Top 7 Ways to Fix Google Chrome Not Working on Mac

Top 7 Ways to Fix Google Chrome Not Working on Mac

Even though Apple has significantly improved the Safari browser on Mac, Google Chrome continues to be the preferred choice for Mac users. The problem occurs when the Chrome browser stops working in the first place. Here’s how to fix Google Chrome not working on Mac.


fix chrome not working on mac

Most GT members prefer Google Chrome over Safari because of tab groups, familiarity with the browser, and extensive extension support on Mac. However, the reliability of the application is not up to par. Follow the steps below and fix Chrome not working as expected on Mac.

1. Restart Mac

Most users don’t shut down Mac very often. They put the Mac to sleep so it was ready to use in seconds.

You occasionally need to shut down or restart macOS for a smooth app experience.

Click on the small Apple icon in the menu bar. Select Restart and restart the Mac. Try to open Google Chrome and see if it works as expected or not.

restart mac


restart mac

2. Use Activity Monitor

Sometimes Google Chrome is already running in the background. When you try to open Google Chrome again, you may encounter an error. You need to use Activity Monitor, close Google Chrome, then reopen.

Step 1: Press Command + Space and open the Spotlight Search menu.

2nd step: Find Activity Monitor and press the Return key.

Step 3: Find Google Chrome from the Activity Monitory app, click on it and tap the x mark at the top.

Close activity monitor chrome


Close activity monitor chrome

3. Free up RAM

Chrome not working on Mac, the problem is most evident on MacBooks with 8GB of RAM. We are all aware that Google Chrome can be very resource intensive, and when multiple apps and services are running in the background, 8GB will not be enough to keep Chrome running smoothly.

You can use Activity Monitor, check which apps are consuming a lot of RAM and close them.

Step 1: Open Activity Monitor on your Mac.

2nd step: By default, it will open the CPU menu. Go to the Memory tab.

Move to memory tab Fix chrome not working on mac


Move to memory tab Fix chrome not working on mac

Step 3: Check apps and services taking up huge amount of RAM.

Step 4: Click on unnecessary tasks and applications and press the X mark at the top.

Close background apps Fix chrome not working on mac


Close background apps Fix chrome not working on mac

Try using Google Chrome again and it should work normally.

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4. Delete data from Google Chrome

As a general rule, we advise users to clear the Chrome cache and remove problematic extensions from the browser. But since you can’t access the Chrome home page, this trick won’t work here.

Instead, you should delete Google Chrome data from the Library menu on Mac and try again.

Step 1: Open Finder on Mac.

2nd step: Click Go on the menu bar and select Library (you can also use Shift + Command + L).

Open library menu Fix chrome not working on mac


Open library menu Fix chrome not working on mac

Step 3: Open Application Support.

Fix open apps support chrome not working on mac


Fix open apps support chrome not working on mac

Step 4: Navigate to the Google folder.

Open Google Folder


Open Google Folder

Step 5: Delete the Chrome folder.

Delete Chrome Folder


Delete Chrome Folder

Restart the Mac and access Google Chrome again.

5. Reinstall Google Chrome

If you are still facing Chrome not working on Mac issue then it is time to take extreme measures to fix the issue.

We are talking about uninstalling the Google Chrome browser and downloading the latest stable version from the official site.

Open the Finder menu on Mac and navigate to the Applications menu. Find Google Chrome in the list and right-click on it.

move google chrome to trash Fix chrome not working on mac


move google chrome to trash Fix chrome not working on mac

Select Move to Trash and empty Trash on Mac. Go to the official Google Chrome website and download the latest version of Chrome on Mac.

Sign in with your Google account credentials and the browser will start syncing history, bookmarks, extensions, and favorites. The browser should be ready to use now.

6. Try Google Chrome Alternatives

The macOS ecosystem is filled with Chromium-based Google Chrome alternatives. You can use Microsoft Edge with unique features like standby tabs, vertical tabs, collections, etc.

Brave is another Chromium browser that prioritizes security and privacy. These alternatives are perfectly compatible with all Chrome extensions.

7. Review Installed Extensions

Once you have access to Google Chrome on Mac again, you should check the extensions installed in the browser.

Open the Google Chrome browser, click the More menu at the top and select More tools. Open the Extensions menu and remove irrelevant extensions from the list.

Remove extensions from chrome


Remove extensions from chrome

Some might be outdated, lose developer support, develop incompatibility with Chrome, and mess up Chrome functions on the Mac.

Enjoy Google Chrome on Mac

Google Chrome not working on Mac may require you to use Safari. Before making the switch, you should try the above-given tricks and fix Chrome not responding issue on Mac.

Last updated on January 24, 2022

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