How to Fix a Slow Chrome Browser on PC and Mobile (2026 Guide)

Chrome is fast when it’s fresh.

But after months of daily use, it can start feeling heavy:

• pages load slowly

• tabs freeze

• scrolling stutters

• the browser feels “laggy”

The good news: in most cases, Chrome isn’t broken.

It’s just overloaded — and the fix is simple.

Step 1: Find What’s Actually Slowing Chrome Down (PC)

Chrome has a built-in Task Manager.

On Windows / PC

Press:

Shift + Esc

You’ll see:

• tabs

• extensions

• background processes

Sort by Memory or CPU.

If one tab is using an insane amount of resources, close it.

This is often the fastest fix without restarting Chrome.

Step 2: Clean Up Extensions (The 1 Cause of Slow Chrome)

Extensions are useful — but they are also the most common reason Chrome slows down.

Go to Chrome settings and open your Extensions list.

Ask yourself:

• Do I use this every week?

• Do I trust it?

• Do I really need it running on every site?

Disable anything you don’t actively use.

Then test Chrome again.

Step 3: Turn On Chrome’s Memory Saver (Very Important)

Chrome now has a feature that automatically “pauses” unused tabs.

This can dramatically improve performance if you keep many tabs open.

Go to Chrome Settings → Performance

Turn on Memory Saver

This is one of the best improvements Chrome added recently.

Step 4: Clear Cache (Without Overdoing It)

Cache helps websites load faster, but over time it becomes bloated.

If Chrome is slow:

• Clear cached images and files

• Keep passwords saved (don’t clear them)

After clearing cache, Chrome often feels lighter immediately.

Step 5: Fix Chrome Startup and Background Usage

Chrome can keep running in the background even when you close it.

This uses memory and can slow down your computer overall.

Go to Chrome Settings → System

Turn off:

Continue running background apps when Chrome is closed

Step 6: Hardware Acceleration (Try Both Options)

Hardware acceleration helps most people.

But for some PCs, it causes:

• lag

• video stuttering

• slow scrolling

Go to Chrome Settings → System

Toggle hardware acceleration off → restart Chrome → test again.

If it feels better, keep it off.

Step 7: Update Chrome (Yes, It Matters)

Old Chrome versions:

• have bugs

• use more memory

• run slower on modern websites

Go to Chrome Settings → About Chrome

Install updates if available.

Mobile Fixes (Android + iPhone)

Chrome on phones slows down faster because phones have less RAM.

The best mobile fixes:

• Close unused tabs

• Clear cached data

• Update Chrome

• Restart your phone

Also: avoid keeping 40+ tabs open on mobile.

It destroys performance.

Monthly 5-Minute Chrome Routine

Once a month, do this:

1. Close tabs you don’t need

2. Disable unused extensions

3. Clear cached images/files

4. Update Chrome

5. Restart Chrome properly

This keeps Chrome fast long-term.

Key Takeaways

Chrome usually isn’t slow because it’s “bad.”

It becomes slow because it’s doing too much:

• too many tabs

• too many extensions

• too much cache

• too many background processes

Fix those, and Chrome goes back to being fast again.