“Chrome won’t launch at all.”
“I’ve tried everything — reinstalling, resetting Windows, even formatting — but nothing works.”
Recently, many users around the world have been reporting serious problems where Chrome refuses to start on Windows. Even after a fresh install of both Chrome and Windows, the issue returns: the browser briefly flashes open, then vanishes. In Task Manager, Chrome appears with a yellow “Paused” icon, often near the “Search” process.There’s no error message or crash log.
This guide explores potential causes and provides tested solutions to help you get Chrome working again.
Symptoms: Chrome Won’t Open, or Opens and Instantly Closes
Typical Symptoms:
- Chrome window flashes open for a second, then closes
- No error dialog or crash report
- Chrome shows as “Paused” in Task Manager
- No logs are generated
📝 In many cases, this is due to Windows forcibly suspending Chrome. Possible causes include GPU rendering issues, antivirus conflicts, or interference from native Windows services.
Possible Reasons Why Chrome Is Being Paused
| Cause | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Antivirus software blocking Chrome | Programs like Norton or Bitdefender may falsely identify Chrome as unsafe. |
| Graphics driver or hardware acceleration issues | Chrome may fail to initialize on certain GPU setups. |
| AppControl or SmartScreen interference/restrictions | Chrome might be restricted at the OS level due to security settings. |
| Conflict with system apps (e.g. Windows Search) | Especially on Windows 11, Chrome may interfere with built-in services. |
💡 Windows 11 has stronger security and search controls, which sometimes misclassify Chrome’s behavior as suspicious.
Fix 1: Add
Add–disable-gpu to Chrome Shortcut
This disables hardware acceleration, which is a common trigger for startup failure.
Steps:
- Right-click the Chrome shortcut → Properties
- In the “Target” field, add:
add –disable-gpu at the end of the text - Click OK and relaunch Chrome
📝 If GPU rendering is the cause, this workaround often helps.
Fix 2: Temporarily Disable Antivirus
- Turn off Norton, Avast, or Windows Defender temporarily
- Try launching Chrome
- If it opens, add Chrome to the antivirus exclusion list
⚠️ Disconnect from the internet while antivirus is disabled for safety.
Fix 3: Check AppInit_DLLs Registry Entry
- Press Win + R and type regedit
- Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows - Look for AppInit_DLLs — if it contains anything, clear it
- Reboot your PC
📝 Sometimes malicious or leftover DLLs prevent Chrome from launching.
Fix 4: Create a New Windows User Account
If your current profile is corrupted:
- Open Settings > Accounts > Family & Other Users
- Create a new local user
- Log into the new account and install Chrome
💡 This helps isolate issues caused by user-specific policies or settings.
Extra Fix: Remove Chrome from Startup Apps
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc)
- Go to the “Startup” tab
- Right-click Chrome → Disable
- Restart your PC and launch Chrome manually
📝 Startup interference can sometimes trigger the “Paused” state.
Extra Fix: Run Chrome in Compatibility Mode
- Right-click Chrome > Properties > Compatibility tab
- Check “Run this program in compatibility mode”
- Select “Windows 8”
- Apply and restart Chrome
Try Chrome Beta or Canary Builds
If regular Chrome won’t launch, test alternative versions:
📝 These versions use different builds and may work even when the stable version doesn’t.
Corrupted Profile? Try Resetting It
- Press Win + R, then enter:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data - Rename the folder “Default” to “Default_old”
- Launch Chrome — a new profile will be created automatically
🧪 Advanced Tip (for tech-savvy users)
If nothing else works, consider using:
- PowerShell repair commands (sfc /scannow, DISM /RestoreHealth)
- Event Viewer to analyze Chrome crashes or blocks
These require technical knowledge but may uncover deeper system-level problems.
Alternative Browsers While You Wait
If Chrome won’t work no matter what, consider using one of these until a fix is found:
| Browser | Feature |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Edge | Chromium-based, stable, and built-in with Windows |
| Brave | Privacy-focused, fast performance, built-in ad blocker |
| Firefox | Non-Chromium engine, excellent privacy and open-source |
You can often import bookmarks and settings from Chrome easily.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What does the yellow “Paused” icon mean in Task Manager?
It means Windows has suspended the process—usually due to background control mechanisms. For Chrome, this is not normal behavior.
Q. Is this a known Windows bug?
Some Windows updates seem to conflict with Chrome, but it’s highly environment-specific and unpredictable.
Final Thoughts
Chrome refusing to start is more than just an annoyance—it can bring your work or daily routine to a halt. Whether the issue lies in your system’s configuration or a Windows-level block, the best approach is methodical testing.
Try each fix one by one. Use another browser in the meantime. And don’t give up—many users have eventually found a solution that worked for them.
If this guide helped you, feel free to share it with others facing the same problem.
✔️For more troubleshooting guides, check out:
▶︎Fixing Windows 11 Update KB5058411: Common Errors and Solutions
▶︎How to Disable or Remap the CapsLock Key on Windows: Simple and Safe Methods
▶︎Can’t Update Windows? Solve Error Code 0x800705b4 in Minutes
