Why Chrome Won’t Open: Fix on Windows/Mac

Having trouble opening Chrome on your Windows or Mac device? Find out how to fix this issue in the following article.

Restart Your Computer

After restarting your computer, try opening Chrome again to see if the issue has been resolved. If the problem persists, you may need to update Chrome to the latest version or check for any conflicting software, such as antivirus programs or firewall settings.

If you are still experiencing issues, you can try opening Chrome in Safe Mode or using the Task Manager to close any Chrome processes that may be running in the background.

Kill Chrome Processes and Force Close

  • Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc
  • Locate any Chrome processes running in the Task Manager
  • Select each Chrome process and click on End Task
  • After all Chrome processes are closed, try reopening Chrome to see if the issue is resolved

Temporarily Disable Antivirus Software

If Chrome won’t open on your Windows or Mac computer, one possible solution is to temporarily disable your antivirus software. Antivirus programs can sometimes interfere with the opening of certain applications, including web browsers like Chrome. To do this on a Windows computer, locate the antivirus software icon in your system tray and right-click on it. Look for an option to disable the program or turn off protection. On a Mac, you may need to open the antivirus program and navigate to the settings to temporarily disable real-time protection.

After disabling the antivirus software, try opening Chrome again to see if the issue is resolved. If Chrome opens successfully, you may need to add an exception for the browser in your antivirus settings to prevent future conflicts.

Repair or Reset Chrome Settings

To repair or reset Chrome settings, first, open Chrome and click on the three dots in the top-right corner. Then, go to Settings and scroll down to Advanced. Look for the option to Restore settings to their original defaults and click on it. This will reset your Chrome settings to their default state. If this doesn’t work, you may need to uninstall and reinstall Chrome.

To do this, go to Control Panel on Windows, find Chrome in the list of programs, and click uninstall. Once uninstalled, you can download Chrome again from the official website.

Delete User Profile or Run in Safe Mode

To fix the issue of Chrome not opening on Windows or Mac, you can try deleting the user profile or running in safe mode.

Delete User Profile: If Chrome won’t open, try deleting your user profile. Go to the Chrome settings, click on “Advanced,” then “Reset and clean up,” and finally “Clean up computer.” Select “Find” and remove harmful software.

Run in Safe Mode: To troubleshoot Chrome not opening, try running it in safe mode. Press the “Control” key while clicking on the Chrome icon to open the context menu. Click “Run in Safe Mode” to disable extensions.

These steps may help resolve the issue and get Chrome up and running smoothly on your Windows or Mac computer.

Reinstall Chrome or Use Chrome Cleanup Tool

To fix the issue of Chrome not opening on your Windows or Mac computer, you can try reinstalling Chrome or using the Chrome Cleanup Tool.

If you choose to reinstall Chrome, first uninstall the existing application from your computer. Then, download the latest version of Chrome from the official website and install it on your system. This process can help resolve any issues with the browser not opening properly.

Alternatively, you can use the Chrome Cleanup Tool to scan for and remove any harmful software that may be causing Chrome to malfunction. This tool can help clean up your browser and improve its performance.

Remove Potentially Malicious Apps or Unwanted Programs

App icons with red X mark

1. Check for any recently installed programs that may be causing the issue. Go to the Control Panel (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac) to uninstall any suspicious programs.

2. Run a malware scan on your computer using a reliable antivirus program to detect and remove any harmful software.

3. Disable any suspicious browser extensions or add-ons in Chrome by going to the Extensions menu in the browser.

4. Reset Chrome settings to default by typing chrome://settings/resetProfileSettings into the address bar and following the instructions.

5. If you suspect a specific app is causing the problem, try booting into Safe Mode on Windows or using a Guest User account on Mac to see if Chrome opens successfully.

FAQ

How do I fix Google Chrome not opening?

To fix Google Chrome not opening, you can try closing other tabs, extensions, and apps, restarting Chrome and your computer, checking for malware, opening the page in another browser, fixing network issues, ensuring Chrome isn’t already open, adjusting your antivirus settings, and checking for malware.

How do I restart Chrome?

To restart Chrome, you can simply type ‘chrome://restart’ in the address bar and press enter. This will shut down the browser and restart it.

Why my website is not opening in Chrome?

My website may not be opening in Chrome due to connectivity issues. Try accessing other websites to confirm your connection is working properly. Restart your device and router, as well as clear your browser’s cache to potentially resolve the issue.

How to reinstall Chrome?

To reinstall Chrome, you can go to your Android device, open Google Chrome, and tap on Install. If you are experiencing issues with your search engine, pop-ups, or Chrome updates, uninstalling and then reinstalling Chrome can often fix these problems.

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