Why is Google Chrome so Slow? How to Speed it Up in 2025
Although Google Chrome is a widely used web browser, users frequently report experiencing performance issues that can lead to an extremely poor surfing experience. This blog post will cover several methods for increasing Chrome speed and enhancing functionality.
Why Is Google Chrome So Slow?
As cookies and cached files build up over time, Chrome may become slower as it handles and retains this information while users are surfing. Once more, using an out-of-date version of Chrome deprives you of security updates, bug patches, and speed enhancements that could make your experience slower.
Extensions and System Problems
Certain extensions might not be properly optimized, which would lead to them using more resources than required and slowing down the browser.
Because viruses and other malicious programs demand system resources, their presence might cause serious Chrome performance issues.
Chrome may have trouble operating on a computer with insufficient RAM or storage, which can cause delays in page loading and general responsiveness.
The user’s browsing experience may be impacted by slow internet connections, which might cause delays in the loading of online pages.
How to Make Chrome Faster?
Because of its extensive feature set and robust ecosystem of extensions, which includes the iProVPN extension for Chrome, Google Chrome is the most widely used browser. However, these advantages also make Chrome prone to lag. We’ll walk you through a few actions in this section to restore your Chrome browser’s speed.
Clear Browsing Data
Chrome can run much faster if you regularly remove the cache and cookies from your browser. This guarantees that the browser won’t be overloaded with information, improving efficiency.
- Select the three vertical dots located in the Chrome window’s upper-right corner.
- Choose “Clear browsing history.”
- Select the period (last hour, last 24 hours, all time, etc.).
- Tick the boxes about “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and other site data.”
- To get rid of the selected browsing data, click “Clear data.”
Restart Your Browser Or Computer:
We advise you to restart Chrome and your computer to check if that resolves the issue before continuing. If not, consider attempting the following fixes.
To restart your browser, type chrome://restart in the Chrome address box.
Close Unused Tabs
Memory is quickly depleted by open tabs, and it’s really simple to keep a ton of tabs open. You’ll experience stuttering YouTube videos, browser crashes, and unresponsive other programs.
Use these Chrome bookmarking tactics to minimize the number of tabs you have open (similar techniques can be applied to other browsers):
- Save links to several tabs. Right-click in the open (grey) area next to the tab on your right to bookmark all of your tabs for later use. To bookmark every tab that is open, you may alternatively hit Ctrl + Shift + D (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + D (Mac).
- Close several tabs. Try a strategy that shuts only a portion of your tabs if closing every tab is too much. To close tabs, move them to the right, then right-click on the first tab in the line you wish to close, then choose Close tabs to the right from the menu. Select Close other tabs from the context menu when you just want one tab open.
- Close a particular group of tabs. Holding down the control (Ctrl) key while selecting the desired tabs will allow you to close that particular set of tabs. Next, use the drop-down menu to select any other choice or right-click to close them.
- Use a bookmark in place of an open tab. Use Ctrl + D to bookmark pages.
Did you unintentionally close something significant? To open the last tab or tabs you closed again, use Ctrl + Shift + T.
Update Chrome
Updating Chrome is essential for best performance. In order to take advantage of security updates, bug fixes, and performance enhancements, make sure you are using the most recent version of the browser.
- Click the three vertical dots to access the “Help” menu.
- Choose “Google Chrome Overview.”
- If there are any updates available, Chrome will install them automatically.
- To implement the modifications, relaunch the browser.
Switch Off Background Processes
In order to preserve system resources, limit background processes. Optimize Chrome’s settings to stop pointless processes from executing in the background, as this can improve browser performance.
- Click the three dots, then choose “Settings” to see the Chrome settings.
- Navigate to the bottom and select “Advanced.”
- Turn off the option to “Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed” under “System.”
Put Ad Blockers To Use
Because ads contain a lot of media, they can greatly slow down your browsing. Using an effective ad blocker will speed up Chrome. One of iProVPN’s app features is an ad blocker. Simply turn on the ad blocker and make sure your VPN is activated. The majority of display advertising will be prevented, preventing the need for your browser to load them.
Clean Up Your Computer
Delete from your computer any superfluous files, including cookies and temporary files. A system that is clear of clutter performs better overall.
- To get rid of unwanted files, use Windows Disk Cleanup, an integrated program.
