In this guide, we will show you various methods to fix the issue of Google Chrome not working in Windows 11. When it comes to the browser domain, then there’s no denying the fact that the offering from Silicon Valley giants stands right there at the top. Baked in with all the required feature sets, its deep integration in the Google ecosystem and its handy sync feature make it the go-to choice for numerous users. However, it isn’t free from its fair share of issues either.
Various users have voiced their concern that the browser isn’t working along the expected lines on the latest OS build. For some, the issue is all the more series as they are not even able to launch Chrome in the first place. So keeping all this in mind, this guide will show you various methods to fix the Google Chrome not working issue in Windows 11. We have made sure that none of the methods listed below requires your interaction with Chrome. So even if you are unable to open the browser for any reason, you could still execute all the below-listed workarounds without any issue.
Table of Contents
How to Fix Google Chrome Not Working in Windows 11
Do note that there’s no universal fix as such. You will have to try out each of the below-mentioned workarounds and see which one works best in your favor. So with that in mind, let’s get started.
FIX 1: Run Chrome in Compatibility Mode
Since the browser isn’t working on the latest version of the OS, you could try running in compatibility mode on an older OS build. For that, you will need to have the Chrome shortcut on your desktop.
If you don’t have that, then go to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs, right-click on the Chrome icon, and select Show More options. Then select Send To > Desktop (Create Shortcut). Once that is done, you may proceed with the below instructions.
- Right-click on the Chrome icon present on the desktop and select Properties.
- Then go to the Compatibility tab and checkmark “Run this program in compatibility mode for”.
- Select Windows 8 from the list and hit Apply > OK.
- Now launch Google Chrome and check if it is working on your Windows 11 PC or not.
FIX 2: Run Program Compatibility Troubleshooter
Windows comes with quite a few troubleshooter apps, and one of them focuses specifically on app compatibility-related issues. As of now, we will be using this app to identify the issues related to Chrome and subsequently get hold of the ways to resolve those issues as well. Follow along.
- Bring up the Settings menu via Windows+I shortcut keys.
- Then select System from the left menu bar and go to Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooter.
- After that, scroll to the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter and click Run next to it.
- Now select Google Chrome from the list and hit Next.
- The troubleshooter will now run, scan for underlying issues, and will then bring up the associated fixes.
- So click on the fix to implement it and then restart your PC for the changes to take place.
- Once your Windows 11 PC boots up, launch Google Chrome and check if it is working or not.
FIX 3: Disable Chrome Extensions via Run
Extensions are notoriously infamous for causing conflicts with the proper functioning of the browser. Therefore, you should consider disabling all these extensions and then try accessing the browser. But since we aren’t able to open Chrome, let’s disable these extensions via the Run menu. Here’s how:
- Use the Windows+R shortcut keys to open Run.
- Then type in the below command and hit Enter
chrome.exe --disable-extensions
- If it fixes the Google Chrome not working issue on your Windows 11 PC, then the culprit was indeed an extension.
So keep all these extensions disabled and then enable them one at a time (from the chrome://extensions page) until you are able to re-create the issue. Once that happens, go and check out the last enabled extension- and you have caught the culprit. It’s better to keep that extension disabled or rather remove it from the browser.
FIX 4: Open Chrome in Incognito via Run
Not just the third-party add-ons, but the stored cookies and cache could also lead to a few issues in some instances. Therefore, you should consider using the Incognito Mode so that the browser doesn’t end up collecting cookies and at the same time, all the extensions stand disabled. But as of now, you might not be able to use the Ctrl+Shift+N shortcut keys to open a private window, so let’s again call the Run menu for help.
- Open Run via Windows+R shortcut keys.
- Then type in the below command and hit Enter:
chrome.exe -incognito
If the browser now opens in this mode, then the issue was with the corrupt data or extensions. Since we have already dealt with extensions in the third fix, let’s now turn our attention towards corrupt data.
- So use the Ctrl+Shift+Del shortcut keys to bring up the Clear Browsing Data window.
- Then checkmark Cookies and other site data and Cached Images and Files.
- Finally, click on the Clear Data button and wait for the process to complete.
- Once done, it should have fixed the Google Chrome not working issue on your Windows 11 PC.
