How To Fix ‘Chrome Won’t Open’ or Launch on Windows 10

Sometimes it may happen that all your applications that are connected to the internet might be working well except for the chrome browser. It may give you an error and may ask you to check your network connection, even if you have full speed internet connectivity.

This problem can be very annoying as we need chrome or any other browser to do our daily stuff, whether it is office work or anything related to business or institutional research work.

To tackle this problem there are various solutions but we have selected a few of them that would be effective in resolving the issue as the reasons behind this issue are various. So in this article would provide you efficient and quick solutions to resolve the following problem in no time and without much effort.

Google Chrome is among the most widely used web browsers globally. However, users often find themselves perplexed when Chrome refuses to open, especially on a Windows 10 system.

This comprehensive, SEO-optimized article provides a detailed guide on why Chrome may not open on Windows 10, how to reinstall or reset the browser, and other crucial aspects.

Causes of Chrome Not Opening on Windows 10

Before diving into the solutions, let’s explore the potential reasons why Chrome might not open on a Windows 10 computer:

  1. Corrupted User Profile: A user profile in Chrome saves settings and preferences. Corruption in this profile can lead to issues.
  2. Outdated Chrome Version: Running an outdated version can cause compatibility issues.
  3. Conflicting Software: Some third-party software might conflict with Chrome.
  4. Malware or Virus: Malicious software can inhibit Chrome from operating correctly.
  5. Faulty Extensions: Sometimes, Chrome extensions can cause the browser to fail.

How to Fix Chrome Won’t Open or Launch on Windows 10

We have mentioned six solutions in this article. All you have to do is go through them step by step to get efficient results.

Solution 1: Rename Chrome and Create A Shortcut

This is the first and the easiest solution to get your chrome working. Follow the steps given below and try creating a shortcut by renaming the chrome application on your system.

Step 1: Press the Windows key plus E on your keyboard to open the File Explorer in your system.

Step 2: Look in the File Explorer window for the file:

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

Step 3: Now in the Application folder right click on Chrome and then select the option Rename in order to rename it.

Step 4: Next rename the Chrome as “Chrome copy” or anything that you prefer.

Step 5: Right-click on the Chrome.copy and select the option to send and then further select the option Desktop (create shortcut), to move it to desktop.

Step 6: Lastly, go to desktop and by double clicking on the Chrome.copy try to open it and check if it opens and runs on your system.

If you want to again rename it as Chrome then that can be easily done just by right clicking the icon on the screen and selecting the option Rename and further renaming it back as Chrome. If the above solution doesn’t give you the desired results then don’t worry, we still have other solutions to help you out.

Read the article ahead to find out the best solution that you need.

Solution 2: Restart the Chrome Process from the Task Manager

If you want to get rid of the bugs that maybe causing the error in the functioning of the Chrome then go for this process.

Step 1: Right click on the Windows icon at the bottom of the screen and then select the option Task Manager or simply press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the Task Manager window.

Step 2: Now look for the option Google Chrome and right click on it and then further select the option End Task to stop the application from working.

Step 3: Once it is done then again open the Chrome browser and check whether it is working or not.

If the answer is still “No” then you need to try the next solution for a better result.

Solution 3: Remove the User Profile From the Google Chrome Folder

This problem can also occur due to a corrupted profile, so it is better to delete the profile rather than using the same profile to operate the browser. Follow the steps given below to remove the corrupt profile from the Google Chrome folder.

Step 1: Right-click on the Windows icon at the bottom of the screen and select the option Run or else press the Windows plus R key on the keyboard to open the Run Dialogue box.

Step 2: Type in the Run dialogue box %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data and now press the enter button.

Step 3: the user data folder will be opened in the File Explorer window. Further, look for the Default folder.

Step 4: Now right-click the Default folder and select the option Copy to copy the folder and paste the following folder somewhere in the hard disk according to your choice and it will remain as the backup of your folder.

Step 5: Wait till the copy-paste is completely done and then come back to the File explorer window and again right click on the default folder and select the option Delete to delete the Default folder.

