If you have upgraded to Windows 11 and are experiencing Chrome freezing or crashing randomly, you’re not alone. This issue has been reported by many users, and it can be frustrating, especially if you rely on Chrome for work or other important tasks.
However, there are several solutions that you can try to fix the issue and prevent it from happening again. In this article, we will discuss various solutions that you can use to resolve the problem of Chrome freezing on Windows 11.
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Possible Causes of Chrome Freezing on Windows 11
Before we dive into the solutions, let’s look at some of the possible causes of Chrome freezing on Windows 11. There could be several reasons why your browser is not working properly, including:
- Compatibility issues between Chrome and Windows 11
- Issue with your Chrome extensions (e.g. outdated extension)
- Conflicting software or programs running in the background
- Outdated Chrome or graphics drivers
- Low memory
- Malware or virus affecting your system
Now that we’ve covered some of the possible causes, let’s move on to some solutions that can help resolve the issue.
Check Chrome Extensions
Chrome extensions can often be the cause of the problem of Chrome freezing on Windows 11. If you suspect that an extension may be causing the issue, you can disable all extensions (including adblock) and see if the issue is resolved. You can also try running Chrome in incognito mode, which disables all extensions, to see if the issue persists. If Chrome stops freezing, re-enable your extensions one by one to determine which one is causing the problem.
- Open Chrome and click on the three-dots menu icon in the upper right corner of Chrome’s window.
- Select “More tools” from the drop-down menu and then click on “Extensions“.
- In the Extensions page, turn off all extensions by toggling the switch next to each extension.
- Once all extensions are turned off, check if the issue persists.
- If the issue does not occur in incognito mode or with all extensions turned off, then enable extensions one by one and check which one is causing the issue.
Check for Malware or Harmful Software
Malware or harmful software can cause Chrome to freeze on Windows 11. Chrome has a built-in harmful software detector that can help in finding and cleaning up malware on your system. Here’s how to use the feature.
- Open Chrome and click on the three-dots menu icon in the upper right corner of the Chrome’s window.
- Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu, or you can simply copy and paste “
chrome://settings” to the address bar in Chrome to open the Settings page. - On the left pane, select “Reset and clean up“.
- Next, select “Clean up computer“.
- Click on the “Find” button under “Find harmful software” section.
- Wait until the scan is complete and follow the instructions provided to remove any harmful software detected.
- After cleaning up the harmful software, try resetting Chrome by going back to “Reset and clean up” and selecting “Restore settings to their original defaults“. Before resetting, make sure to read the details about what will be reset.
- Restart your PC and Chrome, and check if the issue is resolved.
In addition to using Chrome’s built-in software, you should also run a full scan using your antivirus software or Windows Security to check your computer for threats.
Similar issue: Chrome or Firefox keeps opening new tabs virus on its own (Fix)
Update Windows, Chrome and graphics driver
Outdated software can cause compatibility issues and result in Chrome freezing on Windows 11. To prevent this, it is important to ensure that your Windows 11, Chrome, and GPU drivers are all up-to-date.
To update your Windows 11 system, you can run Windows Update to check for any available updates. For Chrome, you can download the latest version directly from the Google website. To update your graphics driver, you should visit the website of your GPU manufacturer to download the latest version.
After updating your software, check to see if the issue is resolved. Updating your software can bring in new features, security updates, and bug fixes that can help resolve any conflicts, improve system performance, and prevent future issues.
Check Task Manager and Resource Monitor
Task Manager and Resource Monitor are useful tools for checking the performance of your system and identifying any programs or processes that may be using up too much resources, causing other apps such as Chrome to freeze. You can use these tools to determine what changes when the slowdowns occur, what resources are being used to what extent (%), and what is using any given resource.
To open Task Manager, you can press Ctrl + Shift + E shortcut keys. You can use Task Manager to view running processes and applications, as well as the system resource usage such as CPU, memory, disk, and network usage.
Suggested read: How to Limit CPU Usage of a Process in Windows 11
Resource Monitor is a more advanced tool that provides a detailed overview of your system’s resource usage. You can open Resource Monitor by typing “resource monitor” into the Windows search bar and selecting the application from the search results. Resource Monitor allows you to view real-time data about your system’s performance and provides a detailed breakdown of CPU, memory, disk, and network usage.
Process Explorer is another helpful tool that can help you identify the processes that are using up too many resources. It is a free tool available from Microsoft’s website. Once you’ve identified the process that’s causing the issue, you can try closing it or ending the task to free up system resources.
Also see: How to Know Which Process is Using a File in Windows 11
Disable Hardware Acceleration
Hardware acceleration can sometimes cause compatibility issues and result in Chrome freezing on Windows 11. To disable hardware acceleration, follow these steps:
- Open Chrome and click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of the window.
- Select “System” from the left pane.
- Toggle the switch next to “Use hardware acceleration when available” to the “Off” position.
- Restart Chrome and check if the issue is resolved.
Free up memory
If your computer is running low on memory, it may not be able to load the website you’re trying to access while running other apps, extensions, and programs. To free up memory, you can try the following:
- Close every tab and window except for the one that’s freezing.
- Quit other apps or programs that are running.
- Pause any app or file downloads.
- Uninstall extensions you don’t need.
By freeing up memory, you may be able to reduce the strain on your system and improve the performance of Chrome.
Use SFC /scannow
SFC (System File Checker) is a Windows tool that checks and repairs system files. It can sometimes fix issues that cause Chrome to freeze on Windows 11.
- Go to the Start menu and type “Command Prompt“.
- Right-click on “Command Prompt” in the search results and select “Run as administrator“.
- In the Command Prompt window, type “
sfc /scannow” (without quotes) and press Enter.
- Wait for the scan to complete, then restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.
Try a different browser
If none of the solutions above work, it might be worth trying a different browser. Some users have reported that switching to Mozilla Firefox other browsers has solved their Chrome freezing issue. It’s also possible that Microsoft Edge may work better with Windows 11 since it is a Microsoft product.
To sum it up
Chrome freezing on Windows 11 can be a frustrating issue, but there are several solutions you can try to fix the problem. By checking for malware, updating Windows and Chrome, disabling hardware acceleration, and using Task Manager and Resource Monitor, you may be able to identify and fix the issue.
If none of these solutions work, it might be worth trying a different browser. Remember to keep your system and software up-to-date to avoid compatibility issues and to always be vigilant against malware and viruses. We hope this article has provided you with some helpful information on how to fix the Chrome freezing issue on Windows 11.
