Chrome is still supported on Windows 10, so the usual suspects are too many tabs and programs running at once, an extension, a graphics problem or unwanted software. First check whether Chrome or something else is using up the PC, then work down the fixes below.
- Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select Task manager. Under Processes, see whether Google Chrome or another program is using the most CPU and memory.
- If it is Chrome, press Shift + Esc inside Chrome to open Chrome’s own Task Manager, select a tab or extension you don’t need, and select End process (End task in newer versions).
- In Chrome, select the three-dot More menu > Settings > Performance and turn on Memory Saver.
- Update Chrome: More > Help > About Google Chrome, then Relaunch if it asks. Our update guide has more help.
Is Windows 10 still supported?
Yes. Google’s Chrome system requirements list Windows 10 or later on computers with an Intel processor, and the support table shows no end date scheduled for Chrome on Windows 10, even though Microsoft ended its own support for Windows 10 in October 2025. On a computer with an ARM processor, Chrome needs Windows 11. If Chrome is missing or broken, get a fresh copy from our Chrome for Windows page.
Find what is slowing Chrome down
Chrome’s Task Manager lists every tab, extension and background process. Press Shift + Esc, or select More > More tools > Task Manager. Select Memory to sort by memory use, and look for items labeled “Background page”. Select one you don’t need and select End process. Google warns that any unsaved work in that task is lost. These steps are from Google’s guide to speeding up Chrome.
If memory is the problem, our guide to fixing Chrome high memory usage covers Memory Saver and the other settings in detail.
Turn off extensions you don’t use
- Select More > Extensions > Manage Extensions.
- Switch off every extension, or select Remove on the ones you no longer need.
- If Chrome is faster, turn them back on one at a time to find the slow one.
Stop Chrome running after you close it
On Windows, Chrome has a setting called Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed. When it is on, Google says a Chrome process starts when you sign in to Windows and keeps running after the last window is closed, with an icon in the system tray (Chrome Enterprise policy reference). To turn it off, select More > Settings > System and switch it off.
Try turning off hardware acceleration
There could be a problem with how your PC’s hardware works with Chrome. To rule it out, Google’s crash help suggests:
- Select More > Settings > System.
- Turn off Use hardware acceleration when available. Newer versions of Chrome label it Use graphics acceleration when available.
- Restart Chrome.
If nothing improves, turn it back on.
Remove unwanted software
Pop-ups that won’t go away, a homepage or search engine that keeps changing, and extensions you didn’t install are signs of unwanted software. Google’s removal steps for Windows: open the Start menu, select Settings > Apps, then uninstall any program you don’t recognize.
Reset Chrome’s settings
Select More > Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults > Reset settings. Some Windows versions of Chrome call the first item Reset and cleanup. The reset returns your search engine, homepage and startup tabs, new tab page, pinned tabs, site permissions, cookies and site data, and extensions and themes to their defaults. According to Google, your bookmarks and saved passwords are not deleted or changed. Turn back on only the extensions you trust.
Other slow symptoms
- Chrome opens quickly but websites take ages to appear: see fixing slow page loading.
- Chrome locks up or shows “Page Unresponsive”: see what to do when Chrome freezes.
- The fan is loud and the PC runs hot: see fixing Chrome high CPU usage.