If Google Chrome will not download, install, or open correctly, this guide walks through the most common causes and fixes. It also explains when an offline installer can help and what to check before trying again.
Start Here: Quick Checklist
- Restart your computer and try again.
- Check that your internet connection is stable.
- Make sure your operating system is supported and up to date.
- Check that a VPN, proxy, firewall or download filter is not blocking the download.
- Only download Chrome from the official Google download page.
How to Do an Offline Install of Chrome
The normal Windows installer is small and downloads the rest of Chrome during setup. If that fails, Google says to use an offline installer: a complete installer you can download once (even on a different computer) and run without downloading anything during setup.
Windows Offline Install Steps
- Open the official Chrome download page.
- At the bottom of the page, under Chrome Family, select Other Platforms, then choose the operating system of the computer you want to install Chrome on.
- Download the file and, if needed, move it to that computer.
- Run the file. If Windows asks “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?”, select Yes.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete installation.
macOS Offline Install Steps
- Download the Chrome installer from the official Chrome download page.
- Open the file named
googlechrome.dmg. - Drag Chrome into the Applications folder. You may have to enter the admin password. If you can’t, Google says you can drag Chrome to a place where you have full permissions, such as your desktop.
- In the Finder sidebar, select Eject next to Chrome.
- Open Chrome from Applications.
Linux Offline Install Steps
- Download the correct package from the official Chrome download page: the .deb package for Debian and Ubuntu, or the .rpm package for Fedora and openSUSE (x86-64, or arm64 for ARM computers).
- Open the package with your software installer, select Install, and enter your administrator password.
- Launch Chrome from your applications menu. Google adds Chrome to your package manager so it keeps getting updates.
Fix: Chrome Download Fails
- Try a different browser: Use Edge, Safari, or Firefox to download Chrome.
- Disable VPN or proxy: Corporate networks and VPNs sometimes block download hosts.
- Check free disk space: Low disk space can cause downloads and installs to fail.
- Try another network: If possible, test a mobile hotspot to rule out ISP or router filtering.
Fix: Installer Will Not Run (Windows)
- Allow the installer to make changes: If Windows asks “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?”, select Yes. If you are not an administrator and the install fails, contact the computer’s administrator.
- Windows in S mode: Google says Chrome can’t be installed in S mode. You can switch out of S mode for free in the Microsoft Store, but you can’t switch back.
- Antivirus software: Google says some antivirus software can stop Chrome from installing. Its fix is to turn the antivirus off, download Chrome again from google.com/chrome, reinstall, and then turn the antivirus back on straight away. Only do this with an installer you downloaded from Google.
- Re-download the installer: The file may be incomplete or corrupted.
- Error 0x80070070: Your system disk (usually C:) is full. Free up space and try again.
Fix: Chrome Installs but Will Not Open
- Restart the device: This clears locked files and stuck background processes.
- End Chrome processes: On Windows, open Task Manager and end chrome.exe tasks.
- Remove conflicting extensions: If Chrome opens then crashes, try starting without extensions.
- Create a new user profile: A corrupted profile can prevent Chrome from launching properly.
Fix: Installation Errors and How to Resolve Them
“Installation failed” or “Update failed”
- Check your date and time settings. Incorrect system time can break secure downloads.
- Disable VPN, proxy, or restrictive firewall rules temporarily.
- Make sure Windows Update or system updates are not pending a restart.
- For update errors, see how to fix Chrome update problems.
“This app can’t run on your PC”
- Verify your Windows version meets Chrome requirements.
- Make sure you are not on an unsupported edition or very old version of Windows. On a Windows computer with an ARM processor, Chrome needs Windows 11.
- Re-download the installer from the official source.
macOS “Chrome is damaged and can’t be opened”
- Delete Chrome from Applications and reinstall from the official Chrome download page.
- Make sure you are using the correct macOS version supported by Chrome.
- Confirm your download is not being altered by a security tool.
Confirm Chrome Is Installed and Up to Date
Once Chrome launches successfully, select More (⋮) > Help > About Google Chrome. Chrome checks for updates on this page, and you select Relaunch to apply one. For more, see how to update Chrome.
When to Try a Different Approach
- If installation fails repeatedly on one network, try another network to confirm it is not blocked.
- If Chrome opens then crashes instantly, test with a new Chrome profile.
- If you are on a managed work computer, your organization may restrict installations.
If you still cannot install Chrome, uninstall any partial Chrome install, restart your device, then reinstall from the official Google download page. Google’s fix issues when you install Chrome page lists more error codes.