To reinstall Chrome on your Mac, quit Chrome, move its application to Trash, then download Chrome from Google and drag the new copy into Applications. Leave Chrome’s profile folder untouched to retain its local profile information. Removing the application and removing its profile are separate operations.
The current Chrome release requires macOS 13 Ventura or later. On macOS 12 Monterey, Chrome 150 was the final supported release, so upgrade to a supported macOS version before installing current Chrome.
The short version
- Standard reinstall: Remove the Chrome application, leave its profile folder alone, and install a fresh download.
- Personal data: Save needed information to your Google Account or export bookmarks before removing a local profile.
- Fresh profile: Delete local profile information only when you want that additional removal.
- Installation: Open
googlechrome.dmgand drag Chrome into Applications.
| Option | When you need it |
|---|---|
| Official Chrome download page | Get the Mac installer |
| Standard reinstall | Replace the application while retaining its profile |
| Reinstall with profile removal | Start with a fresh local profile |
| Writable installation location | Install when you cannot supply the administrator password for Applications |
| Finder menu removal | Move the application to Trash through a menu |
| Keyboard removal shortcuts | Quit Chrome and move its application to Trash using keys |
| Storage settings removal | Delete the application through macOS settings |
| Force Quit | Close unresponsive Chrome before removal |
| Google Account storage | Preserve selected information before deleting a profile |
| Bookmark export and import | Keep a separate HTML bookmark backup |
| Settings reset | Restore browser settings without reinstalling |
| Chrome update | Update the existing application |
| Enterprise deployment | Install Chrome and policies on managed Macs |
| Chrome Enterprise download page | Obtain enterprise installation packages |
| Homebrew reinstall | Reinstall an existing Homebrew Chrome cask |
Preserve the information you need
If you plan to leave the profile folder untouched, use the standard application removal and installation steps below. If you want a fresh local profile, first save the information you need through your Google Account or export your bookmarks. Account storage and a bookmark export preserve different information.
To save information to your Google Account, sign in to Chrome and select Profile, then Save x items in Account. The item count varies. Choose the information to preserve and select Save in account. After reinstalling, sign in with the same account to access that saved information.
If you want your history and tabs available after reinstalling, turn on that account storage before removing the local profile. Open More > Settings > You and Google, select your account name and turn on History and tabs.
For a separate bookmark backup, open More > Bookmarks and lists > Bookmark Manager. Inside the manager, select More > Export Bookmarks to create an HTML file. This backs up bookmarks, not passwords or the entire profile.
Quit Chrome and remove the application
Right-click Chrome in the Dock and select Quit. Alternatively, with Chrome active, press Command + Q. Finish quitting the browser before moving its application.
If Chrome is unresponsive after you try the normal quit command, force quit Chrome on your Mac by pressing Option + Command + Esc. Select Google Chrome, then click Force Quit. You can also open that window through the Apple menu > Force Quit.
Open Finder and locate Google Chrome, normally in Applications. If you need help locating it, choose File > Find in Finder. Moving Chrome to Trash removes the application; leave its profile folder untouched to retain local profile information. Drag the application to Trash.
If you prefer a menu, moving the selected application to Trash removes Chrome’s app while leaving its separate profile folder untouched. Select Google Chrome and choose File > Move to Trash, supplying administrator credentials if requested. For the keyboard alternative, moving the application to Trash performs the same app removal. Select the application in Finder and press Command + Delete.
You can also remove the application through Storage settings on macOS Ventura 13 or later. With Chrome quit, open Apple menu > System Settings > General > Storage, then open Applications using its information button. Deleting Chrome here removes the application. Select Google Chrome and click Delete.
If you prefer to complete removal in Finder, select Show in Finder from Storage settings and follow the Finder removal steps above. After using any of these removal options, continue to the download and installation steps, adding profile removal only if you want it.
Remove the local profile only for a fresh start
Skip this step for a standard reinstall that retains your profile. Use it only when you want to remove local Chrome profile information as well as replace the application.
With Chrome quit and its application removed, open Finder and choose Go > Go to Folder. Enter ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome and click Go.
Deleting these folders removes local profile information, including bookmarks and history, so save needed information to your Google Account or export bookmarks beforehand. Select all the folders on Mac inside that location, then drag them to Trash. Continue with the same download and installation steps used for a standard reinstall.
Download and install Chrome again
Open Safari or another working browser and visit the official Chrome download page to obtain Chrome for Mac. Open the downloaded googlechrome.dmg file, then drag Chrome into Applications. Enter an administrator password if requested.
If you cannot supply the password required for Applications, drag Chrome to a location where your account has full permissions, such as the desktop. This alternative applies when your account can run downloaded applications but cannot write to Applications; organizational restrictions can still apply. After installation, click Eject beside Chrome in the Finder sidebar to unmount the installer.
Restore saved information and bookmarks
Open Chrome after installation and sign in with the same Google Account you used to save your information. This gives you access to account-saved information, but it does not necessarily restore every local item.
To restore an exported bookmark file, open More > Bookmarks and lists > Import bookmarks and settings. Select Choose file, choose your HTML backup, and select Open. Select Done to finish.
Reinstall an existing Homebrew installation
If your Mac already has a working Homebrew installation and Chrome’s google-chrome cask, you can use Homebrew’s reinstall command. Homebrew supports this method, and the current Chrome cask requires macOS 13 or later.
Quit Chrome, then open Terminal. The following command uninstalls the Chrome cask and installs it again.
brew reinstall --cask google-chromeInstall Chrome on managed Macs
If you administer managed Macs, open Google’s Chrome Enterprise download page, select the desired channel and file type, then click Download. Google recommends the PKG Universal Installer (x86 and ARM) for Intel and Apple silicon Macs that meet Chrome’s current requirements.
For managed deployment, obtain the installation package and sample profiles, configure your organization’s policies, then deploy Chrome and the profiles with your organization’s MDM tool. If you use a company app catalog, the availability of a Chrome reinstall depends on your organization’s configuration.
Update Chrome when you only need a newer version
You can manage automatic updates in Chrome or check for an update without removing the application. Open More > Help > About Google Chrome. Chrome checks for updates; when Relaunch is available, select it.
Reset settings for unwanted browser changes
If unwanted settings changes are the reason you considered reinstalling, you can reset Chrome’s settings instead. This changes browser settings without replacing the application or fully removing its profile.
Resetting restores browser settings to their original defaults while keeping saved bookmarks and passwords. Open More > Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults, then select Reset settings. If Settings cannot open, Google recommends uninstalling Chrome and downloading it again using the standard reinstall steps above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I empty Trash after removing Chrome?
Emptying Trash permanently removes its contents, including other items in Trash alongside Chrome. To perform that permanent removal, choose Finder > Empty Trash.
Does removing the local profile delete information saved to my Google Account?
Information saved to your Google Account can remain online after local profile removal. Removing Chrome’s local profile folders does not necessarily remove the information you saved to that account.
Can Chrome update automatically for every user on the Mac?
For Chrome installed in Applications, the About Google Chrome page can offer Automatically update Chrome for all users. Open More > Help > About Google Chrome to access that option.
Can an administrator install Chrome offline?
Yes, Google supports offline installation using the downloaded enterprise installer. Obtain the Mac enterprise installation package before performing the offline installation.
Which Homebrew command installs Chrome for the first time?
With a working Homebrew installation, use brew install --cask google-chrome for an initial Chrome installation. The current cask requires macOS 13 or later.