Fix Chrome freezing by closing unused tabs, reloading the affected page, and restarting Chrome if its controls stop responding. If freezing returns, update Chrome, check extensions, and clear the affected website’s stored data. Save resets and reinstalling for problems that survive those simpler fixes.
The short version
- Start small: Close unused tabs and programs, pause downloads, and reload the affected page.
- Recover control: Use Chrome’s Task Manager for a frozen desktop task or close and reopen the browser.
- Check recurring freezes: Update Chrome, try the page in Incognito, and turn extensions off to narrow down the cause.
- Use targeted fixes: Check stored site data and graphics acceleration before resetting Chrome.
| Fix | When to use it | Main catch |
|---|---|---|
| Reduce memory use | Many tabs or programs are open | Close unused tabs and programs, then pause downloads |
| Reload the page | One page stalls | A desktop reload can bypass cached content |
| End a Chrome task | A desktop tab or extension freezes | Unsaved work in that task is lost |
| Restart Chrome normally | Desktop controls still respond | Quit and reopen the browser |
| Force-close Chrome on Windows | Chrome cannot respond | Use Windows Task manager |
| Force-quit Chrome on Mac | Chrome will not quit normally | Use Force Quit |
| Close and reopen Chrome on Android | The app freezes | Navigation varies by manufacturer |
| Force-stop Chrome on Pixel | Chrome remains unresponsive | The settings path is specific to Pixel |
| Close and reopen Chrome on iPhone or iPad | The app freezes | App-switching gestures depend on the device |
| Restart the computer | Restarting Chrome does not help | Retry Chrome afterward |
| Update Chrome | Freezing returns | Update controls depend on the platform |
| Try Incognito | A desktop page repeatedly freezes | A working page does not prove a specific cause |
| Disable extensions | Incognito works | Restore extensions individually |
| Remove a troublesome extension | You identify the culprit | Removal uninstalls the extension |
| Delete one website’s data | One desktop website keeps failing | You may be signed out of that site |
| Delete cached files and cookies | Stored website data appears involved | Review the selected categories before deleting |
| Disable graphics acceleration | Desktop freezes involve graphics | Applies to Windows, Mac, and Linux |
| Update the graphics driver | Windows 11 freezes involve video or the GPU | Install an applicable update when offered |
| Check another browser and the connection | A page stalls while Chrome’s controls respond | The failure may extend beyond Chrome |
| Run Chromebook diagnostics | The whole Chromebook repeatedly freezes | Contact the manufacturer if tests fail |
| Reset Chrome settings | Earlier desktop fixes fail | Settings and extensions reset |
| Reinstall Chrome | Simpler fixes fail | Deleting the iPhone or iPad app removes local profile information |
| Report the freeze | A desktop problem remains reproducible | Google does not promise an individual response |
Reload the page and free up memory
Close tabs other than the affected page, quit unnecessary running programs, and pause downloads. Then reload the page to see whether Chrome responds normally. These steps apply on desktop, Android, iPhone, and iPad, especially when memory is exhausted.
On desktop, select Reload this page. You can also press Ctrl + R on Windows or Linux, or Command + R on Mac. Press Esc to stop a stalled page load before trying again.
For a reload that bypasses cached content, press Ctrl + Shift + R on Windows or Linux, or Command + Shift + R on Mac. The Windows and Linux shortcut also works for Chromebook freezes.
End the frozen task or restart Chrome
For a frozen desktop tab or extension, open More > More tools > Task Manager. On Windows and Linux, you can also press Shift + Esc. Select Memory to sort tasks by consumption and locate the problematic task.
Ending a task loses unsaved work in that task. Select the problematic task, then select End Process. If the browser itself remains unresponsive, close and reopen Chrome using the method for your device.
On Windows, try More > Exit, then reopen Chrome. If Chrome cannot respond, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, select Task manager, and under Processes, select Google Chrome or chrome.exe. Select End task, then reopen Chrome.
On Mac, choose Chrome > Quit Google Chrome and reopen it. If it will not quit, press Option + Command + Esc, select Google Chrome, and click Force Quit. Reopen Chrome afterward.
On Chromebook, close the Chrome window and reopen Chrome from Launcher. For desktop problems that persist after restarting Chrome, restart the computer and retry.
On Android devices using gesture navigation, swipe up from the bottom while Chrome is open, then swipe up on Chrome’s app preview and reopen it. On a Pixel, you can instead open Settings > Apps > See all apps > Chrome > Force stop, tap OK, and reopen Chrome. Other Android manufacturers may use different navigation and settings paths.
On a Face ID iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the Home Screen and pause halfway; on an iPhone with a Home button, double-click Home. Locate Chrome, swipe its preview upward, and reopen it. On iPad, open the App Switcher, swipe the Chrome window away, and reopen Chrome.
Install Chrome updates
Once Chrome responds again, install its available update. On Windows or Mac, open Chrome’s More > Help > About Google Chrome, let the update check complete, and select Relaunch when offered. On Linux, install Chrome updates through your distribution’s package manager.
For Chromebook, select the time, then open Settings > About ChromeOS > Check for updates. After the download, select Restart in the Update available notification. This applies to Chromebooks still eligible for operating-system updates; on a managed device, you may need your administrator’s help.
