In a decade of existence, Google Chrome has established itself as a very popular browser, and is considered to be the fastest of the day. Google made its first foray into web browsers in September 2008, with many welcoming the ease and speed of Chrome, but over time, even Chrome may start to slow down a bit – especially if you’ve installed extras as extensions. And if you’re feeling like your browser is slow, be aware that there are a few ways to speed up Google Chrome on your PC.
7 Simple Tips to Speed Up Google Chrome on PC
Tip 1: Make sure your browser is up to date
Like any software, the simplest way to get the best performance is to ensure that you are using the latest version. Your Chrome browser should be automatically installing updates in the background whenever you close and reopen it.
Fortunately, Google has an easy way to determine if you’re up to date. Just look at the three-point icon in the upper right corner. If the dots are gray, your Chrome browser is up to date. If it is green, it means that an update is available for two days, orange means four days and red means seven days.
If you need to upgrade, click the three dots in the upper right corner of your browser and go to Help> About Google Chrome.
In the next tab you will see which version your browser is on. If the browser is outdated, choose Update and then restart.
Tip 2: Clear your browsing data
Press CTRL + H on your keyboard and you’ll be taken directly to your web browsing history. In this window, click Clear browsing data.
Select the time interval in the drop-down box. Check the boxes to select the things you want to clean and click Clear data.
Tip 3: Disable unnecessary extensions
If you’ve installed extensions, they may cause Google Chrome to slow down. Extensions are extra features for Chrome, which are usually developed by third parties.
To disable extensions that you do not use, or that are unnecessary, type chrome://extensions in the address bar. Uncheck the ones you do not use too often – you can always reactivate them later.
Tip 4: Try the Chrome Cleanup Tool
Google has developed its own Chrome Cleanup Tool, which removes any software that may be causing problems in the browser.
Download the Chrome cleanup tool and follow the Windows 10/8.1/8/7 installation instructions.
Tip 5: Keep your antivirus updated
A slow browser may be a warning that you have malware on your computer. Microsoft has the Windows Defender anti-spyware software on their PCs since Windows Vista, so make sure it is enabled by typing Defender in the search box.
Make sure you’re using third-party software to keep your browser safe from potential malware that might be slowing Chrome performance.
Tip 6: Turn on hidden features
Google is also testing new features for Chrome – some of which can speed up your browser. You can access them by typing chrome://flags in the address bar. To enable features, click Enable. To disable, click Enabled.
Be warned, these are experimental so there are no guarantees that they will work yet. The good thing is that if you choose to enable them, you can always disable them later if you notice a problem.
Tip 7: OneTab Extension
If you like to have many tabs open at the same time, be aware that this can be very draining on your PC’s RAM, thus slowing down the machine’s performance and speed.
However, there is an extension called One Tab that promises to reduce the RAM usage of these tabs by up to 95%. This application is an extension of Google Chrome, but also works with Mozilla Firefox.
So, did you like the tips to speed up Google Chrome on your PC?