Fix: Chrome Takes Forever to Load on Windows 10

Chrome, a web browser developed by Google, has to be one of the best web browsers available right now. There are so many fast and good web browsers out there like Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Safari, etc. but Google Chrome at one thing or the other tops them all. The reason for this would be its speed, user interface, and reliability. However, it can sometimes bring about some issues.

The most common issue that users have been encountering with Google Chrome on Windows 10 would be the slow load up. Users have reported that sometimes their browser takes up to 10-15 minutes to load which is just too much and unacceptable. Nonetheless, the issue can be easily resolved by following a couple of simple solutions.

What Causes the Slow Load-Up of Google Chrome on Windows 10?

There can be many factors due to which your browser is taking quite some time to load up which include:

But before moving with solutions, make sure to turn off proxy/VPN from the system settings as well as Chrome’s Proxy settings.

You can use the following solutions to get your Google Chrome back to normal.

Solution 1: Disable Extensions

First and foremost, you’ll have to try disabling the installed extensions on your browser before running it. The extensions can sometimes take a while to load due to which the startup process is being slowed. Hence, to disable your extensions, do the following:

1. Navigate to your Google Chrome installation directory which generally is:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\

2. Locate ‘chrome.exe’, right-click and select Properties.
3. Navigate to the Shortcut tab.
4. In the Target box, type in the following:

   --disable-extensions

5. It should look something like this:

   

6. Run the browser and check if the problem is solved. If not, then disable developer mode in Chrome Extensions Menu.

Solution 2: Turn Off Hardware Acceleration

Another possible reason for the slow load up is Hardware Acceleration. This is used to perform certain hardware operations more efficiently than it is possible, which, at times, can lead to such issues. Therefore, you’ll have to turn it off by doing the following:

1. Open up your Google Chrome browser.
2. Click the Customize and Control Google Chrome (three dots) icon on the top-right corner and then select Settings.
3. Scroll down and click ‘Show advanced settings’.
4. Go to the System section and locate Hardware Acceleration.

   

5. Turn it off.
6. Close your browser and then try starting it again.

Solution 3: Rename the Default Folder

The Default folder located in the Google Chrome installation directory is used to store your user profile that includes your settings, extensions, etc. The slow startup can be caused due to the contents of this folder in which case you’ll have to rename it so that a new one is created. However, before performing this step if you have Bookmarks or anything saved on your browser then you should export the bookmarks so they can be imported later or sync your Chrome with your Gmail Account because this step will reset Chrome and delete all the data it contains.

1. Open Windows Explorer.
2. Paste in the following path in the address bar.

   %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\

3. Locate the Default folder and rename it to Backup Default.

   

4. Run your browser.

Solution 4: Reset Network Adapter

Some users have reported that the slow startup was due to their network adapter settings. The issue was resolved once the settings were reset. Here’s how to reset your network adapter:

1. First off, open an elevated command prompt by pressing Windows Key + X and selecting ‘Command Prompt (Admin)’.

   

2. Type in the following command:

   netsh winsock reset

   

3. Restart your system.
4. Run the browser.

Solution 5: Log-in to Google

In some cases, the issue was being caused because the Google Account wasn’t logged in. Therefore, if you have a Google Account you can try to log in to fix the issue. For that:

1. Open Chrome and launch a new tab.
2. Add a new account.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to log in with your account.
4. Restart Chrome and check to see if the issue persists.

Solution 6: Clear Browsing Data

Browsing data, cache, cookies and history are the key components in any browser. They all work together to make the browser work properly. However, if any of these components are somehow corrupt or incorrectly configured, it can cause slow loading of Chrome. In that case, clearing the browsing data may solve the problem.

1. Launch Chrome, click on the action menu (three vertical dots near the top right corner) and click on Settings.

   

2. Click on Privacy and Security and then click on Clear Browsing Data.

   

3. Now move to the Advanced tab and select time range and categories to clear. Then click on Clear Data.

   
4. Now re-launch Chrome and check if the problem is solved.

Solution 7: Run the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter

Microsoft has included a bunch of troubleshooters in Windows to solve commonly occurring issues. Program Compatibility Troubleshooter is one of those troubleshooters. Running it to solve any issue with the Chrome installation and may solve the problem.

1. Press Windows key and type troubleshoot. Then in the resulting list, click on

   

2. In the right pane of the windows, scroll down to find Program Compatibility Troubleshooter.
3. Then click on “Run this troubleshooter“.

   

4. Now in the list of programs, select Google Chrome and click on Next.

   

5. Follow the instructions displayed on-screen to complete the troubleshooting process.
6. Now launch Chrome and check if the problem is solved.

Solution 8: Use Chrome Cleanup Tool

Chrome getting stuck at the loading screen could be the result of malware as well. Malware manifests itself in your computer’s registry and important configuration files (including Chrome’s files). In that case, running the Chrome cleanup tool may solve the problem.

1. Launch Chrome and click on 3-dots near the top left corner (action menu). Then click on Settings.

   

2. Now click on advanced and then click on Reset and Clean Up.

   

3. Select “Clean Up Computer“.

   

4. Click on Find.

   

5. Scanning will begin, showing the message “Checking for harmful software…“. Wait for its completion.

   

6. If harmful software found, you will be prompted to remove the software. Click on Remove.

   

7. Now close Chrome and then launch to check if the problem is solved.

Solution 9: Reset Google Chrome

Chrome has an in-built reset option which removes all the temporary configurations from your computer and replaces them with fresh files. It also removes any associated accounts logged in through Google as well. If any of these files/configurations are somehow corrupt or incomplete, they can cause Chrome to get stuck in loading. In that case, resetting Google Chrome to Factory defaults may solve the problem.

Follow Solution 7 in our article on How to Fix Google Chrome High CPU Usage to reset Google Chrome.

Solution 10: Reinstall Google Chrome

Finally, if none of the above-mentioned solutions bode well for you, you are going to have to reinstall your Google Chrome. The issue can also be due to corrupted Chrome files which will be resolved once you remove Chrome and then install it afterwards. Make sure the installation process isn’t interfered with so that the browser can install safely.