Chromebook Running Slow? 9 Ways to Speed It Up

Chromebooks are meant to be quick, so it is frustrating when one starts lagging, freezing on video calls or taking ages to open tabs. If your Chromebook is running slow, the cause is usually something you can fix in a few minutes, because most Chromebooks have modest memory and storage that fill up quietly over time. Work through these fixes in order; the quickest and most likely come first.

This is an independent guide, not affiliated with Google or any Chromebook maker. If your Chromebook will not start at all, see Chromebook won’t turn on instead.

1. Restart it properly

Closing the lid only puts a Chromebook to sleep. A real restart clears memory and finishes any update that is waiting.

1. Click the clock at the bottom right.
2. Click the power icon and choose Restart (or Shut down, then switch it back on).

If an arrow or update icon appears in the clock area, an update is ready; restarting installs it.

2. Find the culprit in Task Manager

1. Press Search + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click the Memory footprint or CPU column to sort.
3. Select anything unexpectedly high, such as a tab with a heavy website, a misbehaving extension or an Android app, and click End process.

This tells you whether the slowdown has one cause or is just too many things at once.

3. Close tabs and turn on memory saving

Every tab uses memory, and Chromebooks often have 4 or 8 GB. Close tabs you are not using, and bookmark the ones you want to keep. If your Chrome version shows a Performance section in Settings, turn on Memory Saver so inactive tabs release memory. Our guide to a browser running slow has more tips that apply to Chrome on any device.

4. Remove extensions you do not use

Extensions run in the background on every page. Open Chrome’s three dots > Extensions > Manage Extensions and remove anything you do not recognise or no longer use. Be especially suspicious of coupon, download helper and “PDF converter” extensions you do not remember adding; see how to manage and remove browser extensions.

5. Close or remove Android and Linux apps

Android apps from the Play Store and Linux apps run in their own environments and can use a lot of memory, even after you close their window.

• Remove Android apps you do not need: right-click the app in the Launcher and choose Uninstall.
• If you never use Android apps, you can turn off Google Play Store in Settings > Apps > Google Play Store.
• If you set up Linux once and no longer use it, you can remove it in Settings > About ChromeOS > Developers.

6. Free up storage

A nearly full drive makes everything slower and can stop updates installing.

1. Open Settings > Device > Storage management (or Settings > System preferences > Storage management on newer versions) to see what is using space.
2. Open the Files app and clear out Downloads, which is stored only on the Chromebook. Move anything important to Google Drive or a USB drive first.
3. Remove offline files and Android apps you no longer need.

Aim to keep a few gigabytes free at all times.

7. Update ChromeOS

1. Open Settings > About ChromeOS.
2. Select Check for updates.
3. Restart when asked.

Updates often include performance and stability fixes. If the Chromebook says it no longer receives updates, see “Is it too old?” below.

8. Rule out Wi-Fi and the website

If only web pages and video are slow, the problem may be the connection rather than the Chromebook. Run a speed test on the Chromebook and on a phone in the same place; our guide to slow internet explains what to try. Sitting closer to the router or using the 5 GHz network often makes a big difference.

9. Test Guest mode, then reset or Powerwash

Guest mode starts a clean session with no extensions, apps or settings. Sign out, choose Browse as Guest and use it for a while.

• Guest mode is fast: the problem is in your profile. Remove more extensions, or reset Chrome’s settings in Settings > Reset settings.
• Guest mode is also slow: consider a Powerwash, which returns the Chromebook to factory state.

To Powerwash, back up your Downloads folder first, then go to Settings > System preferences > Reset settings (on older versions, Settings > Advanced > Reset settings) and select Powerwash > Restart. After it restarts, sign in again and your synced bookmarks, extensions and settings come back from your Google Account. Add extensions back one at a time to find any that caused the trouble. Keeping a backup routine makes a reset far less stressful.

Is it too old?

Each Chromebook model gets ChromeOS updates until a fixed date. Check it in Settings > About ChromeOS > Additional details > Update schedule. After that date it no longer receives security fixes or new features, and newer websites can feel heavier. It will still work, but for banking and shopping a supported device is safer. Many newer models receive updates for about ten years from their release, so check the date before buying a new or second-hand Chromebook.

Physical causes

If the Chromebook is hot and the fan (if it has one) is loud, it may be slowing itself down to cool off. Use it on a hard surface, keep vents clear, and see laptop overheating and shutting down. A battery that drains very fast or a Chromebook that only runs smoothly when plugged in may need a battery check by the maker or a repair shop.

Thinking of replacing it? Our guide on how much RAM you need explains why 4 GB is enough for basic use but 8 GB makes a noticeable difference if you keep many tabs and Android apps open.