This wikiHow teaches you how to fix common Google Chrome desktop browser errors, as well as remove and reinstall the browser on both desktop and iPhone platforms. Most of the common errors that appear on Google Chrome stem from an unsupported version of Chrome or the presence of too many programs or data in the browser.
Step
Part 1 of 9: Performing Basic Repairs
Step 1. Restart the computer
If you haven't shut down your computer, especially in a few days, try restarting your device so Chrome can run faster without a lot of errors or crashes.
Step 2. Check internet connection
If your router isn't working properly or your computer isn't connected to the internet, loading times usually take longer and error pages appear more often. Usually, you can solve WiFi problems by moving your router and closing apps that are running in the background and consuming a lot of bandwidth (eg Netflix).
Step 3. Make sure your computer supports Google Chrome
This browser requires the following specifications:
- Windows - Windows 7 or later.
- Mac - Mac OS X 10.9 or later version.
Step 4. Run a malware check on the computer
If Chrome loads unfamiliar pages or your browser's homepage has recently changed without any input, your computer may have a virus. Run a virus check to remove annoying viruses.
Part 2 of 9: Updating Chrome
Step 1. Open Google Chrome
If you can't open it, you will need to remove the browser from your Windows, Mac, or iPhone computer.
Step 2. Click the button
It's in the upper-right corner of the Chrome window. A drop-down menu will appear after that.
Step 3. Select Help
It's at the bottom of the Drop-down menu. A pop-out menu will appear next to the drop-down menu.
Step 4. Click About Google Chrome
It's in the pop-out window. After that, you will be taken to the browser update page. If available, the update will be installed automatically.
You may be prompted to restart your browser by clicking “ Restart Chrome ” after the update process is complete.
Part 3 of 9: Closing Unresponsive Search Tabs
Step 1. Click
It's in the upper-right corner of the window. A drop-down menu will appear after that.
Step 2. Select More tools
This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu. Once selected, a pop-out window will appear next to the drop-down menu.
Step 3. Click Task manager
It's in the pop-out window. The Task Manager window will open afterwards.
Step 4. Select the tab you want to close
Click a tab to select it, or hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) while clicking each tab name to select them individually.
Step 5. Click End process
It's a blue button in the lower-right corner of the window. Once clicked, the selected tab will immediately close.
Part 4 of 9: Disabling Extensions
Step 1. Click
It's in the upper-right corner of the window. A drop-down menu will appear after that.
Step 2. Select More tools
This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
Step 3. Click Extensions
It's in the pop-out menu " More tools " Once clicked, a new tab with a list of extensions currently installed on the browser will be displayed.
Step 4. Find the extension you want to disable
Usually, a sudden problem with Chrome comes from a newly installed extension. Therefore, look for the extensions you just installed in the last few days.
Chrome's stability can be compromised if you install too many extensions at the same time. Therefore, try disabling non-essential extensions
Step 5. Uncheck the “Enabled” box next to the extension
After that, the extension will be terminated. You will need to repeat this step for each extension you want to remove/disable.
You can also delete an extension by clicking the trash icon next to the extension's name, then clicking the “ Remove ' when prompted.
Part 5 of 9: Clearing Cookies and Browsing History
Step 1. Click
It's in the upper-right corner of the Chrome window. A drop-down menu will appear after that.
Step 2. Click Settings
This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu. After that, the settings page (“Settings”) will be displayed.
Step 3. Scroll down and click on Advanced
This option is at the bottom of the page. Additional options will be displayed under options/segments “ Advanced ”.
Step 4. Click Clear browsing data
This option is at the bottom of the "Privacy and security" option group.
Step 5. Make sure every box in the window is checked
Click each unchecked box in the window to make sure all options are checked.
Step 6. Click the "Clear the following items from" box
This box is at the top of the window.
Step 7. Click the beginning of time
With this option, you will clear all browser data from the start, and not just data from the last week, yesterday, or any other timeframe.
Step 8. Click CLEAR BROWSING DATA
It's a blue button at the bottom of the window. After that, your browsing history, cookies, passwords and other data will be deleted from the browser.
Part 6 of 9: Resetting Chrome
Step 1. Click
It's in the upper-right corner of the Chrome window. A drop-down menu will appear after that.
Step 2. Click Settings
This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu. After that, the settings page (“Settings”) will be displayed.
