On an old computer, make Chrome start light and stop working when you aren’t using it. Open a fresh New Tab page at startup instead of every tab from last time, stop Chrome running in the background after you close it, set Memory Saver to Maximum, and keep only the extensions you really use.
Before you start, make sure the computer can still run a supported version of Chrome. Our guide to Chrome on older and low-spec computers covers the system requirements and what to expect.
1. Open a New Tab page at startup
If Chrome is set to Continue where you left off, it reopens every tab you had open each time it starts. On a slow computer, starting clean is lighter. From Google’s startup page help:
- Select the three-dot More menu > Settings.
- On the left, select On startup.
- Select Open the New Tab page.
Bookmark anything you want to come back to before you close it.
2. Stop Chrome running after you close it
On Windows and Linux, 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 the computer and keeps running after the last window is closed (Chrome Enterprise policy reference). To turn it off:
- Select More > Settings.
- On the left, select System.
- Turn off Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed.
The Mac version of Chrome doesn’t have this switch.
3. Set Memory Saver to Maximum
Memory Saver deactivates tabs you aren’t using, and they reload when you go back to them. Google’s performance settings guide describes three levels. Maximum deactivates tabs soonest and saves the most memory, which suits an older machine.
- Select More > Settings > Performance.
- Turn on Memory Saver and select Maximum.
- If a site must keep running, such as a chat app, add it under Always keep these sites active.
Leave Performance issue alerts on. When browsing gets slow, Chrome shows a notification suggesting tabs to deactivate, and you select Fix now to accept.
4. On a laptop, turn on Energy Saver
On the same page, Energy Saver cuts background activity and stops eligible CPU-intensive background tabs while the laptop is unplugged or its battery is low. It is available on Windows, Mac and Chromebook computers that have a battery.
5. Keep only the extensions you use
Select More > Extensions > Manage Extensions. Remove the ones you don’t need and switch off the ones you use only now and then. Google’s guide to speeding up Chrome recommends this, along with closing tabs you aren’t using and not running many apps at the same time.
See where the memory goes
To check the effect, open Chrome’s Task Manager with Shift + Esc (or More > More tools > Task Manager) and select Memory to sort. You can also see one tab’s memory by pointing at it: in Settings > Appearance, turn on Show tab memory usage (Windows, Linux and Chromebook) or Show memory usage on tab hover preview card (Mac).
Lite mode and Data Saver are gone
Older guides tell you to turn on Lite mode or Data Saver, but both have been removed from Chrome. Lite mode was a Chrome feature for Android, and Google’s help says it is no longer supported. Support ended with the Chrome for Android release of March 2022. Our page on how Data Saver and Lite mode were removed has the details. On a computer, the built-in ways to save resources today are Memory Saver and Energy Saver.
Still slow?
If Chrome hangs or stops responding, see what to do when Chrome freezes. If the fan runs constantly, see fixing Chrome high CPU usage.