How to Repair Google Chrome: Easy Troubleshooting Guide

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Diagnose, repair, and restore Chrome like a pro
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This wikiHow teaches you how to fix common errors in the Google Chrome web browser and uninstall and reinstall Chrome on Windows, Mac, & iPhone/iPad. Most common errors in Google Chrome stem from having too many tabs or programs open, but other common issues can be fixed with utilities built right into Chrome. Read on to learn the best ways to repair Chrome on your PC, Mac, or mobile device, with expert advice from computer technicians Chiara Corsaro and Michael Thompson-Brown.

Chrome Repair: What to Know

If Chrome freezes or crashes, close excess tabs and apps running in the background. Force-close and reopen Chrome, or use Chrome's task manager utility to identify and stop problem extensions and tabs. Reset Chrome in Settings, or uninstall and reinstall the browser.

Method 1
Method 1 of 9:

Basic Fixes

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  1. If a certain tab is not responding or frozen, you might be able to make it respond by closing other open tabs—especially if you have many open tabs. Try closing every tab except the frozen one to see if it unfreezes.
  2. Chrome will sometimes fail to load websites or freeze if too many applications are running on your computer. Try closing any programs you're not using, including background programs, to see if Chrome starts working again.
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  3. If Chrome is crashing, freezing, unresponsive, or slowing down, sometimes all you'll need to do is close and reopen the browser. If the browser won't close or reopen, you might have to end the processes manually before restarting. Here's how:
    • Windows:
      • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc at the same time to open Task Manager .
      • Find any apps or processes called "Google Chrome."
      • Select any running processes and click End Task .
    • Mac:
      • With Chrome open, press Option + Command + Esc to force-quit. [1]
      • Select Google Chrome and click the Force Quit button.
      • Open Activity Monitor .
      • Select any Google Chrome processes that are still running.
      • Click the Stop button ( x ) and select Force Quit . [2]
  4. Sometimes the hardware acceleration feature in Chrome can cause problems, including crashes. Fortunately, it's easy to turn this feature off:
    • Click the three-dot menu and select Settings .
    • Click System in the left panel.
    • Turn off "Use hardware acceleration" and restart Chrome.
  5. Especially if you haven't powered down your computer in a few days, restarting your computer will help Chrome run faster with fewer crashes.
  6. Check your internet connection . If your connection is slow, your network is busy, or there's a problem with your router, 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).
  7. Run a malware check on your computer. If Chrome is loading weird pages or your home page recently changed without your input, you may have a virus on your computer. Running a virus check should eliminate the virus.
    • Thompson-Brown explains that while malware tends to hide itself really well, you may be able to identify it by opening your task manager to see what is running.
    • If you're not comfortable scanning for malware yourself, or you can't remove malware identified by your antivirus software, Thompson-Brown recommends contacting a professional.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 9:

Quitting Unresponsive Tabs & Extensions

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  1. If you are having trouble with a particular tab or extension, you can use the Chrome task manager, a built-in Chrome repair utility, to end its process.
  2. This option is near the bottom of the drop-down menu.
  3. You'll see a Task Manager window open.
  4. To close a tab or extension, click a running process, then click the End process button.
    • Tabs are prefaced with "Tab," and Extensions are prefaced with "Extension." In most cases, you won't want to close any other processes.
    • You can sort the list of open tabs and running processes in order based on how taxing they are on your system. To sort by RAM usage, click the Memory footprint column heading. To sort by processor power, click the CPU column heading.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 9:

Installing Updates

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  1. It's in the top-right corner of the Chrome window. A drop-down menu will appear.
  2. 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.
  3. This opens Chrome's "About" page, which will automatically check for and install any available updates. If an update requires a restart, you will be prompted to restart Chrome once it is finished.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 9:

Disabling Extensions

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  1. This menu is in the top-right corner of Chrome. A drop-down menu will appear.
  2. Another menu will expand.
  3. This opens a page that contains all of your 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.
    EXPERT TIP

    Michael Thompson-Brown

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    Michael Thompson-Brown is a Cybersecurity Expert based in Portland, Maine. He is the owner and founder of PCRescue!, a company that provides cybersecurity and data management solutions to small businesses and individuals. Michael has over 25 years of experience in the IT industry and is a certified ethical hacker. He is passionate about helping clients protect their data and systems from malicious attacks and helping them optimize their online presence and reach. He received a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance from Western Governors University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
    Michael Thompson-Brown
    Cybersecurity Expert

    Don't use a browser extension unless you know what it is. Extensions for Google products are okay, but watch out for extensions that you don't recognize or aren't well-known. If you don't recognize the company name right away, remove it.

