Category: Chrome

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
May 16, 2023

Google Chrome is a very popular browser despite being infamously greedy with your computer’s resources. If you feel like Chrome is starting to get slow, let’s speed it up.

This is for devices running Google Chrome. Screenshots are from Windows 10

Update Chrome

The simplest thing you can do is make sure Chrome is up to date. This will ensure that you always have the latest improvements and optimizations for Chrome. The browser will usually install updates automatically, but you can update manually to be sure.

To manually update Chrome, head to:

Menu (3 dots) > Settings > About Chrome

If not up-to-date, Chrome will automatically update. Refer to the below image:

Preload Images

Chrome has a feature that allows it to “predict” which links it thinks you might open and preload in the background. That way, if you do click the link, it will already be partially loaded.

If you want to enable this feature. First, head to:

Menu (3 dots) > Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and Other Site Data

Next, toggle the switch ON for Preload pages for faster browsing and searching. See the below image:

Tabs Under Control

Chrome has some built-in tools to help mitigate the performance impact of having a lot of tabs open, but keeping your tabs tidy on your own will help even more.

There are a couple of things you can do if you are someone that constantly has tons of tabs open. The easiest thing to do is use Chrome’s Reading List and Bookmarks features. That way, you can save pages for later without actually keeping them open in a tab.

Use Energy Saver

As the name implies, Chrome’s Energy Saver feature is intended to help improve battery life when your laptop is unplugged. However, it can also be used to speed up performance in a pinch.

Energy Saver limits background activity, visual effects, and video frame rates. Limiting those things helps stretch out your battery, which is a result of Chrome not asking your computer to work as hard. You can only use Energy Saver if your computer is running on battery or below 20% power. Head to:

Menu (3 dots) > Settings > Performance

and toggle ON the Energy Saver switch.

Memory Saver

With the latest release of Chrome on the desktop, there is a new performance setting so Chrome uses up to 40% and 10GB less memory to keep your tabs running smoothly.

If you have a bunch of tabs open in Chrome that you plan to come back to later; Memory Saver mode frees up memory from tabs you are not currently using so the active websites you are browsing are fast. This is especially useful if you are running other intensive applications, like editing family videos or playing games. Any inactive tabs will be reloaded when you need them. Head to:

Menu (3 dots) > Settings > Performance

and toggle ON the Memory Saver switch. See the following image:

Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration is a feature that allows Chrome to take advantage of your computer’s GPU to speed up processes. Hardware can perform some functions faster than software running on the CPU alone.

When enabled, Chrome will utilize your computer’s GPU for graphics-intensive tasks, like playing games and watching videos. It’s typically enabled by default but can be disabled if there are driver compatibility issues. You can ensure it’s enabled by heading to:

Menu (3 dots) > Settings > System

and toggle ON the option Use hardware acceleration when available. Refer to the below image:

Check Task Manager

If you feel like Chrome is particularly sluggish, there might be a rogue extension causing it. Chrome has its own built-in Task Manager that lets you see what’s running in the browser; extensions, web pages, and apps; and how many resources each individual thing is using.

Chrome’s Task Manager shows each tab and all the extensions that are currently running. You can see the memory footprint and CPU usage. If a process uses too much CPU, you can simply tap the End Process button and see if that fixes the problem.

The Task Manager can be found in:

Menu (the 3 dots) > More Tools > Task Manager

Just click on the option from the drop-down menu. See the below image:

Check Extensions

Similar to how you might have apps on your phone that you do not use anymore, there are probably some Extensions in Chrome that you could get rid of. They could be running in the background and eating up resources.

Regardless of performance, it’s generally a good idea to routinely check up on your Extensions. Chrome gives you the option to “Disable” by turning the Toggle to OFF or “Remove.” Disabling will keep the Extension installed, but it cannot run. To check your Extensions, head to:

?Menu (3 dots} > More Tools > Extensions

See the following image:

Clear Your Browsing Data

Chrome collects a lot of data while you are browsing to improve your experience. All this site data, cookies, and cached images and files can add up over time. Occasionally clearing this data can potentially lighten up your browser, but it also means you will need to re-sign into websites.

There are two ways to do this. First, head to:

Menu (the 3 dots) > More Tools >Clear Browsing Data

Second, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Del. Both methods will bring up a menu with options (Basic or Advanced) for clearing the data.

Checkmark any option(s) and click Clear data. Refer to the below image:

Reset Without Uninstalling

The “nuclear option” for speeding up Chrome is performing a browser reset. This will essentially bring Chrome back to the way it was when you first installed it while still saving some of your personal stuff.

A browser reset will reset the search engine, homepage, startup tabs, new tab page, pinned tabs, content settings, cookies, site data, extensions, and themes. However, it will not erase your bookmarks, browser history, or saved passwords.

To perform a browser reset, head to:

Menu (3 dots) > Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults

See the below image:

Just click the option. Next, you will see a confirmation screen. Here, click on the Reset settings button. See the following image:

Disclaimer

Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.

Quote For the Day

“While we’re all very dependent on technology, it doesn’t always work.

Bill Gates

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