Having trouble with your Edge or Chrome browser suddenly stopping? Don't worry, we've got you covered! In this article, we'll walk you through some common troubleshooting steps to get your browsers back up and running.
Clearing Cache and Cookies
One of the first things you can try when your Edge or Chrome browser stops working is to clear the cache and cookies. Follow these steps:
- Open your browser and click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
- From the dropdown menu, select "Settings."
- In the settings page, scroll down and click on "Privacy and security."
- Under the "Clear browsing data" section, click on "Choose what to clear."
- Make sure "Cached images and files" and "Cookies and other site data" options are selected.
- Click on the "Clear" button to clear the cache and cookies.
Disabling Extensions
Extensions can sometimes interfere with the normal functioning of your browser. To check if an extension is causing the issue, follow these steps:
- Open your browser and click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
- From the dropdown menu, select "More tools" and then "Extensions."
- You'll see a list of installed extensions. Disable all the extensions by toggling the switch next to each extension.
- Restart your browser and check if it's working properly.
- If the browser starts working, enable the extensions one by one to identify the problematic one.
- Once you find the problematic extension, either update it or remove it completely.
Updating Browser
Outdated browser versions can often cause compatibility issues. To update your Edge or Chrome browser, follow these steps:
- Open your browser and click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
- From the dropdown menu, select "Help" and then "About Microsoft Edge/Google Chrome."
- A new tab will open, and the browser will automatically check for updates.
- If an update is available, click on the "Update" button and wait for the update to complete.
- Restart your browser and see if the issue is resolved.
Resetting Browser Settings
If none of the above solutions work, resetting your browser settings can often fix the problem. Here's how:
- Open your browser and click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
- From the dropdown menu, select "Settings."
- Scroll down and click on "Restore settings to their original defaults."
- Click on the "Reset settings" button to confirm.
- Restart your browser and check if it's working properly.
Checking for Malware
Malware or viruses can also cause your browser to stop working. It's essential to run a malware scan on your system. If you don't have an antivirus program installed, there are several free options available online. Once you have an antivirus program, follow these steps:
- Open your antivirus program and navigate to the scan section.
- Select the type of scan you want to run (full scan is recommended).
- Start the scan and wait for it to complete.
- If any malware or viruses are found, follow the instructions provided by the antivirus program to remove them.
- Restart your computer and check if the browser is working now.
Hopefully, one of these troubleshooting steps helped you resolve the issue with your Edge or Chrome browser. If the problem persists, it may be worth contacting a technical support professional for further assistance.
References
| Number | Source |
|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft Edge Support |
| 2 | Google Chrome Help Center |
| 3 | Malwarebytes |