The focus of this guide is to provide solutions to users who are having trouble opening Google Chrome on their Windows 11 devices. Although Windows 11 is a new and improved operating system, it still has some flaws, especially when it comes to Beta or Dev builds. Despite the availability of Microsoft Edge, many users still prefer using Google Chrome as their web browser. However, since upgrading to Windows 11, some users have been encountering issues with Chrome not opening. This problem has been reported by several users, who have tried to open Chrome by double-clicking on its icon, only to find that nothing happens.
Fix Chrome Not Opening on Windows 11
If you are encountering the issue of Google Chrome not opening in Windows 11, then you have come to the right place. In this article, we have compiled a list of the best methods to fix this problem. These are some general solutions that should help you resolve the issue. So, let’s dive into the methods and start troubleshooting the problem.
1. Restart your computer
Due to the various bugs present in Windows 11, some applications like Google Chrome may fail to launch. To tackle this issue, one simple workaround is to restart your computer. Restarting the PC can help eliminate any bugs that may have caused Chrome to malfunction. Once your computer has restarted, try launching Google Chrome again, and it should open without any problems.
2. Close all background processes related to Chrome
In some cases, Chrome-related processes may already be running in the background, which prevents the application from starting up again. This situation can occur in the Windows operating system, and when it does, Chrome may not be visible on your screen, but it’s still running in the background.
Therefore, it is important to close all Chrome-related background processes to fix the issue of Chrome not opening on Windows 11. To do so, you can open Windows 11 search and type “Task Manager”. This will bring up the Task Manager window.
Next, open Task Manager, and you need to close all Google Chrome processes. To close it, select Google Chrome and ‘End Task‘ at the top right corner.
3. Create a new Google Chrome Shortcut
The upgraded Windows Defender on Windows 11 is known for its strong security features. However, it can also mistakenly prevent legitimate applications like Google Chrome from running on your PC. In this case, you need to grant Chrome access to your system’s network or create a new shortcut for the browser.
To allow Google Chrome access through Windows Defender, go to Windows Security or Defender settings, and look for the Firewall & Network protection option. Next, select the Allow an app through firewall option and click on the Change Settings button. Now, locate Google Chrome from the list of applications and ensure that it has access to both public and private networks.
Alternatively, you can create a new shortcut for Google Chrome by right-clicking on your desktop and selecting New > Shortcut. Then, enter the following path in the location field: “C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe”. Finally, click on the Next button and name the shortcut whatever you want. You can then try running the new shortcut to see if the Chrome browser opens without any issues.
1. Right-click on the Google Chrome icon on your desktop and select ‘Open File Location‘.
2. When the file location opens, right-click on the Chrome executable file and select ‘Create Shortcut‘.
3. Next, on the confirmation prompt, click on the Yes button.
That’s it! This will create a new shortcut for Google Chrome on your desktop. You need to launch this new shortcut instead of the old one.
4. Open Chrome with Compatibility Settings
It’s possible that there may be a compatibility issue between your current version of Google Chrome and the build of Windows 11 you are using. To eliminate this issue, you can try opening Google Chrome with compatibility settings. This is especially useful if you are using an outdated version of Chrome. Here are the steps you can follow to open Chrome with compatibility settings.
1. Right-click on the Google Chrome desktop icon and select ‘Properties‘.
2. On the Google Chrome properties, switch to the Compatibility tab.
3. Next, on the Compatibility mode, check the ‘Run this program in compatibility mode for:’ and select ‘Windows 8‘
4. After making the changes, click on the Apply button.
That’s it! Now run the Google Chrome browser. This time Google Chrome will launch immediately.
5. Prevent Chrome from Restarting itself
If you’re experiencing issues with Google Chrome not responding, there’s a built-in feature that automatically restarts the application. However, some users have reported that disabling this feature has resolved the ‘Chrome won’t open on Windows 11’ problem. Here are the steps to disable this feature:
1. Right-click on the Google Chrome desktop icon and select ‘Properties‘.
2. On the Google Chrome properties, switch to the Compatibility tab.
3. On the Settings section, uncheck the ‘Register this program for restart‘.
4. After making the changes, click on the Apply button and then on Ok.
That’s it! After disabling the feature, open Google Chrome again. If the problem persists, follow the next methods.
6. Delete the Default User Data in Chrome
If the data saved in Google Chrome’s User data folder becomes corrupted, the browser may fail to launch. To address the issue of Chrome not opening in Windows 11, you can try removing the default User data folder. Here are the steps to follow:
1. Press the Windows key + R button on your keyboard. This will open the RUN dialog box.
2. When the RUN dialog box opens, type Appdata and press the Enter button.
3. Now, locate the following path:
LocalGoogleChromeUser Data
4. Now, on the User Data folder, right-click on the folder named ‘Default‘ and select ‘Delete‘
After following the aforementioned steps and making the necessary changes, close the folder and proceed to open Google Chrome. You might need to log in to your Google Account once again.
7. Disable Windows Defender/Antivirus Programs
When Google Chrome fails to open on Windows 11, the issue may arise due to Firewall systems or Antivirus Programs blocking the application. In such cases, disabling the Windows Defender Firewall or any third-party antivirus software could be a solution. Here’s a guide on how to disable the Windows Defender Firewall:
1. Open the Windows Security app and select ‘Virus & threat Protection‘.
2. Click on the Manage Settings link on the Virus & threat protection settings.
3. On the next screen, toggle off the ‘Real-time Protection‘.
4. You also need to disable third-party firewall programs.
That’s it! This is how you can disable the Windows Security app on your Windows 11 to resolve Google Chrome not opening on Windows 11.
8. Reinstall the Google Chrome browser
If you are unable to reset Chrome because it is not opening, you can try reinstalling it on your computer. Reinstallation will eliminate any data corruption during the installation process, which may be causing the problem.
If Google Chrome is not opening on Windows 11 due to corrupted installation files, reinstalling it should fix the issue. To do this, navigate to Control Panel, right-click on Chrome, and select ‘Uninstall’. Once uninstalled, reinstall Google Chrome again.
Conclusion
These are some of the best methods to fix Chrome not opening on Windows 11. If you require further assistance in resolving Chrome problems on Windows, please let us know in the comments. Additionally, if this article was helpful to you, be sure to share it with your friends.
