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How to fix ‘Chrome not opening Windows 10’ error?

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  • 5 min read

Google has spent an incredible amount of time and resources developing its Chrome browser, and it shows in the comprehensive user experience the browser brings. However, just like everything tech, it isn’t immune to problems.

In this article, we’re looking at eight fixes you can try out if Chrome isn’t starting on your Windows 10 machine.


Restart your computer

One of the first things you should try out is restarting your machine, regardless of OS and/or device. Restarting your computer can fix a bunch of seemingly random issues that can otherwise cause problems.

So if Chrome isn’t starting your PC, try rebooting it to check if that resolves the issue. 

Also read: How to fix the Err_Connection_Aborted error in Chrome?


Check the date and time

If your PC’s clock is set incorrectly, you’re going to face problems using the internet regardless of the browser you use. To fix this, the best way is to set the date and time to automatic. 

Step 1: Press the Windows key and search for Date and Time. Click on the corresponding search result.

How to fix 'Chrome not opening Windows 10' error?

Step 2: Ensure that the Set time automatically option is enabled and that you’ve got the right timezone selected. 

How to fix 'Chrome not opening Windows 10' error?

Reinstall Chrome

Another possible cause for Chrome not starting might be some corrupt program files. Reinstalling the browser should fix the issue. 

Step 1: Press Windows Key + X to open the Quick Access menu and click on Apps & Features.

How to fix 'Chrome not opening Windows 10' error?

Step 2: Find Chrome in the list of apps and use the Uninstall button to remove the browser.

How to fix 'Chrome not opening Windows 10' error?

Now you can redownload Chrome and try installing it again to check if that resolves your issue. 


Rename the Chrome icon

This is a little bit of a weird fix but can work at times. 

Step 1: Navigate to the Chrome installation directory. By default it is 

C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application
How to fix 'Chrome not opening Windows 10' error?

Step 2: Right-click the chrome.exe file and rename it to something else.

How to fix 'Chrome not opening Windows 10' error?

Step 3: Once you’ve renamed the file, create a shortcut for it on the desktop by right-clicking and then choosing Desktop (create shortcut) under Send to.

How to fix 'Chrome not opening Windows 10' error?

Step 4: Now on your desktop, change the shortcut’s name back to Chrome. 

How to fix 'Chrome not opening Windows 10' error?

Restart your PC and try launching the browser again.

Also read: How to fix ‘Chrome ran out of memory’ issue?


Try changing compatibility settings

Although this one’s a little bit of a far shot, you can try changing the compatibility settings for Chrome to check if it works.

Step 1: Right-click the Chrome icon and click Properties. 

How to fix 'Chrome not opening Windows 10' error?

Step 2: Head over to the Compatibility tab and click the Run Compatibility Troubleshooter button to resolve any issues. Check if the browser runs; if it doesn’t, proceed to the next step.

How to fix 'Chrome not opening Windows 10' error?

Step 3: Under Compatibility mode, check the Run this program in compatibility mode for option and select Windows 8 from the dropdown. Check if the browser runs; if it doesn’t, proceed to the next step.

How to fix 'Chrome not opening Windows 10' error?

Step 4: Under Settings, enable the Disable fullscreen optimisations and Register this program for restart settings and try again. 

How to fix 'Chrome not opening Windows 10' error?

Disable taskbar autohide

In some cases, autohiding your taskbar can cause Chrome not to launch. Here’s how to fix this.

Step 1: Press the Windows key and search for Taskbar settings. Click on the corresponding search result. 

How to fix 'Chrome not opening Windows 10' error?

Step 2: Make sure that the taskbar auto-hide options are disabled.

How to fix 'Chrome not opening Windows 10' error?

Also read: How to preview pages on Chrome for Android?


Reset your network settings

Resetting your network settings can also help resolve issues with Chrome.

Step 1: Press Windows Key + I to open Windows Settings. Click on Network & Internet.

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Step 2: Under the Status tab, scroll down to find Network reset.

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Step 3: Click on Reset now to reset your network stack.

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Reset your DNS settings

At times, corrupt or incorrectly set DNS settings can cause problems with browsers. Reset your DNS settings to check if that resolves your issue. 

Step 1: Press Windows key + R and type in cmd and hit enter.

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Step 2: Type in ipconfig /flushdns to reset DNS settings to default.

How to fix the 'WiFi connected but no internet access' issue?

If the above command doesn’t help, try entering these commands in the Command Prompt one at a time.

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset

Also read: How to hard refresh Chrome and other web browsers?

Yadullah Abidi

Yadullah Abidi

Yadullah is a Computer Science graduate who writes/edits/shoots/codes all things cybersecurity, gaming, and tech hardware. When he's not, he streams himself racing virtual cars. He's been writing and reporting on tech and cybersecurity with websites like Candid.Technology and MakeUseOf since 2018. You can contact him here: yadullahabidi@pm.me.

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