How to Fix Google Chrome Freezing on Windows 10

David Darlington

Jan 27, 2024 • Filed to: Windows Computer Solutions • Proven solutions

As perhaps the most popular web browser in the market, users expect that Google Chrome will always work and for the most part the browser doesn't disappoint. But lately, Windows 10 users have reported that the browser has been causing their computers to freeze. This problem has affected a lot of Google Chrome users who complain that it can occur right in the middle of their work, causing them to have to start over or even causing data loss.

Although it has been blamed on a bug that tells your computer to treat Chrome like a virus, this problem can also be caused by several other issues. But fortunately, the problem can also be easily fixed by some of the solutions we shall see in this article.

Part 1: Why Does Chrome Cause My Computer to Freeze?

The major cause of this problem is a new bug that first appeared in December 2018. Like most bugs that may infiltrate your system, this bug affecting Google Chrome, in particular, appeared as a phishing scam that was related to Microsoft tech support. It appeared as a dialogue box that claimed to be from Microsoft warning you that your computer is infected with a virus that may compromise the system, passwords, and any other personal information you may have on your computer.

When you try to close the dialogue box, it just pops up again since it is designed to loop instead of close. The recurrent loop of this fraudulent message can case Google Chrome's usage in Windows 10 to surge to 100% causing Chrome and the system itself to crash.

Part 2: 5 Methods to Fix Google Chrome from Freezing on Windows 10

But like we mentioned above, there are several things you can do to fix this problem and keep your Windows 10 computer from freezing. They include the following;

Method 1: End Task to Fix Chrome Freezes Windows 10

One of the best solutions to this problem is using the task manager to effectively close Google Chrome. This solution is effective because it prevents Chrome from using your system's resources. To use "End Task" to fix Chrome freezing Windows 10, follow these simple steps;

Step 1: Right-click on the Windows 10 taskbar to open the Task Manager. You can also use the keys "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" to open Task Manager.

Step 2: Click on the "Processes" tab

Step 3: Locate "Google Chrome" or "GoogleChrome.exe" and select it. Click on "End Task" at the bottom right corner.

You can use Google Chrome again by re-launching the program as long as you haven't set Chrome to automatically restore tabs.

Method 2: Clear Browsing Data

This issue can also occur if you open too many tabs at once and Google Chrome is sort of overloaded. The best way to remove the excess data that can bog down Chrome is to clear the browsing data regularly. Follow these simple steps to do it;

Step 1: Open Chrome on your computer and then click on the three dots at the top right corner.

Step 2: Click on "More" and then click "Clear Browsing Data". You can also use the "Ctrl + Shift + Delete" keyboard shortcut

Step 3: Click on the "Advanced" tab and then select the items you would like to remove and click on "Clear Data."

Method 3: Disable Chrome Add-Ons and Extensions

Although Chrome extensions and add-ons can be very helpful in helping users access some useful services, they can also really bog down Chrome, causing it to freeze sometimes. Therefore, it may be useful to disable these extensions and add-ons particularly if Chrome has been experiencing issues lately. Here's how to disable Chrome Add-Ons and Extensions;

Step 1: Open Chrome on your computer and type in "chrome: //extensions" in the address bar and press "Enter" to access all extensions and add-ons in Chrome. You can also click on the three dots in the right corner and choose "More Tools" to find "Extensions"

Step 2: In the pop-up window that appears and turn off extensions to disable them.

Step 3: Restart the browser to complete the process.

Method 4: Check for Malware

This problem can also occur when Chrome is infected by Malware and Viruses or if Chrome is somehow in conflict with other programs on your computer. Both of these problems can be easily fixed by resetting Chrome to its default settings. Here's how to do it;

Step 1: Open Chrome and then click on the three dots at the top right corner. Select "Settings" to continue.

Step 2: Click on "Advanced"

Step 3: Go to the "Reset and clean-up" section and click on "Reset Settings to their Original Defaults"

Step 4: Click on "Reset Settings" to complete the process.

Method 5: Uninstall and Reinstall Google Chrome

If Google Chrome is still freezing even after you try all the solutions above, it may be time to reinstall the browser. A clean reinstall will clear any malware, viruses, and settings issues that could be causing the problem. Follow these simple steps to uninstall and then reinstall Chrome;

Step 1: Open Windows 10 Settings (You can do that from the "Start Menu") and then click on "Apps"

Step 2: Locate Google Chrome under the "Apps & Features" tab. Click on it and then click "Uninstall"

Step 3: Once the program has been fully uninstalled, restart your computer, and then reinstall windows from the official Chrome installation website.

Chrome can freeze from time to time and even if you don't see the warning message we talked about above. But one or more of the solutions we've described above should be able to help you fix this problem once and for all. By the way, you can also fix Google Chrome black screen issue.

More Related: How to Backup Chrome History and Bookmarks?

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