom of the drop-down menu. Selecting it prompts a pop-out window next to the drop-down menu.
  3. It's in the pop-out window. You'll see a Task Manager window open.
  4. Click one tab to select it, or hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) while clicking individual tab names to select them independently.
  5. It's a blue button in the bottom-right corner of the window. Doing so will immediately close the tab(s).
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Part 4
Part 4 of 9:

Disabling Extensions

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  1. This option is in the top-right corner of the window. A drop-down menu will appear.
  2. You'll find it near the bottom of the drop-down menu.
  3. This is in the More tools pop-out menu. Clicking it opens a new tab with a list of your currently installed Chrome extensions.
  4. Usually, sudden Chrome issues stem from recently installed extensions, so look for an extension that you installed within the last few days.
    • Chrome can also become unstable if you install too many extensions at once, so consider disabling nonessential extensions as well.
  5. This will prevent the extension from running. You'll need to repeat this process for each extension that you want to uninstall.
    • You can also delete the extension by clicking the trash can icon across from it and then clicking Remove when prompted.
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Part 5
Part 5 of 9:

Clearing Cookies and History

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  1. It's in the top-right corner of the Chrome window. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu.
  2. This option is near the bottom of the drop-down menu. The Settings page will open.
  3. It's at the very bottom of the page. More options will appear below the Advanced option.
  4. You'll find this option near the bottom of the "Privacy and security" group of options.
  5. Click each unchecked box on this window to ensure that all options are checked.
  6. It's at the top of the window.
  7. This option erases all of your data, not just the data from the last week, day, or so on.
  8. It's a blue button at the bottom of the window. Doing so will clear your Chrome browser's history, cookies, passwords, and other data.
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Part 6
Part 6 of 9:

Resetting Chrome

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  1. It's in the top-right corner of the window. A drop-down menu will appear.
  2. You'll find this at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
  3. It's at the very bottom of the page. More options will appear below this point.
  4. This option is at the bottom of the page.
  5. Doing so will reset Chrome to fresh install settings. Your saved data, bookmarks, extensions, and settings will all be removed or restored to default.
    • If this doesn't fix Google Chrome on your computer, you'll need to uninstall and reinstall Chrome entirely.
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Part 7
Part 7 of 9:

Uninstalling and Reinstalling Chrome on Windows

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  1. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  2. Click the gear-shaped icon in the lower-left side of the Start menu.
  3. This option is on the Settings page.
  4. It's a tab on the left side of the page.
  5. You'll find Google Chrome in the "G" section of apps. Clicking it will expand a menu below the Chrome icon.
  6. It's below Google Chrome.
  7. Doing so will remove Google Chrome from your computer.
  8. Go to the Google Chrome download page . You'll need to do this in a different browser, such as Microsoft Edge or Firefox.
  9. It's a blue button in the middle of the page.
  10. This button is at the bottom of the pop-up window. Chrome will begin downloading.
  11. You'll find it in your selected browser's default downloads folder (e.g., the Downloads folder or the Desktop ).
  12. Doing so will allow Chrome to begin installing.
  13. This will only take a minute or so. Once Chrome finishes installing, a new Chrome window will open.
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Part 8
Part 8 of 9:

Uninstalling and Reinstalling Chrome on Mac

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  1. Click the blue, face-shaped icon in your Mac's Dock.
  2. This menu item is at the top of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
  3. It's near the bottom of the Go drop-down menu.
  4. You'll find a Google Chrome icon in this folder; once you do, click it to select it.
  5. This menu item is in the top-left corner of the screen. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu.
  6. It's near the middle of the drop-down menu.
  7. You'll find the Trash Can in your Mac's Dock. Clicking and holding it will bring up a pop-up menu.
  8. It's in the pop-up menu.
  9. Doing so will permanently delete all of the Trash Can's contents, including Google Chrome.
  10. Go to the Google Chrome download page . You'll need to do this in a different browser like Safari or Firefox.
  11. It's a blue button in the middle of the window.
  12. This option is at the bottom of the pop-up window. Chrome will begin downloading.
  13. It will be in your Mac's default downloads location (e.g., the Downloads folder).
  14. This will install Chrome on your Mac.
    • If prompted, you'll have to enter your Mac's password before continuing.
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Part 9
Part 9 of 9:

Uninstalling and Reinstalling Chrome on iPhone

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  1. It's the red, green, yellow, and blue sphere on a white background. You should see the app begin to shake.
  2. It's in the top-left corner of the app icon.
  3. This will remove Chrome from your iPhone.
  4. It's a blue app with a white "A" on it.
  5. This tab is in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
  6. It's the grey bar near the top of the screen that has "App Store" in it.
  7. It's a blue button in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Doing so will search for the Chrome app.
  8. This button is to the right of the Chrome app icon.
  9. You can also scan your fingerprint if your iPhone has a Touch ID sensor.
  10. Once it does, you'll be able to open it and use it like usual.
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Community Q&A

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Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I access my extensions on Google Chrome?
    Community Answer
    Go to the upper right hand corner. Click the symbol that has 3 horizontal lines. It should open a menu. Hover your mouse over "More tools" and click "Extensions."
  • Question
    What do I do if Chrome is not closing properly?
    Community Answer
    Open up Task Manager by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Delete. End the process.
  • Question
    How can I remove a virus from Chrome when the Chrome Cleanup tool crashes the computer?
    Community Answer
    Running an antivirus, such as Malwarebytes or McAfee, should solve the problem. If not, try uninstalling Chrome, scanning your computer with an antivirus, and then reinstalling Chrome.
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      Tips

      • Most Chrome issues you'll experience will come from lack of updating or a surplus of data (e.g., extensions, cookies, etc.). Thankfully, these issues are easily fixed.
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      Warnings

      • You should never have to contact Google support or give out your account information to repair Google Chrome.
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