How to Fix Slow Performance in Google Chrome

Edited 3 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Google Chrome is one of the most popular web browsers worldwide, renowned for its speed and simplicity. However, despite its strong performance, users sometimes encounter slow performance issues that can be frustrating. This guide will explore various strategies to reduce sluggish performance in Chrome, ensuring a smooth browsing experience.

Introduction to slow performance problems in Chrome

Slow performance in Google Chrome can manifest in a variety of ways, such as pages taking a long time to load, delayed responses to input, and stuttering when scrolling. This can be caused by a number of factors, including hardware limitations, software conflicts, and settings within Chrome.

Check overall CPU usage and memory consumption

One of the common reasons for slow performance is high CPU and memory consumption. Chrome is a resource-intensive application, and when a lot of tabs are open or extensions are active, it can slow down.

Use Chrome Task Manager:

To identify which tabs or extensions are using the most resources, Chrome comes with a built-in task manager. Here's how you can use it:

• Click on the three vertical dots (menu) in the upper-right corner of the browser.
• Go to "More Tools" and then select "Task Manager."
• In Task Manager, you’ll see a list of all open tabs and extensions along with their CPU and memory usage.
• If you think a tab or extension is consuming too many resources, you can select it and click the “End Process” button to close it.

By closing resource-heavy tabs and extensions, you can free up memory and CPU resources, which may resolve slow performance issues.

Clear browsing data

Over time, Chrome stores various caches, cookies, and other browsing data on your device. Although these files are meant to speed up your browsing experience, sometimes they can become corrupted or bloated, causing performance issues.

To clear your browsing data, follow these steps:

• Open the Chrome menu by clicking the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
• Select "Settings" from the menu.
• Scroll down and click "Privacy and Security."
• Click "Clear browsing data."
• In the dialog that appears, select a time range. For a full cleanup, select "All time."
• Check the boxes for "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files."
• Click "Clear data".

By regularly clearing your browsing data, you can ensure that old or corrupted files don't affect Chrome's performance.

Disable unnecessary extensions

Extensions are great tools to enhance the functionality of your browser. However, some extensions can slow down Chrome by consuming resources. Disabling unnecessary extensions can help improve performance.

Here's how you can remove unwanted extensions:

• Open the Chrome menu by clicking the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
• Select "Extensions" followed by "More Tools."
• You will see a list of installed extensions. Review them and decide which ones are not necessary.
• To disable an extension, turn off the switch next to the extension's name.
• To permanently remove an extension, click "Delete."

By managing your extensions wisely, you can prevent Chrome from becoming cluttered with unnecessary functionalities that affect its speed.

Update Google Chrome

Making sure Chrome is up-to-date is important to maintain its performance and security. Updates often include performance improvements and bug fixes.

To check for updates:

• Open the Chrome menu by clicking the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
• Select "Help" followed by "About Google Chrome."
• Chrome will check for updates and automatically install any available updates.
• After the update, click “Relaunch” to finish the process.

Keeping your Chrome browser updated will help reduce performance issues caused by out-of-date software.

Adjust Chrome settings

Chrome offers many settings that you can configure to improve its performance. Adjusting these settings can sometimes lead to significant improvements.

Disable hardware acceleration:

Although hardware acceleration can improve performance by using your computer's GPU for tasks, it can sometimes cause problems on some systems. To disable it:

• Open Chrome's menu and go to "Settings."
• Scroll down and click "Advanced."
• Under the “System” section, turn off the switch for “Use hardware acceleration when available.”
• Restart Chrome to apply the changes.

Switch to a simpler new tab page:

Some themes or extensions modify the default new tab page, which can slow down Chrome.

• Make sure only essential extensions are activated, or disable extensions that modify the New Tab page.
• For users who want a minimalist approach, using the default Chrome new tab page might be a better option.

Reset Chrome settings

If the changes you made to Chrome are causing problems, resetting Chrome to its default settings may help. This action will disable all extensions and restore the default search engine, but it will preserve your bookmarks and saved passwords.

To reset Chrome settings:

• Open the Chrome menu and go to "Settings."
• Scroll down and click "Advanced."
• Under the "Reset and clean up" section, click "Restore settings to their original defaults."
• A dialog will appear; click "Reset Settings" to confirm.

By resetting the settings, you can eliminate performance problems resulting from incorrect configuration.

Scan for malware

Malware can also slow down Chrome's performance by hijacking your browser's operations. Running regular scans can help detect and remove malware from your system.

Use Chrome's built-in cleanup tools:

• Type chrome://settings/cleanup in Chrome's address bar and press Enter.
• Click "Find" to let Chrome scan for and remove harmful software.

Alternatively, using a reputable anti-malware software to perform a full system scan can help ensure that no malicious software is affecting your browser's performance.

Optimize system performance

Although the above steps focus on optimizing Chrome, the overall performance of your system can also affect Chrome's operation.

Increase RAM or upgrade hardware:

If your computer is older or has limited RAM, upgrading these components can significantly improve Chrome's performance, especially if you use many tabs at once.

Limit background apps:

• Having too many applications running in the background can also put a strain on your system’s resources.
• Try closing unnecessary applications to allocate more resources to Chrome.

Adjust advanced features of Chrome

Some advanced settings within Chrome can be toggled to further improve performance. These options can be accessed through the experimental features page, which is primarily designed for developers or experienced users.

To access experimental features:

• Type chrome://flags in the address bar and press Enter.
• Experiment with toggling individual features using the drop-down menus next to them.

Note: Toggling these features can cause instability, so proceed with caution and change the settings only if you understand their implications.

Override software rendering list:

This option allows Chrome to use GPU acceleration even on hardware/software that doesn't officially support it. Enable with caution.

GPU Rasterization:

Enabling this setting allows Chrome to offload more work to the GPU, which can improve performance, especially on devices with powerful graphics hardware.

Final words: Dealing with slow performance in Chrome requires understanding both the application and the underlying system that runs it. By employing a combination of settings adjustments, resource management, and regular maintenance, you can restore and maintain an optimal browsing environment.

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