FIX 5: Delete Chrome User Data
In case the stored browser data gets corrupted, then its repercussions will be felt by the browser. From favorites to bookmarks, or cookies and cache, issues with any of its data would have led to issues with the browser as a whole. Therefore, you should consider deleting all these data and letting the browser repopulate them from scratch, using your Google account. Here’s how:
- Open File Explorer via Windows+E shortcut keys and go to the below location:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data
- Copy this User Data folder and paste it somewhere else (it will act as a backup).
- Now delete this User Data folder from the Chrome directory.
- Check if it fixes the Google Chrome not working issue on your Windows 11 PC.
- If it doesn’t, then paste the User Data back to the Chrome directory to get all your data back and then move over to our next fix.
FIX 6: Disable Firewall
In some cases, the Windows Firewall might raise a false positive and could end up blocking legitimate traffic from apps that are having access to the internet. To verify if that is indeed the case this time around as well, here’s what you need to do.
- Head over to the Start menu, search Windows Defender Firewall and open it.
- Then click on Turn On/off Windows Defender Firewall from the left menu bar.
- After that, select Turn off under both the Public and Private networks.
- Now launch Google Chrome and check if it is working on your Windows 11 PC or not.
- If your answer is in a negative tone, then re-enable the firewall and then move over to our next fix.
FIX 7: Delete DNS Cache
If a lot of Domain Mame Server records get accumulated over the due course of time, then the browser might have an issue or two in loading web pages. In some cases, the burden of data might make it difficult for the browser itself to open properly. Therefore, you should consider deleting these records from your PC. Are there any risks in deleting DNS? Well, not really.
It’s just that you might notice a one-second delay when the website loads as the browser wouldn’t have any data to pick up from its phonebook (DNS Records). However, this is delay is only for the first time as the DNS data will be repopulated once the site loads. So with that in mind, here’s how you could delete the DNS on your Windows 11 PC.
- Head over to the Start Menu, search CMD, and launch it as an administrator.
- Then type in the below command and hit Enter:
ipconfig /flushdns
- You will now get the message “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache”.
- Now restart your PC and then check if Google Chrome not working in Windows 11 has been fixed or not.
FIX 8: Reset Network
If you are facing problems with numerous apps that require the usage of the internet, then the issue might be with your PC’s network rather than each of those individual apps. So in that case, you should consider resetting your Windows 11 PC network setting. However, that will delete all the saved WiFi networks as well, so take their backup beforehand and only then proceed with the below steps:
- Use the Windows+I shortcut keys to bring up the Settings menu.
- Then select Network & Internet from the left menu bar and go to Advanced Network Settings.
- Scroll to the end of the page and click on Network Reset.
- Finally, click on the Reset Now button and wait for the process to complete.
- Once done, verify if the Google Chrome not working issue on your Windows 11 PC is fixed or not.
FIX 9: Reinstall Google Chrome
If Chrome’s configuration or settings have got corrupted then deleting its data might not be enough. In such cases, you will have to uninstall and then reinstall the browser on your PC, using the below-given instructions.
- Bring up the Run menu via Windows+R shortcut keys.
- Then type in the below command and hit Enter:
appwiz.cpl
- Now select Chrome from the list and hit Uninstall. Wait for the process to complete.
- Once done, head over to the Chrome official site and download its latest version.
- Then proceed with the on-screen instructions to install it onto your PC.
- Now check if the Google Chrome not working issue on your Windows 11 PC has been fixed or not.
FIX 10: Try Chrome Beta/Dev/Canary
Apart from the stable Chrome version, Google also runs the Beta, Developer, and Canary builds. These are mostly intended for testing developmental features before being rolled out for the general audiences. On paper, they are generally less stable but I have been personally using them and there’s not much of a stability issue as such. On the good side, you will always be the first in line to welcome new features.
So if the stable build is not working along the expected lines, then you could try out the Chrome Beta (recommended), Developer, or Canary build (least stable) and check if it works out for you. If your answer is still in a negative tone, then you have no choice but to temporarily switch over to another Chromium-based browser (such as Microsoft Edge) and wait until Google releases a new update for its browser.
With this, we round off the guide on how you could fix the Google Chrome not working issue on your Windows 11 PC. We have listed ten different methods for the same. Do let us know in the comments section which one spelled out success for you. Likewise, all your queries are welcomed in the comments section below.