- Click the Start menu, type “Disk Cleanup,” choose the drive, and adhere to the instructions.
Look For Malicious Software
Chrome’s speed can be significantly decreased by malware. In addition to safeguarding your device, virus scanning can enhance browser functionality.
Resetting Chrome’s settings (see below) to start over is the simplest method to make sure it is virus-free. It is possible, nevertheless, that the malware causing system slowdowns is located elsewhere on your device.
Reset Chrome Settings
Resetting Chrome to its original settings can be helpful if everything else fails. By removing any extensions, themes, and custom settings, this step may fix problems that are causing slowdowns. To accomplish this, take the following actions:
- Choose Settings by clicking the More button in the upper right corner of the browser;
- Choose Reset settings and then Restore settings to their original defaults.
- To ensure, choose Reset settings.
Disable Chrome’s Hardware Acceleration
Assigning complex computation jobs to specialized hardware, such a GPU, can let computers run with less CPU stress. This technique is known as hardware acceleration. This method is frequently applied, particularly in image processing. Things will go faster if hardware acceleration is enabled. However, it may also result in certain unforeseen problems, such as the Chrome sluggish issue.
If you’re experiencing slow and lagging Google Chrome, try disabling hardware acceleration. This is how you do it:
- Press the Menu icon. Choose “Settings” from the menu in the upper right corner.
- To view more options, go to the bottom and select “Advanced”.
- Click to disable “hardware acceleration when available” from the System section.
- Try restarting your Chrome browser to see if the delayed opening speed persists.
| Problem | Solution | Steps |
| Too Many Tabs | Close Unnecessary Tabs | Click “X” on tabs or right-click > Close Tab |
| Extensions and Plugins | Manage Extensions | More Tools > Extensions > Toggle off/remove |
| Outdated Software | Update Chrome and OS | Help > About Google Chrome > Update; Check OS updates |
| Cache and Cookies | Clear Browsing Data | Settings > Privacy > Clear Browsing Data |
| Malware or Adware | Scan for Malware | Settings > Advanced > Reset and clean up > Clean up computer |
| Hardware Acceleration | Disable Hardware Acceleration | Settings > Advanced > System > Toggle off hardware acceleration |
You can enjoy a smoother surfing experience and noticeably increase Google Chrome’s performance by following these instructions. To keep your browser operating smoothly, don’t forget to routinely clean out unwanted data and manage add-ons.
Final Thoughts
There are several ways to address Google Chrome slowness. Restart Chrome or your machine to get started. Simple difficulties can be solved with this way. Try disabling Chrome extensions and hardware acceleration, cleaning up browsing histories, caches, and malicious malware, updating Chrome, and other options if a restart doesn’t work.
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FAQs
- Why is Google Chrome so slow?
Google Chrome may slow down due to a buildup of cookies and cached files, outdated software versions, unoptimized extensions, system resource limitations, malware, or slow internet connections.
- How do cookies and cached files affect Chrome's performance?
Over time, accumulated cookies and cached files can overwhelm Chrome, causing it to slow down as it processes and stores this data while you browse.
- How can I make Google Chrome faster?
You can make Chrome faster by clearing browsing data, closing unused tabs, updating Chrome, disabling background processes, using ad blockers, cleaning up your computer, scanning for malware, resetting Chrome settings, and disabling hardware acceleration.
- How do I update Google Chrome?
- Click the three vertical dots to access the “Help” menu.
- Select “About Google Chrome.”
- Chrome will automatically check for updates and install them.
- Relaunch the browser to apply the updates.
- How do I check for and remove malware affecting Chrome?
- Open Chrome and go to Settings.
- Scroll down to “Advanced.”
- Under “Reset and clean up,” select “Clean up computer.”
- Follow the prompts to scan for and remove harmful software.
- What are some keyboard shortcuts to manage tabs in Chrome?
- Close a tab: Ctrl + W (Windows) or Cmd + W (Mac)
- Reopen the last closed tab: Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + T (Mac)
- Bookmark all open tabs: Ctrl + Shift + D (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + D (Mac)
- Can iProVPN help improve my browsing experience on Chrome?
Yes, iProVPN can enhance your browsing experience by blocking ads, protecting your privacy, and securing your internet connection, which can contribute to better performance and a smoother browsing experience.