  5. This will prevent the extension from running. You'll need to repeat this process for each extension you want to uninstall.
    • You can also delete the extension by clicking Remove beneath it.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 9:

Clearing Cookies, History, & Cache

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  1. It's in the top-right corner of the Chrome window. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu.
  2. You'll see this on the menu. A window with several options will appear.
  3. If it doesn't open by default, select it now.
  4. To repair problems in Chrome, it's best to leave all three options ("Browsing history," "Cookies and other site data," and "Cached images and files") checked.
  5. This ensures you're deleting all of your cache, history, and cookies, not just those saved recently.
  6. This clears your cache, cookies, and browsing history in Chrome. [3]
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Method 6
Method 6 of 9:

Resetting Chrome

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  1. It's in the top-right corner of Chrome. If Chrome still isn't working right, you can use this method to reset Chrome to its default settings.
  2. Your Chrome settings will open.
  3. You will see this in the left panel just beneath "System."
  4. A confirmation window will appear, asking if you want to disable all extensions, reset Chrome settings and shortcuts, and delete cookies and site data.
    • Resetting Chrome will not affect your bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history. [4]
  5. This restores Chrome to its default settings.
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Method 7
Method 7 of 9:

Uninstalling and Reinstalling on Windows

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  1. Whether you're using Windows 10 or Windows 11, you'll find Settings in the Start menu. You can also access Settings using the keyboard shortcut Windows key + i .
    • If Chrome is still open, close it first.
    • If you've already tried to uninstall Chrome but it won't uninstall, reboot your computer, then try again.
  2. This option is on the Settings page. If you're using Windows 11, you'll see it in the left panel.
  4. If you're using Windows 10, clicking it will bring up some buttons. On Windows 11, click the three dots next to "Google Chrome" to bring up the menu.
  5. It's below Google Chrome.
  6. Doing so will remove Google Chrome from your computer.
  7. Go to https://www.google.com/chrome . You'll need to do this in a different browser, such as Microsoft Edge or Firefox.
  8. It's the blue button.
  9. This downloads the Chrome installer to your computer.
  10. It's called ChromeSetup.exe , and you'll find it in your default download folder.
  11. You'll typically have to click Yes to allow the installer to run, and then review the terms. Once Chrome is finished installing, it will be added to your app list.
    • If you can't uninstall Chrome, it may be because Chrome processes are still running in the background. The best way to stop them is to restart your PC, then uninstall again. If that doesn't help, download and install Chrome again—this should make it so you can uninstall it without problems.
    • If uninstalling and reinstalling doesn't repair Chrome, or you still can't reinstall, follow these steps:
      • Make sure Chrome isn't running, including background processes.
      • If you haven't already, uninstall Chrome.
      • Press Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
      • Click your Windows drive, usually (C:), in the left panel.
      • Navigate to the Google folder by opening these folders: Users > (your username) > AppData > Local > Google .
      • Right-click the "Chrome" folder and select Delete .
      • Click your C: drive again in the left panel.
      • Go to this location by opening each folder: Program Files (x86) > Google .
      • Right-click the "Chrome" folder and select Delete .
      • Reinstall Chrome.
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Method 8
Method 8 of 9:

Uninstalling and Reinstalling on Mac

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  1. If Chrome is still open, control-click the Chrome icon in your dock and select Quit to close it. [5]
  2. Click the blue, face-shaped icon in your Mac's Dock.
  3. You'll see it in the left panel.
  4. Just click and drag the icon to your Trash to delete the application. Alternatively, you can click Google Chrome once, click the Edit menu, and select Delete .
    • According to Corsaro, uninstalling Chrome may ask you to enter your password. If prompted, enter the password you use to access your Mac.
  5. Go to https://www.google.com/chrome . You'll need to do this in a different browser, such as Safari.
  6. It's the blue button.
  7. This downloads the Chrome installer to your computer.
  8. It will be in your Mac's default downloads location (e.g., the Downloads folder).
  9. This will install Chrome on your Mac.
    • If prompted, you'll have to enter your Mac's password before continuing.
  10. If you're running into Chrome problems after reinstalling, you might need to delete your Chrome installation folder after uninstalling. Uninstall Chrome again, then follow these steps:
    • Open Finder.
    • Click the Go menu and select Go to Folder .
    • Type or paste ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome and click Go .
    • Select all the folders with your mouse, then drag the selected folders to the Trash.
    • Reinstall Chrome.
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Method 9
Method 9 of 9:

Uninstalling and Reinstalling on iPhone

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  1. A menu will expand.
  2. A confirmation message will appear.
  3. This will delete Chrome and any saved profile information, such as your bookmarks and history, from your iPhone or iPad. [6]
  4. It's at the bottom-right corner of the App Store.
  5. Type google chrome into the search bar at the top, then tap Google Chrome in the search results.
  6. Since you've installed Chrome before, you will see a cloud icon with an arrow pointing down. Tapping it will reinstall Chrome on your iPhone or iPad.
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Community Q&A

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  • 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."
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  • 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.
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  • 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.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102586
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/activity-monitor/quit-a-process-actmntr1002/mac
      3. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/32050?sjid=8548295895752550781-NC
      4. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/3296214?visit_id=638730122073680996-1778218535&p=ui_reset_settings&rd=1
      5. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95319?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop#zippy=%2Cwindows%2Cmac
      6. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95319?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS

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