Fix Google Chrome Not Working on Windows 11 With These Methods
Despite Microsoft’s resilient efforts to push down our throats its in-house Edge over the years, Google’s Chrome still seems to be the default and preferred browser for many Windows users.
Unfortunately, since Microsoft started rolling out the latest iteration of Windows, reports of the new operating system preventing Chrome from working properly keep surfacing. And it’s safe to say this stemmed from the fact that Windows 11 itself is riddled with bugs that are detrimental to the functionality of not just Chrome but other third-party apps as well.
If you’re also experiencing crashes while using launching Chrome, you can try one of the fixes below to eradicate the problem permanently:
Restart Windows
Before delving into more technical fixes for Chrome not working on Windows 11, try restarting your device, as it may turn out to be all you need to get Chrome working normally again. Some partitioned Chrome background processes might be what’s hindering it from functioning properly.
Ensure Chrome is Up-to-date
Google pushes updates to Chrome regularly to address issues from previous builds and improve existing features. If Chrome isn’t opening at all to let you check if there’s an update, you can head over to the Windows store to ascertain if there’s any. You’ll see an update button on the app store if you’re running an outdated version.
Use Windows Troubleshooter
The performance issues with Chrome might have stemmed from compatibility issues on Windows 11. While Windows 11 is visually stunning, its aesthetics is ruined by bugs. And you can detect where this is coming from by running the in-house Window troubleshooter.
- Go to the desktop and right-click on the Chrome icon
- Select Properties from the context menu
- Under Properties, go to the Compatibility tab and select Run Compatibility Troubleshooter
- A new window will spring up, in which you’ll need to follow a few prompts to detect the issue with Chrome and fix it
Erase User Profile
There is a possibility of the sync feature on Chrome causing disruptions in functionality, and there are two ways to address this.
First, if you’re still able to open Chome but it only crashes amid usage, launch it again and quickly click on your profile in the top-right corner. Next, click on the settings icon, and a page with “Who’s using Chrome” as the header will open next.
Click on the three dots next to the profile icon and select delete from the options. Lastly, restart Chrome and try logging in again after a stable usage.
Alternatively, if your Chrome is not opening at all, locate the directory “%Userprofile%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data” via File Explorer.
Once in the User Data folder, you’ll find a folder named Default; right-click on it and select Delete. Restart Windows once the deletion is completed.
Reinstall Chrome
Consider this a last resort if all the previous methods didn’t work. If your account is logged in and you have all bookmarks and passwords synced, you should have no issues using this method.
- Go to Chrome’s official website here
- Click on Download for the exe file
- Open the downloaded file and follow the prompts to complete the installation.
Final Notes
While there are multiple reports of Chrome crashing or not opening at all on Windows 11, it’s a trivial issue, to say the least. One of the methods above should fix it, particularly the one recommending reinstallation.
