Google Chrome Crashing on Mac (Sequoia)? 8 Fixes!

Google Chrome is widely used across the world. However, it may quit unexpectedly on your Mac. This may disrupt your workflow and make you frustrated. And what’s worse, you may reencounter the same issue after relaunching and using it for a while. Therefore, it’s crucial to take action when you first meet the problem.

Here, we’ll help you identify why Google Chrome quits unexpectedly on your Mac. Then, we’ll demonstrate several ways to get rid of the problem. In a few minutes, you can regain control over Google Chrome and enjoy a smoother browsing experience.

Why Does Chrome Keep Crashing on Mac?

When Google Chrome crashes on Mac or refuses to open up, you may wonder why this happens. There are several causes of this problem, such as an out-of-date browser, corrupt extensions, insufficient RAM, or conflicts with other software. Here, we’ll explore some of the causes of Chrome crashing on Mac.

• Google Chrome may crash due to outdated or corrupt system files.
• Your Mac lacks sufficient RAM, especially when you open multiple tabs or applications simultaneously.
• Chrome may not fully support some system settings and configurations.
• Chrome consumes many system resources. This occurs when your Mac is running many applications at the same time or when it’s running tasks with intense system resources.
• Chrome bookmarks, settings, cookies, and other user data or files may get corrupted.
• Obsolete or incompatible extensions may interfere with Chrome’s normal operation.
• Your Mac may suffer from malware or a virus.

How to Fix the "Google Chrome Crashing on Mac" Issue

1. Force Quit and Restart Chrome

You can start by force-quitting and restarting your Chrome browser. A force quit and restart of Google Chrome can clear out most temporary glitches and errors, which may come from a problematic process, a broken temporary file, or a conflict with other running applications. This fresh start allows your browser to reload, reinitialize processes, and get rid of any unexpected errors.

1. Press “Command + Option + Esc” to open the Force Quit Applications window.
2. Choose the Google Chrome application and tap the “Force Quit” button.
3. Click on the Google Chrome icon to restart the browser.

2. Check and Update Chrome

If you want to ensure the normal operation of Google Chrome, you should keep it up to date. Usually, the latest version can fix the recent bugs and security patches. After updating your browser, it will become more stable and secure. Additionally, the updated version is more likely to comply with your macOS and other applications, preventing your Google Chrome from potential conflicts.

1. Open Google Chrome and click on the three-dot menu icon in the top right-hand part of the browser window.
2. In the dropdown menu, hover over “Help” and select “About Google Chrome.”
3. Check if there’s an update. If there is, then download it and install it.
4. After downloading the update, you might want to restart Chrome to update its installation.

3. Clear Chrome Data

Just like restarting Google Chrome can solve short-term issues and crashes, clearing Chrome data on your Mac can also solve them. After using it for a while, it will have accumulated a lot of temporary files, caches, and cookies. Over time, these files may accumulate and conflict or cause slowdowns in your browser, which can result in sudden crashes. So, when you clean up the data, you are effectively resetting Chrome so that it is in a clean state and functioning normally.

To clear Chrome data, you can use BuhoCleaner or clear it through Google Chrome.

1. Launch the browser on your Mac.
2. Click the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner, then select “Settings.”
3. Scroll down, click “Privacy and security”, and choose “Delete browsing data.”

   

4. Set the time and check the types of data you want to clear, then click "Delete data".

   

4. Disable or Remove Extensions

Many people choose to use Google Chrome because it enables many third-party extensions. However, some extensions may contain bugs and errors that could interfere with the browser’s normal operations. It’s time to check out these add-ons. You can recall the first time your Google Chrome crashed on Mac and disable the extensions added after that time point.

1. Launch Google Chrome on your Mac.
2. Click on the three-dot menu icon, select “More tools,” and choose “Extensions.”
3. Find the extension you want to disable and toggle the switch.
4. If you want to remove an extension, click the trash icon.

Related Article: How to Clear Cache on Mac

5. Free Up RAM

Chrome is a resource-intensive application that needs a lot of memory to run properly. When your Mac runs out of RAM, Google Chrome will become slow, unresponsive, or even crash. You can free up memory by shutting down other unnecessary apps or processes. Afterward, Chrome can access its resources so it can work properly.

For more tips on reducing RAM usage, check out this article: How to Free Up RAM on Mac.

6. Uninstall Chrome with BuhoCleaner

Uninstalling an app is often an effective solution when it keeps crashing on your computer. By uninstalling Google Chrome, you can remove not only the browser itself but also its associated files. For a complete and thorough removal on your Mac, you can use BuhoCleaner. This tool lets you easily browse all your installed apps and remove or reinstall any that might be causing issues, not just Google Chrome, which helps you fix the “Google Chrome crashing” error and improve overall system stability.

Here is how to uninstall Google Chrome on your Mac using BuhoCleaner.

1. Free install BuhoCleaner and launch it on your Mac.
2. Click “App Uninstall” to find all apps installed on your Mac.

   

3. Locate Google Chrome and other apps you want to remove, select them, and click the "Remove" button.

   

7. Scan Malware on Your Mac

Chances are that your computer is suffering from malware. Malware may consume excessive system resources, alter browser settings, or inject harmful scripts. If there is malware on your Mac, you may fail to open Chrome or run it in normal conditions. Then you need to test and detect the malware on your computer with reputable anti-virus software on your Mac. These tools can scan, detect, and eliminate malware on Macs. When you eliminate the malware, your Google Chrome won’t keep crashing anymore.

8. Update Your macOS

In some cases, an outdated operating system can incur compatibility issues with Google Chrome. In other words, you cannot run your browser effectively on the current macOS. It’s easy to repair the system compatibility issues, and you can address the conflicts by updating your macOS. Moreover, the latest macOS should offer better support to come up with the latest features and security updates in Google Chrome and protect it from crashing again.

1. Click the Apple menu at the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Settings.”
2. Click "General" > "Software Update."
3. The system will automatically begin checking for updates. When you see an “Update Now” button, it means an update is available.
4. Click “Update Now” to download and install the new macOS.

Conclusion

All in all, it can be annoying when Google Chrome keeps crashing on your Mac. As this issue always occurs when there is something wrong with your macOS, you can take related measures to fix it. If you’re a heavy user of Google Chrome, always make sure you’re running the latest version of Google Chrome with enough space. This can prevent Google Chrome from crashing again on your Mac.