Step 6: Now open the Google Chrome window and type in chrome://settings/resetProfileSettings and press Enter. Further select the option Reset settings to reset the settings of Google Chrome.

After the 6th step is done the Google Chrome is reset. Now you have to check whether the error appears again on the screen or not. In a rare case it may happen that the above solution won’t give effective results, so if this happens with you then don’t worry, you still have options to try!

Solution 4: Run in-built Malware and Virus Detector of Chrome

Running Google Chrome’s in-built Malware detector is the best option to detect whether any Malware or Virus is causing the given issue. To do this, follow the steps given below:

Step 1: Firstly, open the Google Chrome window and type in chrome://settings/cleanup and press the Enter button.

Step 2: The Chrome Settings window will open, further besides the find harmful software click on the Find option to find the Malware or virus harming your Chrome.

When the process is completed then try opening the Chrome again and check whether the error is popping up again or not.

Solution 5: Flush DNS Cache

This will clear any kind of corrupted data that is present on your system. To do this, follow the given steps:

Step 1: Right click on the Windows icon at the bottom of the screen and select the option Run to open the Run dialogue box or simply press the Windows key plus R on the keyboard to do the same.

Step 2: Now in the Run dialogue box type in cmd and press the Ctrl+Shift+Enter key to open the command prompt window with the administrative rights.

Step 3: In the command prompt:

NETSH INT IP RESET C:\RESETLOG.TXT

netsh winsock reset

ipconfig /flushdns

type in the above three commands one by one and press Enter to execute them and further close the command prompt window.

Lastly restart the system to apply the changes to your system and then try again to open the chrome.

Solution 6: Reset the Network on Your Computer

Resetting the network is another way to deal with this problem. To do this, follow the steps given below:

Step 1: Click on the Windows icon at the bottom of the screen and click on settings to open settings or else simply press Windows plus I key on the keyboard to open the Settings window.

Step 2: Select the option of Network and Internet and further scroll to Network reset to reset the network to default state and then restart the system to apply the changes.

How to Reinstall Chrome on Windows 10

  1. Uninstall Chrome: Navigate to ‘Control Panel’ > ‘Uninstall a program’. Find Chrome and uninstall it.
  2. Download Installer: Visit the official Chrome website and download the installer.
  3. Run Installer: Execute the installer and follow the on-screen prompts.
  4. Sign in: After installation, open Chrome and sign in to your Google account to sync bookmarks, history, and more.

What Will I Lose if I Uninstall Chrome?

Uninstalling Chrome will result in the loss of:

  • Browsing history (unless synced with a Google account)
  • Downloaded files
  • Cookies and site data
  • Cached images and files

How to Reinstall Chrome without Losing Data

  1. Backup Data: Ensure your Chrome settings, bookmarks, and history are synced to your Google account.
  2. Follow Reinstallation Steps: Use the above method to uninstall and reinstall Chrome.
  3. Sync Account: Once reinstalled, sign back into your Google account to restore your data.

How to Reset Chrome on Windows 7

  1. Open Chrome Settings: Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and go to ‘Settings’.
  2. Scroll Down: Scroll down and click on ‘Advanced’.
  3. Reset Settings: Find the ‘Reset and clean up’ section and click on ‘Restore settings to their original defaults’. Confirm when prompted.

How to Clear Chrome Cache

  1. Navigate to Settings: Open Chrome settings from the three-dot menu.
  2. Go to Privacy: Scroll down and go to ‘Privacy and security’.
  3. Clear Browsing Data: Click on ‘Clear browsing data’, select ‘Cached images and files’, and click on ‘Clear data’.

Conclusion

The above given solutions work effectively to resolve the issue. You can go for any of them and chose the best solution that works for you.

Various factors, from corrupted profiles to faulty extensions, can prevent Chrome from opening on a Windows 10 system. While reinstallation is a surefire solution, users can also reset Chrome or clear its cache to resolve issues. Always make sure to backup important data to avoid any loss during these processes.

For seamless browsing, keep your Chrome up-to-date and take periodic measures to ensure its optimal functioning. This guide aims to serve as your go-to resource for all things related to Chrome issues and their resolutions.