How to fix Google Chrome when it's not responding?
Aug 02, 2025 am 10:09 AMWait and check Chrome’s Task Manager (Shift Esc), end high-resource processes; 2. Restart Chrome via system Task Manager (Ctrl Shift Esc), then reopen to restore tabs; 3. Disable extensions at chrome://extensions, re-enable one by one to find the issue; 4. Clear browsing data via Ctrl Shift Delete, selecting “All time” and clearing cache and site data; 5. Update Chrome at chrome://settings/help or reinstall from google.com/chrome; 6. Check for conflicting software like antivirus or toolbars and disable or uninstall them; 7. Reset Chrome settings at chrome://settings/reset as a last resort, restoring defaults without losing bookmarks or passwords; most unresponsiveness is caused by a single tab or extension, so systematically isolating and resolving the issue will restore normal performance.
When Google Chrome is not responding, it can be frustrating—especially if you have multiple tabs open or important work in progress. The good news is that most freezes or unresponsiveness can be resolved quickly with a few practical steps. Here’s what you can do:

1. Wait a Moment and Check Task Manager
Sometimes Chrome just needs a few seconds to catch up, especially if you're running heavy websites (like video editors or complex web apps).
-
Press
Shift Esc
(on Windows) to open Chrome’s built-in Task Manager. - Look for any tab or extension using excessive CPU or Memory.
- Select the problematic process and click End Process.
Tip: Chrome runs each tab and extension as a separate process, so killing one won’t close your whole browser.
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2. Restart Chrome Properly
If Chrome is completely frozen and won’t respond to clicks:
-
Close Chrome completely:
- Right-click the Chrome icon in your taskbar and select Close window.
- Or, open your system’s Task Manager (
Ctrl Shift Esc
), find all Google Chrome processes, and click End Task.
- Reopen Chrome. It often restores your previous tabs automatically.
Note: If you see “Restore pages?” on startup, click it to get your session back.
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3. Disable or Remove Problematic Extensions
Extensions are a common cause of slowdowns or crashes.
- Open Chrome and go to
chrome://extensions
. - Disable all extensions by toggling them off.
- Restart Chrome and see if it works smoothly.
- Re-enable extensions one by one to identify the culprit.
Common offenders: ad blockers, password managers, or outdated extensions.
4. Clear Browsing Data and Cache
Too much cached data can slow Chrome down.
- Press
Ctrl Shift Delete
(Windows) orCmd Shift Delete
(Mac). - Choose a time range (e.g., “All time”).
- Check Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
This won’t delete bookmarks or saved passwords (unless you check those boxes).
5. Update Chrome or Reinstall It
An outdated version may have bugs.
- Go to
chrome://settings/help
. - Chrome will automatically check for updates and install them.
- If that doesn’t help, consider reinstalling:
- Uninstall Chrome via your system settings.
- Download the latest version from google.com/chrome.
- Install it fresh.
6. Check for Conflicting Software
Some programs (especially antivirus, firewalls, or old toolbars) interfere with Chrome.
- Temporarily disable your antivirus or security suite to test.
- Look for software like McAfee, Norton, or HP Helper that runs in the background.
- Uninstall unnecessary or outdated programs.
7. Reset Chrome Settings (Last Resort)
If nothing works, reset Chrome to default:
- Go to
chrome://settings/reset
. - Click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm the reset.
This will turn off extensions, clear temporary data, and reset settings—but won’t delete bookmarks or saved passwords.
Most Chrome “not responding” issues are fixable without losing your data. Start with the Task Manager and extensions, then work your way through updates and resets. Usually, the problem is a single greedy tab or buggy extension.
Basically, don’t panic—just restart, isolate the issue, and clean up what’s dragging Chrome down.
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