How to Fix the Google Chrome “Untitled Tab” Error

The Google Chrome “Untitled Tab” error occurs when the browser fails to properly render or assign titles to tabs, resulting in blank or unnamed webpages. This issue is often linked to a corrupted or misconfigured Local State file, which stores key data related to experimental features, user preferences, and browser settings.

Another possible contributor to this issue is Chrome’s Sandbox feature, which isolates processes for security but can occasionally interfere with tab rendering under certain configurations or restrictions.

Now that you understand what causes the “Untitled Tab” error in Chrome, let’s go through a few proven solutions to help you fix it.

1. Delete the Local State File

The ‘Local State’ file in Chrome stores information related to user sessions, browser settings, and experimental features. If this file becomes corrupted or misconfigured, it can trigger issues like the untitled error. Deleting this file forces Chrome to generate a fresh one with default configurations, which may help resolve the problem.

Note: Deleting the Local State file may reset some of your browser settings. To be safe, make sure to back up the file before proceeding.

1. Close Chrome completely. Ensure all Chrome processes are ended through Task Manager if needed.
2. Open File Explorer and navigate to Chrome’s Local State folder at:

   C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data

   (Replace <YourUsername> with your actual Windows account name).

3. Right-click the ‘Local State’ file and select Copy.
4. Paste it to a safe location (like your Desktop) as a backup.
5. Delete the original ‘Local State’ file from the Chrome folder.
6. The browser will create a new Local State file automatically. Check if your issue is resolved.

2. Disable the Sandbox Feature

The sandbox feature in Chrome runs extensions, tabs, and plugins in isolated processes and strictly enforces their assigned permissions. This helps contain potential threats—if one tab or extension is compromised, the others remain unaffected. However, in rare cases, the sandbox can interfere with how certain tabs load by restricting access to essential resources.

Note: Disabling the sandbox feature significantly reduces Chrome’s security and may expose your system to malicious code or other threats. Proceed with this step only if you’re troubleshooting a specific issue and fully understand the risks involved.

1. Right-click on the Google Chrome shortcut (either on your desktop or taskbar) and select Properties.
2. In the Properties window:
   • Navigate to the Shortcut tab.
   • Locate the Target field.
   • Add a space after the existing text, then type: -no-sandbox.
   • Click Apply followed by OK to save changes.
3. Launch Chrome to verify if this resolves your issue.Note: The ‘-no-sandbox’ flag disables Chrome’s security sandbox, so use this only as a temporary troubleshooting step.