Why Does Google Chrome Keep Freezing on My Mac? Here’s What to Do

 Nothing kills productivity faster than Chrome freezing in the middle of your workflow. One second you’re writing an email or streaming a video, the next—you’re staring at the spinning rainbow wheel of doom.

If Chrome keeps locking up on your Mac, you’re not alone. While Chrome is one of the most popular browsers, it’s also infamous for being resource-hungry. The good news? Most freezes aren’t permanent and can be solved with a few quick steps.


Why Chrome Freezes on Mac

  • Too many tabs eating RAM

  • Extensions misbehaving

  • Corrupted Chrome profile or cache

  • Network hiccups (DNS issues)

  • Mac system memory running low


5 Fixes That Actually Work

1. Restart Chrome and Your Mac

Sometimes, the simplest fix works best. Quit Chrome completely (use Command + Option + Esc if it won’t close), then restart your Mac to clear memory leaks.


2. Disable Problematic Extensions

Extensions are handy, but one bad apple can freeze your whole browser.

  • Go to chrome://extensions/

  • Turn them off one by one

  • Restart Chrome to test


3. Free Up RAM

Chrome loves memory. If your Mac is low on resources, Chrome will stall.

  • Close unused apps and background processes

  • Limit open tabs (try tab managers like OneTab or Chrome’s built-in Memory Saver)


4. Clear the DNS Cache

Network glitches can cause freezes that look like browser problems.

  • Open Terminal

  • Type:

    sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
  • Hit Enter (you may need your Mac password)


5. Create a New Chrome User Profile

If all else fails, your Chrome profile may be corrupted.

  • Quit Chrome

  • Go to Finder → ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/

  • Rename the Default folder (to something like “Default-old”)

  • Restart Chrome (a fresh profile will be created automatically)


The Tail: Share Your Freezing Fix

Most Chrome freezes are temporary, but repeated lock-ups are a sign something deeper needs attention. These five fixes cover the most common culprits—from RAM overload to corrupted profiles.

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