Recent Windows 11 update crippling Chrome browser. How to fix.

Powered off and then on and now it is working.

Restart when into a perpetual loop.

Had to unplug and close the computer and wait until it shut down and then power up.

So tired of Windows.

I am having a very similar issue in which my Chrome simply shut down (a week ago)> I tried everything described above and doesn't work. I am using the workaround of renaming the chrome.exe but I want MSFT to fix the bug and have Chrome functionality restored.

Of course, Edge is working fine and I am just disappointed with Microsoft for trying to push their products to the customer when they DO NOT want them. I dislike Edge and don't think it is as fast or good as Chrome (mainly search).

Here is a solution that worked for me. And since I have all my devices synced, I didn't have to reconfigure anything, and my bookmarks, calendars, etc were saved.

Step 1: Close the Google Chrome

1-Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager

2-Search for Google Chrome in the list, right-click on that and click on "End task"

Step 2: Rename the Chrome folder.

1-Right-click on Start then click on Run

2-Type: %localappdata%\Google and click on Ok

3-Right-click on the "Chrome" folder and click on rename

4-Enter a new name for the folder like "ChromeOld" or "Chrome0" and press enter to save the change

5-Relaunch Google Chrome and check if the problem was fixed

When I try to open Chrome, occasionally it will run fine for a few seconds, but as soon as I try to sign in, it closes. When I attempt to re-open it, a black window flashes for a fraction of a second, then disappears, and nothing else happens. I used to use Opera GX as well, and the same exact thing occurs with it. And of course, Edge works perfectly fine. I even went so far as to completely powerwash my computer, erasing all my data and reinstalling the whole operating system, just for the same exact thing to continue as soon as I boot up the device. Really disappointing for Microsoft. I need to use my Windows Laptop for a cybersecurity course I'm taking, and I would love to use Chrome, as all my stuff has been on there for a while, but I'm stuck with Edge for the moment.

Update: I tried installing Firefox the next day, and it worked for about 15 minutes, then the same thing happened. Edge is still working great.

Hello , Edward Sebesta

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A.

I completely understand your situation. When a system update—something that’s supposed to run quietly in the background—suddenly disrupts a core work tool like Chrome, especially when you urgently need to perform critical tasks, it can be incredibly frustrating. Based on your description—that the issue appeared immediately after a Windows update—our main suspect is quite clear: the update itself or some conflict introduced during the update process affecting Chrome.

We can follow a logical sequence to resolve this issue, with each step having a clear purpose.

Initial Step: Basic Check Before Further Troubleshooting

Before diving into root cause analysis, I recommend starting with a foundational check. Please follow these steps:

Fully shut down your PC—do not just click “Restart.”

Instead, choose “Shut Down,” wait until the computer is completely powered off, then wait 10 seconds before turning it back on.

(Why this matters?)

Sometimes, post-update processes and services require a “cold boot” to initialize properly. A regular restart may preserve some session states, whereas a full shutdown ensures everything starts fresh.

Step 2: Isolate the Problem (Chrome-specific or System-wide?)

The goal here is to determine whether the problem is isolated to Chrome or affects all browsers.

1. Open Microsoft Edge (pre-installed in Windows 11).
2. Try performing the same tasks you encountered issues with in Chrome—e.g., doing a few searches, opening websites.

• 3. Observe if the same issues occur in Edge.

Please proceed based on the results:

If Edge Works Fine (Chrome-Specific Issue)

This suggests that parts of Chrome—like its cache, settings, or extensions—are incompatible with the new Windows environment.

Plan A: Clean and Reset Chrome Internals

1. Disable Hardware Acceleration

○ Open Chrome and go to: chrome://settings/system

○ Turn off “Use hardware acceleration when available”

○ Restart Chrome.

2. Clear Cached Data Thoroughly

○ Visit: chrome://settings/clearBrowserData

○ In the popup window, set the time range to “All time”, check “Cached images and files”, then click “Clear data.”

Disclaimer: Your browser automatically saves temporary internet files to help pages load faster. Clearing this cache will sometimes fix website issues. Please back up all your personal files first, such as Favorites, to ensure you do not lose data. 

3. Check Extensions

○ Go to: chrome://extensions/

○ Temporarily disable all extensions and restart Chrome.

○ If the issue is resolved, re-enable extensions one by one to identify the culprit.

If Edge Also Has Problems (System-Level Issue)

This indicates that the Windows update itself may have introduced a problem or incompatibility.

Plan B: Roll Back the Windows Update

1. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history
2. Scroll to the bottom and click “Uninstall updates”
3. Find the most recent update (look for KB numbers and the date), select it, and click “Uninstall”
4. Once the uninstallation is complete, restart your computer

Important: After uninstalling, immediately go back to Settings > Windows Update, and click “Pause updates”, selecting to pause for 1–2 weeks. This prevents Windows from reinstalling the problematic update before it’s fixed.

I know your time is valuable, and these steps are carefully designed to identify and resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Please let me know the results after you’ve tried them—especially how Edge performs, as that will be key to determining the next step.

Best wishes

Ami | Microsoft Q&A Support Specialist