On Android, open Play Store, tap your profile icon, and select Manage apps & device. Under Updates available, locate Chrome and tap Update.
On iPhone or iPad, open App Store, tap your profile icon, open App Updates, and install Chrome’s available update. If you see an Available Updates list instead, tap Update beside Chrome.
Check whether an extension causes the freeze
On desktop, open More > New Incognito window and retry the affected page. If it works there, investigate extensions and stored site data next. That comparison helps narrow the problem, but it does not prove a particular cause.
Open More > Extensions > Manage extensions and turn extensions off. Try the page again, then restore extensions individually to identify which one brings the freeze back. Leave the troublesome extension turned off while you continue checking Chrome.
Removing an extension uninstalls it from Chrome. To remove an identified culprit, select Remove on its extension card and confirm Remove. If an administrator controls an extension and you cannot change it, contact the administrator. If turning extensions off makes no difference, move on to stored website data.
Clear the affected website’s stored data
For a desktop problem limited to one website, start with that site’s data. Deleting its stored data removes its cookies and can sign you out of that website. In Chrome, open More > Settings > Privacy and security > Third-party cookies > See all site data and permissions, search for the website, select Delete beside it, and confirm Delete.
A broader cleanup deletes cached files and cookies, and cookie deletion can sign you out of websites. On desktop, open More > Delete browsing data and choose All time. Select Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data, then select Delete data.
On Android, deleting browsing data removes the selected categories, which can also include history and open tabs. Open More > Delete browsing data > More options, choose the time range, and review the selected categories. Select the relevant cached-file or cookie categories, then tap Delete data.
On iPhone or iPad, this cleanup deletes cached images, files, cookies, and site data. Open More > Delete Browsing Data, set Time Range, and tap Browsing Data. Select Cached Images and Files and Cookies, Site Data, tap Confirm, then tap Delete Browsing Data.
Check graphics acceleration for desktop freezes
When freezes involve video or graphics, try Chrome with graphics acceleration disabled. In Chrome on Windows, Mac, or Linux, open More > Settings > System and turn off Use graphics acceleration when available. Relaunch Chrome and retry the activity that froze it.
On Windows 11, you can also find and update your graphics driver when freezes involve video, WebGL, or the GPU process. On Windows 11, open Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates. Select the applicable graphics-driver update when offered, select Download and install, and restart Windows afterward.
Check whether the problem extends beyond Chrome
If Chrome’s controls respond but a page stays stuck, open the same page in another browser. If it fails there too, check your connection and restart the modem or router. Contact the website owner or your internet provider if the failure continues.
When an entire Chromebook freezes repeatedly, select the time, then open Settings > About ChromeOS > Diagnostics. Inspect CPU and Memory, run their available tests, and contact the manufacturer if tests fail.
Reset Chrome or reinstall it
For desktop freezing that survives the earlier checks, try resetting Chrome. Resetting changes settings and resets extensions, while bookmarks and saved passwords remain. In Chrome, open More > Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults, then select Reset settings. If your browser is managed and settings cannot be changed, contact your administrator.
Uninstalling Chrome removes the application. Close Chrome, then on Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Beside Google Chrome, select More > Uninstall, select Uninstall again, and select Yes.
On Windows 10, uninstalling also removes the Chrome application. Close Chrome, then on Windows 10, open Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Google Chrome > Uninstall and confirm Uninstall. After either Windows uninstall, reinstall using Google’s official Chrome download.
On Mac, uninstalling removes the Chrome application. Quit Chrome, open Finder, and drag Google Chrome from Applications to Trash. Download and reinstall Chrome from Google’s official download page.
Deleting Chrome on iPhone or iPad removes local profile information, so preserve needed account-saved or local data first. Touch and hold Chrome, tap Remove app, then tap Delete app. Reinstall Chrome from its official App Store listing, accessible through Google’s Chrome product page.
Report a freeze that keeps returning
If a desktop Chrome freeze remains reproducible, open More > Help > Report an issue. Describe what freezes and the steps that reproduce it, then select Send. Google does not promise an individual response.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Memory Saver help prevent Chrome from freezing?
You can try Memory Saver on desktop when resource use is a concern. In Chrome, open More > Settings > Performance, turn on Memory Saver, and choose Moderate, Balanced (recommended), or Maximum. This setting is unavailable on Android and iOS.
Why does Chrome pause activity in background tabs?
Energy Saver can pause background activity on Windows, Mac, and Chromebook devices with batteries. In Chrome, open More > Settings > Performance and turn off Energy Saver to check that behavior. For the current session only, select Energy Saver beside the address bar, then select Turn off now.
What should you do when Chrome marks an extension as corrupted?
Open More > Extensions > Manage extensions, find the corrupted extension, and select Repair. Confirm the repair when Chrome asks. If the corruption returns, investigate unwanted software and run installed antivirus or anti-malware software when indicated.
Should you use the old Chrome Cleanup Tool?
Google removed the Windows Chrome Cleanup Tool beginning with Chrome 111. Use current extension controls, Chrome’s reset controls, and operating-system malware-removal controls instead of following old cleanup instructions.