Google Chrome does not open for different reasons. It is possible that the browser is already running in the background, or that your antivirus is blocking the software from opening, for example. Another possibility is that the computer memory is full and therefore unable to load the browser pages while running other processes and programs. The good news is that some simple actions, such as closing Chrome-related processes, disabling the antivirus temporarily, and opening the browser without extensions, can help solve the problem. In the list below, check out six things to do when Google Chrome won’t open on your PC.
1. Close all Chrome-related processes
If your Chrome won’t open, it may be already running, but in the background. In this case, it is important to close all browser-related processes to fix the problem. To do this, right-click on the taskbar and open the “Task Manager” option. Then find and select the “Google Chrome” or “chrome.exe” process and click the “End Task” button located at the bottom right. After performing the procedure, open the browser again to check if the problem persists.
2. Change Chrome’s compatibility settings
If you use older versions of Windows, Chrome may not open correctly due to a lack of compatibility with your system. The solution, therefore, is to change the compatibility settings so that the browser runs on Windows 7, Windows 8, or other versions released not long ago.
To change them, right-click on the Chrome shortcut on the desktop. Then select “Properties” and then “Compatibility”, the option on the top bar. In this tab, check the topic “Run this program in compatibility with” and select your Windows version. Then click the “Apply” button and make sure that Google Chrome opens.
3. Open Chrome without Extensions
If Google Chrome does not load pages, you can try to open them without extensions. This is because your computer may have run out of enough memory to be able to load a page while also running applications, extensions, and programs. Therefore, you may need to free up your memory to get Chrome to start without problems.
The procedure is simple: Just close all tabs except the one showing the error message. Then also exit other running applications or programs and pause any downloads. Next, uninstall unnecessary extensions. To do this, on the right side of the address bar, look for the extension’s icon, right-click it, and go to the “Remove from Chrome” option.
If you cannot see the extension’s icon, click on the three dots, also on the upper right side of the screen, select “More tools” and then “Extensions”. Then press “Remove” on the extension you wish to delete. After you have done this, try reloading the page that had problems.
4. Disable your antivirus temporarily
Another possibility is that the Google Chrome.exe file could be blocked by your antivirus. If this is the problem, one solution is to temporarily disable the program. In the case of Windows Defender, simply press the Win + I keys to open the settings. Then go to “Update & Security” and in the left sidebar click on “Windows Security”. Then on the right side click “Open Windows Security” and “Virus & Threat Protection”. Then click on “Manage settings” and disable real-time protection by turning off the button.
Other security software can easily be disabled or temporarily suspended from the settings. After doing so, check whether the problem with Chrome has been solved. If the glitch persists, try one of the other options from this list and remember to re-enable the antivirus.
5. Restart your computer
One of the simplest and most practical solutions to solve the problem with Chrome is to restart your computer. This is because running programs, applications, or processes may prevent a web page from loading and working correctly. Restarting the machine will terminate them. After restarting, try reloading the Chrome page to see if the problem continues.
6. Uninstall and reinstall Chrome
If the above alternatives do not work, you can still uninstall and reinstall Chrome. This solution can fix problems related to the search engine, pop-ups, updates, or other reasons that prevent the browser from opening correctly. However, before uninstalling the program, you should delete all Chrome data from the Appdata folder as it contains browser settings that can be corrupted and cause further problems.
Press Win + R keys to open the Run window. Then type “appwiz.CPL” in the text box and hit OK. Once you have done this, double-click Google Chrome to uninstall it. Then open the Run window again by pressing Win + R. This time type “Appdata” and select OK. Go to the “Local” folder, right-click on the Google folder, and select “Delete”.
To install Chrome again, go to the browser’s download page (https://www.google.com/chrome/) and download the browser. If prompted, click “run” or “save”. If you have chosen the “save” option, double-click the download to start the installation. Then simply click on “open file”. If the question “Do you want to allow this application to make changes to your device?” appears, answer “Yes”. The new installation should solve the problem of Chrome loading on the PC.
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