When a Chrome tab crashes you usually see “Aw, Snap!”, which Google describes as Chrome having problems loading the page. Google says your computer may have run out of memory, so try these three steps first:
- Free up memory. Close every tab except the one with the error, quit other apps, and pause any downloads. Then reload the tab.
- Restart Chrome. Quit Chrome completely and open it again. To get your tabs back, press Ctrl + Shift + T on Windows and Linux, or ⌘ + Shift + T on a Mac.
- Restart your computer. Other programs can get in the way of a page loading correctly.
These steps come from Google’s guide to fixing Chrome when it crashes or won’t open. If a tab still crashes, work through the rest of this page in order.
Is it one site, or every site?
Open the same page in another browser, such as Firefox, Safari or Edge.
- It also fails in the other browser: the problem is probably the website or your network. Restart your modem and router. If that doesn’t help, let the website’s owner know.
- Other sites open normally but one site keeps crashing in Chrome: Google’s error message guide says that site might be the cause. You can report it to Chrome and to the site’s owner.
- It works in the other browser but crashes in Chrome: carry on with the steps below.
Find the tab or extension using the most memory
- Select the three-dot More menu > More tools > Task Manager. On Windows and Linux you can press Shift + Esc.
- Select Memory to sort by memory use.
- Select anything you don’t need and select End process. Unsaved work in that tab is lost.
To stop memory from running out again, turn on Memory Saver in Settings > Performance. See fixing Chrome high memory usage for the details.
Rule out an extension
One of your extensions could be causing the crash. Google suggests removing all extensions, then adding them back one by one. A gentler way to test is to turn them off first:
- Select More > Extensions > Manage Extensions.
- Turn every extension off and reload the crashing page.
- If the crash stops, turn extensions back on one at a time until it comes back. Remove the one that triggers it.
Turn off hardware acceleration
Google lists a problem between your computer’s hardware and Chrome as another cause.
- Select More > Settings.
- At the bottom of the list on the left, select System.
- Turn off Use hardware acceleration when available.
- Restart Chrome.
If this doesn’t help, turn the setting back on. Our hardware acceleration guide explains what it does.
Update Chrome
Select More > Help > About Google Chrome. Chrome checks for updates while that page is open. If you see Relaunch, select it to finish the update. If there is no Relaunch button, you already have the latest version (from Google’s update guide).
Check for malware
Unwanted software can make Chrome unstable. Signs include pop-ups that won’t go away, a homepage or search engine that keeps changing, and extensions that keep coming back. Follow Google’s steps to remove unwanted software.
Last resort: reinstall Chrome
If nothing else works, something may be wrong with your Chrome profile. Google’s fix is to uninstall Chrome, tick the box to delete browsing data, and then reinstall it. That removes what Chrome keeps on this computer. Bookmarks, passwords and other info saved in your Google Account come back when you sign in to Chrome again. If you don’t sign in to Chrome, export your passwords and bookmarks first. Our guides to uninstalling and reinstalling Chrome walk through each platform.
On a phone or tablet
Google gives the same first steps for Android, iPhone and iPad:
- Close every tab except the one with the error, quit other apps, pause downloads, and reload the tab.
- Close Chrome. On Android, swipe up from the bottom of the screen, then swipe up on Chrome. On iPhone or iPad, open the App Switcher and swipe the Chrome window away.
- Restart your phone or tablet.
- If the page works in another browser, uninstall and reinstall Chrome.