Google Chrome Slow? 10 Ways to Speed Up Your Browser

By Ammar Aslam · Updated September 29, 2026 · 3 min read

Chrome is fast, but over time it can become sluggish, using lots of memory and slowing the whole computer. These steps restore its speed.

1. Update Chrome

Click the three dots → Help → About Google Chrome. Chrome updates and asks to relaunch.

2. Close unused tabs

Each tab uses memory. Bookmark pages you want to read later, or use tab groups.

3. Turn on Memory Saver

Go to Settings → Performance and turn on Memory Saver. Inactive tabs are put to sleep and reload when you click them. Also try Energy Saver on laptops.

4. Remove extensions

Go to chrome://extensions and remove or disable extensions you don't need. Some extensions slow down every page, and some are malicious.

5. Use Chrome's Task Manager

Press Shift + Esc to open Chrome's own Task Manager. It shows which tabs and extensions use the most memory and CPU. End heavy ones.

6. Clear browsing data

Clear cached images and files. See clearing cache and cookies.

7. Preload pages

In Settings → Performance, turn on Preload pages for faster browsing.

8. Check hardware acceleration

In Settings → System, Use graphics acceleration when available normally helps. If Chrome glitches or flickers, try turning it off.

9. Run Safety Check

Settings → Privacy and security → Safety Check finds harmful extensions and compromised passwords.

10. Reset Chrome settings

If Chrome still misbehaves, or its homepage and search engine keep changing, go to Settings → Reset settings → Restore settings to their original defaults. This disables extensions and clears temporary data but keeps bookmarks and passwords.

Is the whole PC slow?

If everything is slow, not just Chrome, see speeding up Windows. Low RAM is a common cause.

Most effective: Memory Saver on, unused extensions removed, and fewer open tabs.

Chrome slow on Android

Update Chrome and Android System WebView from the Play Store.
Close unused tabs: tap the tab counter and swipe tabs away, or use "Close all tabs".
Clear cache: Chrome → three dots → Delete browsing data → Cached images and files.
Turn off heavy features like preloading if data or storage is limited.
Free up phone storage; Chrome slows down when storage is nearly full. See freeing storage.

Browsing habits that keep Chrome fast

Use tab groups for projects and collapse them when not in use.
Bookmark instead of hoarding tabs; use Reading List for articles to read later.
Restart Chrome weekly to apply updates and clear memory.
Keep extensions to a minimum; five carefully chosen extensions are better than twenty.
Avoid heavy websites left open in the background, like live dashboards or video sites.

Create a fresh profile

If Chrome remains slow even after a reset, your profile may be damaged. Create a new profile (click your profile picture → Add), sign in to sync, and see if it's faster. If so, switch to the new profile and remove the old one.

Try another browser

If one browser is persistently slow on your PC, try Edge or Firefox. Browsers can import bookmarks and passwords from each other in a few clicks.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Chrome use so much RAM?

Chrome runs each tab separately for stability and security, which uses more memory.

Is another browser faster?

Edge, Firefox and Brave are all fast. Differences are small; habits matter more.

Ammar Aslam
Ammar writes clear, practical tech guides that help everyday users fix problems, stay safe online and get more from their devices.