20 Best Tips to Speed up Google Chrome for Faster Browsing

Updated on March 15th, 2025 by Quertime Team in Web Browsers

Google Chrome is among the most popular web browsers for its speed, efficiency, and friendly user interface. Over time, the web browser may have slowed down due to cached files accumulated over time, too many extensions in use, or not-so-friendly settings. Delays while browsing are highly frustrating and pinch productivity while rendering web surfing an uninteresting occupation altogether.

Luckily, some methods can be employed to optimize Chrome for better performance. Whether it be slow loading pages, poor performance due to lag, or high memory usage, these tweaks could help speed Chrome up. One should perform steps like clearing cache, disabling extensions not in use, enabling Hardware acceleration, or changing experimental flags, which will yield a different experience altogether while using Chrome; these tweaks could improve its speed.

Allow this guide to feature a handy list of 20 outstanding tips for speeding up Google Chrome for better browsing and efficiency. These tips are tailored towards all kinds of users, from casual internet visitors to power users who want to ramp up their browsing speed. The tips listed should help one improve Chrome’s performance, reduce crashing, and enhance one’s browsing experience.

1. Update Chrome

Keeping Google Chrome up to date will ensure that you run the latest performance improvements and fix all the security issues. A browser that has not been updated can slow down your browsing because of software incompatibility and the existence of unpatched vulnerabilities. To update Chrome, go to Settings > About Chrome, which will automatically check and install any updates for you. Once the updates have been installed, restart Chrome to apply the changes. Regular updates ensure optimum memory usage and increase efficiency, while also delivering other features that make the entire browsing experience faster and smoother.

2. Remove Unnecessary Extensions

The extensions add value to Chrome, but they can also take up resources and slow down browsing. An abundance of active extensions means lots of memory consumption that makes lagging and slower page loads all but inevitable. At chrome://extensions/, disable or delete any extensions that have fallen into disuse. Many extensions in active use actually create more background processes that slow down the operation of the system, thereby exposing the system to higher risks of attacks and security issues as well as reducing Chrome’s speed and responsiveness. Such act clears away all the crashes and slow hard work from a browser, as Chrome will become faster and so much more responsive.

3. Disable Unused Plugins

In addition to the NPAPI plugins that are not supported anymore by Chrome, there might be built-in plugins that can negatively impact performance. Some of them can run behind the scenes doing their thing and could be better left closed when not being used. Therefore, you may need to type chrome://settings/content into the address bar and change allowed site plugins accordingly. Disabling unneeded media, etc., will speed Chrome up and fortify security. Streamlining active plugins helps Chrome do its job, allowing for faster page loads and smoother browsing experience.

4. Clear Browsing Data

As time goes by, there are going to be lots of accumulated cached files, cookies, and browsing history, which will slow down operations within Chrome. Clearing browsing data will help free up some used-up storage while boosting up speed. To do this, simply navigate to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data, then select cached images, cookies, and history. When it comes to a deep clean, choose “All time.” Clearing data regularly keeps your cache files updated, improves loading times, and makes it less sluggish, thus allowing Chrome to run more efficiently.

5. Enable Hardware Acceleration

With hardware acceleration enabled, Chrome could use your GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) in place of the CPU for rendering graphic-intensive tasks, such as playing videos, performing animations, or executing web applications. With this feature enabled, the CPU load will be reduced, which will result in improved performance. In Order to turn it on, go to Settings > System > Use hardware acceleration when available and toggle it on. Restart Chrome for changes to come into effect. Speed up scrolling and video playback, make visual rendering better, and smooth down the entire process of surfing, streaming, and using complex web apps.

6. Close Unused Tabs

Having several open tabs in Google Chrome uses up too much system memory and CPU resources, which slows down browsing. To free up memory for smooth use of Chrome, close unused tabs. You may keep track of many pages by using bookmarks or Chrome tab management extensions. Another feature like “Tab Groups” in Chrome lets you sort the tabs while using lower system resources. Having many active tabs ensures faster browsing and performance.

7. Use the Chrome Task Manager

Google Chrome has an inbuilt Task Manager that lets you look at the state of currently running tabs, extensions, or processes and close the ones that are most consuming resources. You can use one of two ways to enter the task manager – either by pressing Shift + Esc or by going into More Tools and selecting the option for Task Manager. It shows memory usage and CPU usage for each tab or extension. If you find that some process has taken too much CPU time, you can kill it to speed things up. Instead, periodically checking jobs proves Chrome’s performance even better.

8. Enable “Preload Pages”

Preloading pages in Chrome will speed up online browsing by preloading webpages that it thinks you are most likely to visit, based on your browsing habits. It reduces the load time and makes navigation seamless. To enable it, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and Other Site Data; then turn on Preload pages for faster browsing and searching. This function uses predictive algorithms to boost the experience of the user while browsing, because sometimes it preloads some content that the user hasn’t even clicked on yet.

