Fix: Google Chrome Profile Error Occured

Some users have been getting the “Profile Error Occurred” error whenever they try to start Google Chrome on their PC. Most affected users report that each time they open the Chrome browser, they are forced to re-log with their Google account in order to get their saved tabs and other user preferences back. The issue is also confirmed to pop up if the user tries to open a new incognito mode window, but it’s no longer occurring if the user logs in with the same account on a different computer.

What causes Google Chrome Profile Error

In order to get to the bottom of this particular error message, we tried to recreate the issue and looked at various user reports. Based on what we gathered, here’s a couple of potential scenarios that will lead to the apparition of the Google Chrome Profile error:

• Corrupted local cache – Most of the time, the issue will occur because of one or several corrupted files that are locally stored in the cache folder. The vast majority of users encountering this issue point towards the Web Data and Local State files. If this is what’s causing the issue, you can resolve it by removing the local cache folder or by removing those files individually.
• 3rd party antivirus interference – The issue can also occur if you have an overprotective 3rd party antivirus. There are several occurrences where affected users have managed to fix the error after uninstalling the toolbar, it’s a browser extension, or by deleting the system file of AVG toolbar (avgtpx64.sys)

If you’re struggling to resolve this particular issue, this article will provide you with a few troubleshooting steps. Below you have a collection of verified methods that other users in a similar situation have made use of to get the issue resolved. The methods are ordered by efficiency and severity, so please follow them in order that they are presented until you find a fix that is effective for your particular scenario.

How to Fix Google Chrome Profile Error?

Method 1: Deleting the Web Data or Local State files

According to various users, this particular error can also occur if the Web Data or Local State files become corrupted. Several users have reported that the issue was fixed as soon as they deleted one or both files.

Keep in mind that doing deleting those files will not make you lose any data or personal information. Any account information and user preference are safely stored with the Google Account that you use to sign in.

Here’s a quick guide on deleting the two files in an attempt to fix the “Profile Error Occurred” error:

1. Make sure that you close every instance of Google Chrome.
2. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, type “%localappdata%” and press Enter to open the Local folder (under AppData) associated with your current Windows account.

   

3. Once you’re inside the Local folder, navigate to Google > Chrome > User Data > Default. Next, look for the Web Data file and delete it from this folder.

   

4. Open Google Chrome and see if the issue has been resolved. If you’re still encountering the error, return to AppData / Local / Google / Chrome / UserData using the steps above and delete the Local State file.

   

5. See if the issue has been resolved by opening Google Chrome again.

If the error message is still occurring, move down to the next method below.

Method 2: Eliminate the possibility of 3rd party AV interference (if applicable)

A lot of 3rd party antivirus suite will install additional browser toolbars to help protect you from online threats since they don’t really have the same kind of permissions than the built-in solution has (Windows Defender).

Typically, these toolbars are optional, but if you rushed through the AV installation, they might have gotten installed without you realizing it. The problem with these is, they tend to cause problems, particularly after you remove the antivirus behind them.

Several users in a similar situation have reported that they discovered that the culprit was AVG Toolbar – an optional tool that gets installed by AVG Internet Security. Most of the time, users report that the AVG Toolbar started creating issues after they removed the security suite that installed it in the first place. Another software that is linked with the Google Chrome Profile error is AVG Secure Search.

Luckily, most affected users have managed to get the issue resolved by uninstalling the optional tools and deleting the .sys file belonging to the AVG Toolbar.

Note: Keep in mind that the issue might also occur with different 3rd party antivirus suites. If you’re using an external security solution, consider uninstalling it temporarily just for the sake of eliminating it from the culprit list.

If you previously uninstalled the AVG suite and this scenario is applicable to you, follow the steps down below make sure you remove any leftover optional tool:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run box. Then, type “appwiz.cpl” and press Enter to open Programs and Features.

   

2. In the application list, look for an entry published by AVG Technologies named AVG SafeGuard toolbar. Keep in mind that the name can differ depending on the version of AVG that you had installed – you might also see it as AVG Secure Search or AVG Toolbar.

   

   Note: Keep in mind that if you have a newer AVG version, you will not be able to see it here since the toolbar will get installed directly as a Chrome extension. In this case, jump straight to step 4.

3. Right-click on the AVG toolbar and choose Uninstall, then follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall it from your system.
4. Open Google Chrome and click OK to get rid of the “Profile Error Occurred” error. Next, click the settings button in the top-right section of the screen and go to More tools > Extensions.

   

5. In the list of installed extensions, look for AVG Secure search or AVG toolbar and uninstall it by clicking the Remove icon (or the Remove button on newer Chrome builds).

   

6. As the last step, navigate to Windows > System32 > Drivers and delete avgtpx64.sys – this is the main system file behind AVG Toolbar.
7. Once all optional 3rd party security tools have been removed, restart Google Chrome and see if “Profile Error Occurred” error is still occurring.

If you’re still seeing the same issue, move down to the next method below.

Method 3: Create a new Chrome user profile

Several affected users have reported being able to resolve the issue by forcing the browser to create a new profile at the next startup. Although some users have reported that this step made them lose their bookmarks, that shouldn’t be the case if you have previously backed up your Chrome related data with your Google account.

Nevertheless, this step is usually effective in resolving the “Profile Error Occurred” error, so here’s what you need to do:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, type “%LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\” and press Enter to open the location containing the default profile of Google Chrome.

   

    

2. Once you get there, look for a folder named Default – as you might imagine, this is your Google Chrome’s default profile. We can force the browser to create a new one by renaming it to Default-Bak.

   

3. Now, launch Google Chrome again to force it to recreate a new default folder. If the problem goes away, log-in with your Google account to get your bookmarks and other user preferences back.

If this method has still not resolved the issue, move down to the next method below.

Method 4:  Uninstall Chrome and Delete the local Chrome Cache

Most affected users have managed to resolve the Google Chrome Profile error after they uninstalled the browser and the entire local cache folder belonging to it. But don’t be alarmed, as deleting the local cache of your browser will not make you lose your user settings, bookmarks or any other user data. All of your data is safely stored on your Google account, and you’ll get it back as soon as you log back in.

Follow the guide down below to uninstall Google Chrome and delete the associated cached folder in order to resolve the Google Chrome Profile error:

1. Make sure that Chrome is completely closed (including the tray bar agent).
2. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run command. Then, type “appwiz.cpl” and press Enter to open up the Programs and Features window.

   

3. Scroll down through the application list, right-click on Chrome and click Uninstall. Then, follow the on-screen prompts to remove the browser from your system.

   

4. Once Google Chrome has been uninstalled, reboot your computer.
5. At the next startup, open another Run dialog by pressing Windows key + R. Then, type “%localappdata%” and press Enter to open Local folder associated with your active Microsoft account.

   

6. Next, open the Google folder, right-click on Chrome and Delete the entire directory along with all its children folders.

   

7. Once the local data of Chrome has been deleted, it’s time to reinstall Chrome. To do this, visit this link (here) with the default browser and download the latest version available.

   

8. Open the executable that you’ve just downloaded and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.

   

9. Now that Google Chrome was reinstalled, you should no longer encounter the “Profile Error Occurred” error.