Does your Google Chrome crashes when downloading files on Windows 11?
Google Chrome is a preferred browser for most Windows 11 users due to its fast performance and great response time. However, it is not immune to errors or crashes every once in a while.
Mostly, the application stops working or crashes midway due to a loss in connectivity, false value input, or storage running low. But there can be various other unknown reasons that prevent users from downloading content off the internet.
This can be a very serious issue that may force you to use another browser option, compromising the overall experience. But before you do so, we recommend you check out some of the effective solutions covered below for Google Chrome crashes when downloading files on Windows 11.
So let’s begin!
1. Change Default Download Location.
By default, Google Chrome saves the downloaded files in the Downloads folder of your drive. However, if that folder is encountering an issue or Chrome is having trouble accessing it for some reason, it may stop the downloading process midway or crash suddenly.
To avoid this, simply change the location for your downloads by following the steps below:
- Launch Google Chrome on your computer.
- Select the three vertical dots icon on the top right corner.
- From the drop down menu, choose Settings.
- From the left pane, go to Downloads.
- Then, click the Change button next to Location.
- Navigate to the desired location then click on Select Folder to make the changes.
2. Close Unnecessary Tabs.
The number of tabs you can open simultaneously on Google Chrome depends on the amount of RAM you have on your PC. Since most users have around 4 to 8 GB of RAM, opening more than enough tabs may result in unexpected crashes.
Other than that, what’s opened in these tabs further dictates the number of allowed tabs before Chrome starts behaving abnormally. For this reason, we recommend opening a minimum number of tabs when downloading files from the browser.
3. Restart Your PC.
When Google Chrome crashes when downloading files on Windows 11, restarting the browser doesn’t help much. It could be because a system glitch is preventing it from doing so. Mostly, you can eliminate this glitch by restarting your computer.
4. Disable Chrome Extensions.
Chrome Extensions are meant to provide additional functionality in the browser, but like everything else, it can occasionally experience malfunctions as well. If you have an extension to manage your downloaded files or increase the downloading speed, etc., try disabling or removing that extension.
Here’s how to do it:
- Open Google Chrome.
- Type in ‘chrome://extensions’ in the address bar and hit the Enter key from your keyboard.
- Now switch off the toggles for each extension or click on Remove.
Hopefully, this will resolve the Google Chrome crashes when downloading files on Windows 11. If not, move to the following methods.
5. Find Harmful Software With Chrome.
Google Chrome may also crash mid-downloading files due to malicious apps or program interference. But don’t fret. Chrome has a built-in tool that can automatically detect the program that’s causing trouble with the browser’s processes. You can then uninstall that software to resolve the issue.
Follow the steps below to do so:
- First, go to Chrome Settings from the three dots menu icon on the browser window’s top right corner.
- Now go to the Reset and clean up tab from the left pane.
- Then, click on Clean up computer.
- Finally, click on the Find button next to Find harmful software to run the scan.
6. Clear Cache Data for Chrome.
Like all programs, Google Chrome stores cache to provide an improved experience on each subsequent use. But if the cache gets full or corrupted over time, it will continuously cause the browser to crash. Simply clear all this temporary data to get Chrome back to its reputable state.
Use the instructions below to do it:
- Launch Google Chrome on your PC.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete keys from your keyboard. This will open the Clear browsing data panel.
- From the Time Range drop-down menu, choose All time.
- Check the box for Cached images and files.
- Lastly, click on Clear data.
Now close the browser and relaunch it to see if you’re able to download files.
7. Create a New User Profile.
Unknown errors can attack specific user profiles saved in the Chrome browser. If none of the above-mentioned methods helped you resolve the issue, you can use Chrome in the guest mode or switch to another user profile to download the files.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Launch the Chrome window and click on the Guest mode button in the bottom left corner. If you want to create another profile, simply choose Add.
- In case you’re already inside a user profile, select your profile icon at the top right corner.
- Under the Other profiles section, choose Guest to enter the Guest mode or Add to create another profile.
8. Reset or Reinstall Chrome.
When nothing else seems to resolve whatever the issue in Chrome is preventing it from downloading the files, this method might come in handy. You can reset all the browser settings so that it returns to its default state.
To do so, follow the steps below:
- To reset the browser, open Google Chrome.
- In the address bar, type out ‘chrome://settings/reset’ and hit Enter.
- Now go to Restore settings to their original defaults.
- On the pop-up box, click on Reset Settings to confirm the action.
If this doesn’t help either, we recommend you delete and reinstall a fresh copy of the app as your last resort.
9. Use Chrome Alternatives.
If it’s urgent to download the files and no method explained above helped you resolve the issue, it’s better to look for Chrome alternatives in the meantime. Some reliable options include Opera, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox.
This concludes our guide on how to fix Google Chrome crashes when downloading files on Windows 11. If you still have any questions, feel free to leave a comment down below. We’ll respond to you as soon as possible.
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