Google Chrome Keeps Crashing on Startup in Windows 10/11? 7 Ways to Fix It (2026)

Does Google Chrome keep crashing as soon as you open it on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC? Maybe it opens and closes immediately, freezes with a “Google Chrome is not responding” message, or shows repeated “Aw, Snap!” error pages. In some cases, Chrome becomes unstable right at startup, and you can’t even reach the settings page.

Google chrome crashes on startup I can’t even open the suggestions page from Chrome without it crashing immediately.

These problems are usually caused by corrupted browser data, buggy extensions, damaged user profiles, malware, or underlying Windows issues. However, you can fix most Chrome crash issues yourself with a few targeted troubleshooting steps.

In this guide, you’ll learn 7 practical solutions, from quick checks to advanced repairs, to stop Google Chrome from crashing on startup in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Why does Google Chrome open and close immediately?

Google Chrome frequently crashes on startup due to conflicting extensions, corrupted user profile data, outdated GPU drivers, or interference from antivirus software.

Top Reasons for Startup Crashes

• Corrupted User Profile: Data corruption in your profile can prevent launch.
• Faulty Extensions: Malfunctioning extensions are a common cause of crashes.
• Hardware Acceleration Conflicts: Issues with graphics drivers (GPU).
• Software Conflicts: Antivirus or malware blocking the browser.
• Outdated Browser: An old version of Chrome. 

Quick Fixes for Google Chrome Crashing on Startup

If you see any of these issues on Windows 10 or Windows 11, apply the following solutions to fix them.

• Repeated “Aw, Snap!” or other crash pages right after startup
• Chrome opens and closes immediately after you click the shortcut
• Chrome freezes and shows “Not responding” in the title bar
• High CPU usage, fans spinning loudly, and then the browser crashes

Restart Your PC and Disconnect VPN

Before diving into deeper fixes, always start with a simple restart. A fresh boot clears temporary glitches and background processes that may be interfering with Chrome.

If you use a VPN, it can sometimes conflict with Chrome, especially after updates or network changes.

Try this first:

1. Disconnect from your VPN (close the VPN app or turn off the connection).
2. Restart your PC:
   • Click Start > Power > Restart.
3. After Windows restarts, try launching Google Chrome again.

If Chrome works fine without the VPN, update your VPN client or change VPN servers. If it still crashes, continue with the next steps.

Update Google Chrome to the Latest Version

Outdated versions of Chrome can have bugs or compatibility issues that cause random crashes, especially after a Windows update.

If you can open Chrome, update it like this:

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Click the three dots (⋮) in the top‑right corner.
3. Go to Help > About Google Chrome.
4. Chrome will automatically check for updates and install them.
5. When the update is complete, click Relaunch.

Or, in the address bar, type:

chrome://settings/help

and press Enter.

If Chrome crashes too quickly to do this, skip to the later steps (reinstall or create a new profile), which will install a fresh, updated version on your system.

Clear Browsing Data (Cache, Cookies, History)

Old or corrupted cache and cookies can make Chrome unstable and cause crashes when loading certain sites or pages.

If Chrome stays open long enough to reach settings, do this:

1. Open Chrome.
2. In the address bar, type: chrome://settings/clearBrowserData and press Enter.
3. In the Clear browsing data window, choose Time range: All time.
4. Tick at least:
   • Browsing history
   • Cookies and other site data
   • Cached images and files
5. Click Clear data.
6. Close Chrome and open it again.

If Chrome stops crashing after this, the problem was likely corrupted cached data or cookies.

Disable or Remove Problematic Chrome Extensions

Extensions can easily cause Chrome to crash if they’re outdated, poorly coded, or conflicting with each other. If your browser crashes shortly after opening, an extension might be the reason.

To disable or remove extensions:

• Open Chrome. In the top address bar, type chrome://extensions and press Enter.
• You’ll see a list of all installed extensions.
• Turn off the toggle switch next to each extension to disable it.
• Restart Chrome and see if it still crashes.
• If Chrome is now stable, re‑enable extensions one by one until you find the one causing the crash.
• Click Remove on any problematic or unneeded extensions.

Focus on removing extensions you don’t recognize or rarely use, and anything installed from untrusted sources.

Advanced Solutions to Stop Chrome from Crashing

If quick fixes don’t help, try these more advanced solutions to repair Chrome and Windows components.

Reset Chrome Settings to Default

If Chrome’s configuration or flags have been changed, it can become unstable. Resetting Chrome returns it to its default settings without deleting your bookmarks, history, or saved passwords.

Resetting Chrome to its default settings can help eliminate any configuration issues that might be causing the crash.

How to reset Chrome settings:

• Open Chrome browser, type chrome://settings/reset in the address bar, and hit the enter key.
• Click on Reset settings, then Restore settings to their original defaults
• A confirmation pop-up will appear, explaining what will be reset. To proceed, click on “Reset settings.”

This will:

• Reset the startup page, new tab page, and search engine
• Disable all extensions (you can re‑enable safe ones later)
• Clear temporary data like cookies

Chrome will then reset to its default state. This process may take a few moments. After the reset is complete, Chrome will restart automatically.

