Few things are as frustrating as Google Chrome freezing in the middle of your work. The window turns pale, the title bar says “Not Responding,” and clicks do nothing. Sometimes it recovers after a few seconds; other times it stays stuck until you force it closed. The cause can be a single heavy tab, a misbehaving extension, a corrupted cache, a graphics driver problem, or simply too little free memory.
This guide starts with the quickest fixes and works up to more thorough ones. Most people only need the first few steps.
Quick Fix: Close the Problem Tab or Restart Chrome
Use Chrome’s Task Manager
If Chrome is sluggish but still responding a little, press Shift+Esc on Windows or ChromeOS (or open the three-dot menu > More tools > Task manager). Chrome’s own Task Manager lists each tab and extension with its memory and CPU use. Select anything using an unusually large amount and click End process.
Force Chrome to close
If Chrome is completely frozen:
- Windows: Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Windows Task Manager, right-click Google Chrome, and choose End task.
- Mac: Press Option+Command+Esc, select Google Chrome, and click Force Quit.
Reopen Chrome. It will usually offer to restore your tabs. If the same tab freezes Chrome again, close it before it fully loads.
Restart your computer
A restart clears out stuck background processes and frees memory. It sounds simple, but it fixes a lot of freezing problems.
Fix 1: Update Chrome
Bugs that cause hangs are often fixed in updates. Open the three-dot menu, go to Help > About Google Chrome, and let Chrome check for updates. Click Relaunch when it’s done. For more detail, see how to update Chrome on Windows 10.
Fix 2: Reduce Open Tabs and Turn On Memory Saver
Every tab uses memory. If you keep dozens open, Chrome can run your computer out of RAM. Close tabs you don’t need, and turn on Memory Saver under Settings > Performance, which frees memory from inactive tabs automatically.
Fix 3: Disable Extensions
Extensions run inside Chrome, and a buggy or outdated one can freeze the whole browser.
- Type chrome://extensions in the address bar and press Enter.
- Turn off all extensions using their toggles.
- Use Chrome normally for a while. If the freezing stops, turn extensions back on one at a time to find the culprit.
- Remove any extension you don’t recognize or no longer use.
A quick test is to open an Incognito window (Ctrl+Shift+N, or Command+Shift+N on Mac), where extensions are off by default unless you’ve allowed them. If Chrome works well in Incognito, an extension is a likely cause.
Fix 4: Clear Cache and Cookies
Corrupted cached files can cause pages to hang. Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Command+Shift+Delete on Mac), choose a time range such as All time, check Cached images and files (and Cookies and other site data if needed), and click Delete data. Clearing cookies will sign you out of most websites.
Fix 5: Turn Off Hardware Acceleration
Hardware acceleration uses your graphics card to speed up Chrome, but with some drivers it causes freezes, flickering, or black screens.
- Open Settings > System.
- Turn off Use graphics acceleration when available.
- Click Relaunch.
If this helps, also check for an updated graphics driver from your PC or graphics card maker, then try turning the setting back on.
Fix 6: Reset Chrome Settings
If settings have been changed by an extension or software you installed, resetting can help. Go to Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults > Reset settings. This resets your startup page, search engine, and pinned tabs, disables extensions, and clears temporary data like cookies. Bookmarks, history, and saved passwords are kept.
Fix 7: Try a New Chrome Profile
A corrupted user profile can cause persistent problems. Click your profile picture in the top-right corner and choose Add to create a new profile. If Chrome runs smoothly in the new profile, you can sign in with your Google account there to sync bookmarks and passwords, then remove the old profile.
Fix 8: Check for Malware
Unwanted software can hijack Chrome and slow it down. On Windows, run a full scan with Windows Security or your antivirus program. On a Mac, remove any apps you don’t remember installing and check your login items.
Fix 9: Reinstall Chrome
If nothing else works, uninstall Chrome, restart your computer, and download a fresh copy from Google’s official Chrome website. Signing in with your Google account afterward restores synced data. See our step-by-step guide on how to reinstall Chrome on Windows 10.
When the Problem Isn’t Chrome
If every browser and app is slow, the issue may be your computer. Check free storage space, close other heavy programs, and look at memory use in Windows Task Manager or Mac Activity Monitor. Computers with limited RAM struggle with many tabs open, no matter which browser you use.
Related: Force close a tab on Windows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my tabs if I force quit Chrome?
Usually not. Chrome offers to restore your previous session when you reopen it, and you can also find recent tabs under History.
Why does Chrome freeze on only one website?
The site may be running heavy scripts or have a problem of its own. Try clearing that site’s data, disabling extensions, or visiting it later.
Does resetting Chrome delete bookmarks?
No. A reset keeps bookmarks, history, and saved passwords.
Summary
To fix Google Chrome not responding, end the problem tab with Shift+Esc or force quit Chrome, then update it, cut down on open tabs, disable extensions, clear the cache, and turn off hardware acceleration. If problems continue, reset Chrome’s settings, try a new profile, scan for malware, or reinstall Chrome.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.