Google Chrome Slow to Open – How to Fix It

We all have our favorite browsers and we all have misconceptions about its peers. You've probably heard many people complain about Google Chrome, saying it "gets slow" after a while. They are probably unaware that most other browsers experience slowness at some point.

Before telling your friend that he was right and your Google Chrome really started slipping, you should try to fix this problem. Make no mistake about it, any browser you choose can start experiencing similar issues. Rather than switching between browsers, try fixing the one you prefer. If you're trying to open Chrome only to experience slow performance, you're not alone.

Fixing Chrome slow launch can make Chrome run a lot faster, and make your browsing experience much better. Here's how to fix slow opening with Google Chrome.

Common reasons why browsers are slow to open

One of the most common problems with browsers, in general, starts when the browser takes forever to load. Now you can blame Windows; after all, it's a rather buggy OS, in which case an OS reinstall is due. But what's the problem if everything works correctly or completely on your operating system. Well, you definitely won't be reinstalling the whole system because Chrome is malfunctioning, will you?

Of course not. But neither should you jump ship and join another team of sailors. Why? As mentioned, this can also happen on Firefox, Opera, even Safari.

It's a rather annoying problem. You've probably even got into the habit of loading up your PC, clicking the Chrome icon, going to the kitchen to make a coffee, and returning to a semi-functional browser. You don't want to put up with this habit, that's for sure.

Some users have even reported that the browser takes up to 15 minutes to load. Now that's just outrageous!

The underlying cause here is not singular. It's likely a number of issues that contribute to Chrome loading slowly. Here's how to fix it.

Restart the router

It might sound like something a tech support guy would say, but they always mention it for a reason – it happens more often than you might think. Whatever the problem with an application that uses the Internet, your first fix should be restarting your router.

1. If there is a dedicated on/off button on your router, press it.
2. Then disconnect all cables (including the AC adapter). Leave on for about five minutes.
3. Now reconnect everything and see if Chrome loads faster. Most likely, this won't fix the problem, but it may save you unnecessary trouble.

Reset network adapter

Similar to the router, your network adapter may be misbehaving. To do this, you will need to use the command prompt.

1. Open the Start menu, type “Command Prompt”, and select Execute as administrator.
2. Now type “netsh winsock reset” and press Enter.
3. Restart the system and see if that fixed your problem.

Disable extensions

Chrome extensions are one of the culprits for slow Chrome startup. Although they are the pride and joy of the browser, some might disagree with your PC. This is why a simple reinstallation does not help; Chrome lets you use your Google Account for quick setup. It automatically loads all your extensions and settings when you log in.

1. Open Chrome and click on the menu icon in the corner.
2. Select More tools> Extensions.
3. Next, click on the toggle switches next to your extensions to turn them off.
4. Now turn everything off, restart your computer and try to run Chrome. If it loads quickly, one or more of your extensions are simply taking too long to load.

Disable hardware acceleration

Hardware acceleration sounds like something that helps things happen faster. This feature helps your PC perform certain hardware operations as efficiently as possible. Sometimes, however, it tries to perform hardware operations as efficiently as possible. This often leads to slow startup issues, which is common in many programs, including Chrome.

Many programs use hardware acceleration, even video games, so you can always try disabling it if the app in question is taking a long time to load.

1. For Chrome, open the browser and click Customize and control Google Chrome (the three dots in the upper right corner of the browser).
2. From the drop-down list, select Parameters.
3. Now click Advanced > System, it is located on the left side of the screen.
4. Then click the toggle switch to Use hardware acceleration if available to off. A Revive option will appear. Click on it to stop Chrome, restart it automatically and see if the slow loading issue still occurs.

Rename Default Folder

As mentioned earlier, reinstalling the Chrome app will not help you. When you reinstall Chrome and sign into your Google account, it automatically loads all your settings and extensions. However, when syncing your account, you can select which settings/extensions you want to import.

Everything that makes your profile yours resides in a certain folder on a computer you are currently using. Every time you sync your Chrome account to another laptop, Chrome downloads that same folder to the device. In order to try and speed up the Chrome loading process on a particular device, you should try creating a new folder. It's the Defect folder and it is in your Google Chrome directory.

1. Open File Explorer, type “C:Users[Username]AppDataLocalGoogleChromeUser Data” and press Enter. To automatically access the folder in question, open the Run program and paste it in the address bar: "%LocalAppData%GoogleChromeUser Data".
2. Now find the default folder and rename it, say, "Default Backup". Try running Google Chrome to see if that fixed the problem.

Google Chrome loading issues

There are many underlying causes that can cause your Chrome to load slowly on you. At least one of the mentioned solutions should work. However, if not, make sure to contact Google Chrome support and let them know about your problem. They should help you fix it and help you continue using your favorite browser.

Have you encountered similar issues? How did you solve it? Which of the mentioned solutions helped you? Did you suggest another? Feel free to join the discussion in the comments section below and share your thoughts/questions/ideas.

Resources:

https://appuals.com/fix-chrome-takes-forever-to-load-on-windows-10/

https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/how-to-fix-chrome-slow-easily/

Photo links:

https://pixabay.com/vectors/browser-internet-web-search-tab-1666982/

A personal screenshot