Reinstall Google Chrome and Delete Remaining Profile Data

If Chrome files are corrupted, reinstalling the browser can fix persistent crashes. Deleting leftover profile data ensures you truly start fresh.

Step 1: Uninstall Google Chrome

1. Press Windows + R, type: appwiz.cpl and press Enter (or go to Control Panel > Programs and Features).
2. Find Google Chrome in the list of installed programs.
3. Select it and click Uninstall.
4. Follow the on‑screen instructions to complete removal.

Step 2: Delete remaining Chrome data

1. Press Windows + R again.
2. Type: %appdata% and press Enter.
3. In the Roaming folder, look for a folder named Google.
4. Right‑click it and choose Delete.

You can also clear local profile data:

1. Press Windows + R, type: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google and press Enter.
2. Delete the Chrome folder if it still exists.

Step 3: Install a fresh copy of Chrome

1. Open another browser (Edge, Firefox, etc.).
2. Go to the official Chrome site: https://www.google.com/chrome/
3. Download and install the latest version of Google Chrome.
4. Launch Chrome and sign in with your Google account to restore bookmarks and sync data.

Check if Chrome now runs without crashing.

Create a New Chrome Profile

Sometimes the user profile itself becomes corrupted, causing Chrome to crash every time it starts. Creating a new profile forces Chrome to rebuild clean configuration files.

How to create a new Chrome profile manually:

1. Make sure Chrome is closed.
2. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
3. Type: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\ and click OK.
4. In the User Data folder, find the folder named Default.
5. Right‑click Default and select Rename.
6. Rename it to something like Default_bkp.

The next time you launch Chrome, it will create a new Default profile from scratch. If Chrome stops crashing, the issue was with the old profile. You can copy important data (like bookmarks) later if needed.

Turn Off Hardware Acceleration If Chrome Crashes While Playing Video

Hardware acceleration lets Chrome use your graphics card (GPU) to render videos and animations more smoothly. However, with outdated or buggy graphics drivers, this feature can sometimes cause crashes.

If you notice Chrome crashes when playing YouTube videos or other media, try disabling hardware acceleration.

How to turn off hardware acceleration:

1. Open Chrome (if it stays open long enough).
2. Type this into the address bar and press Enter: chrome://settings/system
3. Find Use hardware acceleration when available.
4. Turn off the toggle.
5. Click Relaunch to restart Chrome.

If Chrome becomes stable after disabling this option, you may need to update your graphics drivers or keep hardware acceleration turned off.

Run System File Checker (SFC) and Scan for Malware

If core Windows system files are corrupted, or if your PC is infected with malware, Chrome and other programs can crash frequently.

Run System File Checker (SFC)

1. Press Start, type cmd.
2. Right‑click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
3. In the Command Prompt window, type: sfc /scannow and press Enter.
4. Wait for the scan to complete (this may take some time).
5. When it finishes, restart your PC.

SFC will automatically repair corrupted system files if possible.

Scan for malware and viruses

1. Open Windows Security:
   • Press Start, type Windows Security, and press Enter.
2. Click Virus & threat protection.
3. Click Quick scan, or Scan options > Full scan for a deeper check.
4. Remove or quarantine any threats that are found.

For extra safety, you can also run a scan with a reputable third‑party anti‑malware tool like Malwarebytes.

After cleaning malware and repairing system files, test Chrome again.

Launch Chrome with the –no‑sandbox Flag (Temporary Test Only)

Chrome’s sandbox is a security feature that isolates browser processes from the system. In rare cases, issues with the sandbox can contribute to crashes. Launching Chrome with the --no-sandbox flag can help you diagnose whether the sandbox is involved—but it reduces security, so this should only be used temporarily for testing.

Warning: Do not use --no-sandbox as a permanent fix. It makes Chrome less secure and more vulnerable to malicious websites.

How to test Chrome with –no‑sandbox:

1. Close all Chrome windows.
2. Right‑click the Chrome shortcut on your desktop and choose Properties.
3. On the Shortcut tab, locate the Target field.
4. At the end of the existing text (after chrome.exe"), type a space and add: --no-sandbox The Target line should look similar to: "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --no-sandbox
5. Click OK to save.
6. Use this shortcut to launch Chrome.

If Chrome only works with --no-sandbox and still crashes without it, there may be a deeper issue with your Windows user account or security software.

When you’re done testing, remove --no-sandbox from the shortcut Target field to restore normal, secure behavior.

When Chrome Keeps Crashing Even After These Fixes

If you’ve tried all the steps above and Chrome still crashes on startup, consider the following:

• Check for Windows updates:
  • Go to Settings > Windows Update and install all pending updates. Sometimes Microsoft fixes compatibility issues with newer builds.
• Test in another user account:
  • Create a new Windows user profile and see if Chrome works there. If it does, your original Windows profile may be corrupted.
• Try a different browser temporarily:
  • Use Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or Opera while you continue troubleshooting. This keeps you productive while you diagnose the problem.

If Chrome crashes even in a new Windows user account and after a clean reinstall, you may be dealing with deeper system or hardware problems (RAM, disk errors, etc.). In that case, consider checking your system for hardware issues or consulting a technician.

Frequently Asked Questions