Google Chrome Crashes On Startup, here is how to fix

If you’re experiencing the frustration of Google Chrome crashes on startup, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take. From disabling extensions to updating Chrome and creating a new user profile, this blog post explores various solutions to fix this issue.

Let’s begin with some common causes of why Google Chrome crashes on startup.

Common Causes of Google Chrome Crashes on Startup

Google Chrome crashes on startup can be a frustrating issue for users. There can be various reasons behind Chrome crashing on startup, such as incompatible extensions or plugins, corrupted user profiles, or conflicts with other software. This article will explore these common causes and provide some troubleshooting steps to help resolve the issue.

Consequences of Google Chrome Crashes on Startup

When Chrome fails to launch correctly, it can have various consequences that hinder the browsing experience, such as the famous “aw snap” error. Two expected consequences of Chrome crashes on startup are the loss of data and the inability to browse the internet.

Loss of Data

One significant consequence of Google Chrome crashing on startup is the potential data loss. When Chrome crashes, any unsaved work or open tabs may be lost. This can be particularly troublesome for users who rely on Chrome for essential tasks or who have multiple tabs open with valuable information.

To mitigate the risk of data loss, it is advisable to regularly save work and use Chrome’s built-in feature to restore tabs after a crash. This feature enables Chrome to restore previously open tabs automatically when the browser is relaunched after a crash. Additionally, it is always a good practice to periodically back up important data to prevent permanent loss in case of unexpected crashes.

Inability to Browse the Internet

Another consequence of Google Chrome crashing on startup is the inability to browse the internet. When Chrome fails to launch correctly, users may be unable to access websites, search for information, or perform online tasks.

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There can be various reasons behind the inability to browse the internet due to Chrome crashes on startup. Incompatible extensions or plugins, corrupted user profiles, or conflicts with other software can all contribute to this issue. To troubleshoot the problem, follow the steps in this guide.

How to fix Google Chrome Crashes On Startup

Incompatible extensions or plugins

One of the main culprits behind Google Chrome crashes on startup is incompatible extensions or plugins. These are additional software components that enhance the functionality of Chrome but can sometimes cause conflicts. When incompatible extensions or plugins are present, they can disrupt the startup process and lead to crashes.

To troubleshoot this issue, users can try disabling extensions individually to identify the problems. Here’s how:

Open Google Chrome and click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
Select “Extensions” and then “Manage extensions.”
Disable each extension one by one by toggling the switch next to it.
Specifically, disable new tabs, startup, or redirect extensions.
After disabling an extension, restart Chrome and check if the crash still occurs.
If the crash stops, the last disabled extension is likely the cause. Remove or update the extension to resolve the issue.

Corrupted user profiles

Another common cause of Google Chrome crashes on startup is corrupted user profiles. User profiles contain personal settings, bookmarks, and other data that make Chrome unique to each user. When a user profile becomes corrupted, it can lead to crashes during startup.

To address this issue, users can try creating a new user profile. Here’s how:

Open Google Chrome.
Click the “People” icon in the top-right corner.
Click “Add” and follow the prompts to create a new user profile.
Sign in to the new profile and check if the crash still occurs.
If the crash stops in the new profile, the original profile may be corrupted. You can transfer your data to the new profile and delete the old one to resolve the issue.

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Conflicts with other software

Conflicts with other software installed on your computer can cause Google Chrome to crash on startup. Specific programs or applications may interfere with Chrome’s operation, leading to crashes.

To troubleshoot this issue, users should check for and remove any incompatible programs or software. Here’s how:

Open the Control Panel on your computer.
Navigate to “Programs” or “Programs and Features”.
Look for any recently installed programs that may be causing conflicts.
Select the program and click “Uninstall” to remove it from your system.
Specifically, search for web protection software, antivirus, Adblock, password manager, or any software that interacts with the Chrome browser.
Restart your computer and check if the crash still occurs.

When you can’t open Google Chrome

If nothing is working, and you can’t open the Chrome browser without crashing you can reset Google Chrome by removing its settings folder. Doing so will reset Chrome to the default setting without reinstalling.

History, bookmarks, cookies, and cache will be deleted.

Start by accessing the Start menu on your computer.
In the search bar, type ‘Run’ and click on the option when it appears in the search results.
Alternatively, you can use a quicker method to open the Run dialog box. Hold down the Windows logo key on your keyboard and simultaneously press ‘R.’
The Run dialog box will now be displayed on your screen. Type or copy and paste “%appdata%” into the text field (without quotation marks), click the OK button, or press Enter on your keyboard. This action will take you to File Explorer with the path USER > AppData > Roaming.
Click on the AppData folder in the File Explorer’s address bar.
Inside the ‘AppData’ folder, locate and double-click on the ‘Local’ folder to open it.
Look for the ‘Google’ folder and open it.
Within the ‘Google’ folder, locate and double-click on the ‘Chrome’ folder.
Now, you will see a folder named ‘User Data.’ Open it.
Inside the ‘User Data’ folder, you will find a folder named ‘Default.’ Before deleting this folder, it’s advisable to create a backup. Right-click on the ‘Default’ folder, select ‘Copy’ from the context menu and then navigate to a different location, such as an external hard drive or USB drive. Right-click on a blank area and choose ‘Paste’ from the context menu to create the backup.
Close your Chrome browser entirely by clicking the red ‘x’ button in the window’s top-right corner.
Return to the ‘User Data’ folder within the ‘Chrome’ folder.
Right-click on the ‘Default’ folder and select ‘Delete.’ This action will reset your Google Chrome browser to its default settings. The browser will be restored to its original state, and all history, bookmarks, cookies, and cache will be cleared.

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Uninstall and Reinstall Google Chrome

If none of the above solutions work, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling Google Chrome. Here’s how:

Open the Control Panel on your Windows computer.
Navigate to “Programs” or “Programs and Features.”
Locate Google Chrome in the list of installed programs.
Right-click on Google Chrome and select “Uninstall.”
Follow the prompts to uninstall Chrome.
Download the latest version of Google Chrome from the official website.
Install Chrome and check if Google Chrome is starting normally without issues.

I hope this helped resolve the startup crashes with Google Chrome. Thank you for reading!

Also read: Google Chrome is not working.