Step 3. Scroll down and click on Advanced
This option is at the bottom of the page. Additional options will be shown below this segment.
Step 4. Scroll down and click Reset
This option is at the bottom of the page.
Step 5. Click RESET when prompted
Chrome will install the new settings. All saved data, bookmarks, extensions and settings will be deleted or restored to their original settings.
If this method doesn't work to fix the error with Google Chrome on your computer, remove and reinstall Chrome
Part 7 of 9: Removing and Reinstalling Chrome on Windows Computer
Step 1. Open the “Start” menu
Click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Open “Settings”
Click the gear icon in the lower-left corner of the Start menu.
Step 3. Click Apps
This option is displayed on the “Settings” page.
Step 4. Click Apps & features
This tab is on the left side of the page.
Step 5. Swipe the screen and click Chrome
You can find the Google Chrome entry in the "G" section of the app. Once clicked, the menu under the Chrome icon will expand.
Step 6. Click Uninstall
It's below the Google Chrome icon.
Step 7. Click Uninstall when prompted
After that, Google Chrome will be immediately removed from the computer.
Step 8. Visit Google Chrome download page
You will need to access it through a different browser, such as Microsoft Edge or Firefox.
Step 9. Click DOWNLOAD CHROME
It's a blue button in the middle of the page.
Step 10. Click ACCEPT AND INSTALL
It's below the pop-up window. Chrome will immediately download to your computer.
Step 11. Double-click the Chrome installation file
You can find this file in your browser's main download directory (e.g. folder “ Downloads " or " Desktop ”).
Step 12. Click Yes when prompted
After that, Chrome will be installed to your computer immediately.
Step 13. Wait for Chrome to finish installing
This process only takes about a minute. Once installed, a new Chrome window will open.
Part 8 of 9: Removing and Reinstalling Chrome on Mac Computer
Step 1. Open Finder
Click the blue face icon in your computer's Dock.
Step 2. Click Go
This menu option is at the top of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear after that.
Step 3. Click Applications
This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu “ Go ”.
Step 4. Find and select Chrome
You can see the Google Chrome icon in this folder. Once found, click the icon to select it.
Step 5. Click Edit
This menu option is in the upper-left corner of the screen. Once clicked, a drop-down menu will appear.
Step 6. Click Delete
It's in the middle of the drop-down menu.
Step 7. Click and hold the Trash Can program icon
You can find this icon in your computer's Dock. Once clicked and held, a pop-up menu will appear.
Step 8. Click Empty Trash
This option is in the pop-up menu.
Step 9. Click Empty Trash when prompted
After that, all content stored in the Trash Can program will be deleted, including Google Chrome.
Step 10. Visit the Google Chrome download page
You will need to access it through another browser, such as Safari or Firefox.
Step 11. Click DOWNLOAD CHROME
It's a blue button in the middle of the window.
Step 12. Click ACCEPT AND INSTALL
It's at the bottom of the pop-up window. After that, Chrome will immediately be downloaded to your computer.
Step 13. Double-click the Chrome DMG file
This file is stored in the computer's main download directory (eg. Downloads ”).
Step 14. Click and drag the Chrome icon to the “Applications” folder icon
Chrome will be installed on your computer immediately.
If prompted, enter your computer password before continuing
Part 9 of 9: Removing and Reinstalling Chrome on iPhone
Step 1. Touch and hold the Chrome app icon
This icon looks like a red, green, yellow, and blue ball on a white background. After that, the app icons started to jiggle.
Step 2. Touch the X button
It's in the top-left corner of the app icon.
Step 3. Touch Delete when prompted
Chrome will be removed from iPhone immediately.
Step 4. Open
App Store on iPhone.
This app is marked by a blue icon with a white “A” above it.
Step 5. Touch Search
It's a tab in the lower-right corner of the screen.
Step 6. Touch the search bar
It's a gray bar at the top of the screen and it's labeled "App Store".
Step 7. Type in google chrome
Step 8. Touch the Search option
It's a blue button in the lower-right corner of the screen. After that, the Chrome app will immediately be searched in the App Store directory.
Step 9. Touch GET
It's to the right of the Chrome app icon.
Step 10. Enter the password when prompted
You can also scan your fingerprint if your iPhone has a Touch ID sensor.
Step 11. Wait for Chrome to finish downloading
After that, you can open it and use it as usual.