9. Reset Chrome Settings

As time goes by, Chrome settings get overloaded with extensions, cached data, and changes in configuration that can slow down performance. Restoring Chrome to its default status will remove needless modifications to settings but will not affect bookmarks and saved passwords. In order to reset, go to Settings > Reset Settings > Restore settings to their original defaults, and confirm. This will delete those extensions that are slowing down the program, all settings that are taken to be annoying, and its collected data, all of which would allow Chrome to run just that bit faster and more efficiently.

10. Manage Background Apps

Even after entirely closing Chrome, certain extensions and apps persist in running in the background, continuing to consume system resources. Such background apps can be safely disabled if the performance needs to be improved. Do this by heading to Settings > System, then toggling off Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed. By switching this off, the related processes of Chrome will not consume CPU and RAM when not in use, which means your system can run smoother and thus speeds up your whole browser.

11. Enable Experimental Features (Flags)

The flags in Google Chrome are special hidden experimental features that enhance speed and performance. To use some advanced settings, you should type chrome://flags/ into the address bar. Features like Parallel Downloading, GPU Rasterization, and Back-forward cache make browsing speedier by enabling Chrome to load pages in a more efficient manner. However, being experimental, some may cause instabilities. Always test these changes with the greatest patience and surely reset the flags to default once you have problems.

12. Use a Lightweight Theme

The heavy default or otherwise custom themes in Google Chrome can consume system resources, hence slowing down performance. By using a lightweight theme, that is, the classic Chrome theme or some very simple and minimalistic design, memory consumption is reduced. A basic theme will allow for smoother scrolling, quicker switching between tabs, and better overall responsiveness. Find and install lightweight themes from the Themes category in Chrome-Web Store. The simpler, the more efficient your browsing.

13. Scan for Malware

The presence of malware, spyware, or unwanted extensions can considerably slow down Chrome. The Chrome built-in cleanup tool can be used by entering chrome://settings/cleanup in the address bar or by running a comprehensive system scan by trusted antivirus software. It can create issues with high CPU usage, pop-ups, and generally slow performance. It’s vital to regularly check for such threats in order to sustain a fast and secure browsing experience. Another thing you might want to do is get rid of any suspicious extensions or programs that may be jamming Chrome’s performance.

14. Disable Unnecessary Startup Pages

Chrome allows users to open multiple pages on startup, but too many could slow down its launch. Set Chrome to open a single blank tab or your most-used website over at chrome://settings/onStartup. By disabling startup pages, unnecessary memory will not be touched, and Chrome will launch much quicker. Those devices with limited RAM will be particularly grateful for this as browsing will be a lot faster just as the user opens the browser.

15. Use a Fast DNS Provider

When the DNS provider is slow, it can delay the loading of a page. Oftentimes, switching to a faster DNS will speed up browsing; good examples are Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1). DNS can be set in network settings in just about any operating system. Anytime DNS resolution times are slower, the entire browsing experience is slower. Fast DNS helps quite a lot because it can reduce lookup time, resulting in quicker loading of web pages. Also, a trustworthy DNS improves safety and because it is fast, reduces latency in loading pages, thus ensuring a pleasing browsing experience.

16. Disable Site Notifications

Chrome will, of course, slow down a bit if it constantly gets plagued by requests from many different websites to send notifications. Disabling site notifications not only reduces background activity, but also stops pop-ups from consuming precious resources from the system. To turn off these notifications, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications and block or disable all notifications entirely. By doing this, not only will you browse faster, it is also good for security as it prevents malicious sites from spamming you via notifications. It’s a truly worthy option to optimize your entire browsing experience.

17. Enable Reader Mode

Reader Mode streamlines web pages by cutting out ads, pop-ups, and the like, helping to load faster and providing an uninterrupted serial reading experience. To activate it, go to the address bar and type in chrome://flags. Search for Reader Mode, then switch it on. With it set, you may now get to it through the browser menu. It makes Chrome run faster, better at conserving data, and more readable, especially when one wants to read articles or blog posts without interruption.

18. Use Chrome Lite Mode (Mobile)

Lightweight mode, also sometimes known as Data Saver, improved the speed of browsing by compressing webpages before loading them so that the data used would decrease without impairing browsing speeds over slow connections. To activate it, simply go to Settings > Lite Mode, and toggle it on. This feature is very much suited for mobile users limited by bandwidth, lending themselves to faster browsing but still keeping the experience fluid. Chrome Lite Mode is no longer available from newer versions onward.

19. Disable Automatic Downloads

Automatic downloads can slow down Chrome because of their use of bandwidth and system resources. Disabling them guarantees that files are never downloaded behind your back, which is a boon for speed and security. To do this, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Additional permissions > Automatic downloads, and block untrusted sites. This will stop unwanted downloads, clear the clutter, and give better performance to Chrome, which means a smoother browsing experience.

20. Use a Content Blocker

Content blockers like ad blockers and script blockers prevent unnecessary elements, such as ads, trackers, and pop-ups, from loading. This significantly speeds up Chrome by reducing the amount of data and scripts that it needs to process. Extensions such as uBlock Origin or AdGuard help block unwanted content, improving performance and security. Content blockers will allow pages to load faster, work more efficiently, and present a much cleaner, inviting, and distraction-free experience online because they eliminate resource-heavy elements.