Chrome starts fastest when it opens a single New Tab page, has few extensions and is up to date. If Chrome reopens a lot of tabs every time you launch it, changing the On startup setting usually makes the biggest difference. For general speed tips, see how to speed up Chrome.
Open fewer tabs at startup
Every tab that reopens at launch has to load before Chrome feels ready. Google’s startup page help lists three choices:
- Select More (the three dots at the top right) > Settings.
- On the left, select On startup.
- Choose Open the New Tab page for the quickest start. Continue where you left off reopens all your last tabs, and Open a specific page or set of pages opens only the pages you list.
You can also customize the New Tab page.
Turn off extensions you don’t need
Extensions load when Chrome starts. Turning off the ones you don’t use means less work at launch.
- Type
chrome://extensionsin the address bar, or select More > Extensions > Manage Extensions. - Turn off the switch next to each extension you don’t need.
- Restart Chrome and see if it opens faster.
Update Chrome
Select More > Help > About Google Chrome. Chrome checks for updates, and you select Relaunch to finish. Our update Chrome guide covers every device.
Background apps setting (Windows and Linux)
On Windows and Linux, Chrome has a setting called Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed. Google’s policy documentation says that when it is on, Chrome starts when you sign in to your computer and keeps running after you close the last window. It is off unless you or your organization turn it on.
- Select More > Settings > System.
- Turn Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed off if you don’t need apps to keep running after you close Chrome.
Clear cached files if Chrome misbehaves
Clearing the cache is a fix for pages that load wrongly. It is not a startup speed boost, because Chrome has to download those files again.
- Select More > Delete browsing data.
- Choose a time range, such as All time, and check Cached images and files.
- Select Delete data.
See our clear browsing data guide for what each box removes.
| Fix | What it does | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Open the New Tab page at startup | Fewer pages to load at launch | Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook |
| Turn off extensions | Less to load at launch | Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook |
| Update Chrome | Latest fixes and improvements | All devices |
| Background apps setting | Stops Chrome running after you close it | Windows and Linux |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Chrome take so long to start?
The usual causes are many tabs reopening at launch, a lot of extensions or an out-of-date version of Chrome.
How do I check if Chrome is up to date?
Select More > Help > About Google Chrome. Chrome checks for updates on that page and downloads any it finds.
Can I stop Chrome opening lots of tabs at startup?
Yes. Go to Settings > On startup and choose Open the New Tab page or Open a specific page or set of pages.
Do Chrome flags make Chrome start faster?
There is no flag Google recommends for faster startup. Chrome flags are experimental features that can change or disappear and can make Chrome less stable, so use the settings above instead.
What is the Chrome Task Manager?
It shows how much memory and processing power each tab and extension is using, and lets you end the ones you don’t need.