Is your Google Chrome slow on Mac computers?
If you are here to learn how to fix problems with a slow browser on Mac computers, you are in the right place.
Is your Google Chrome lagging?
I also use these methods on Windows 10. I can tell you from personal experience these methods work to solve both problems with Chrome lagging: Google Chrome slow on Mac computers and Chrome lag on Windows 10.
When you read this article, you discover:
- The causes of Safari slow on Mac computers.
- The causes of Google Chrome slow on Mac computers.
- How to fix the issues of Safari and Google Chrome slow on Mac.
How to Troubleshoot a Slow Browser on Your Mac
image via mackeepsfreezing.com
A browser is our second home, especially today when lots of us have gone remote. So, when your browser lets you down, it can be frustrating. No matter if you’re with Chrome, Safari (or another browser), in this post, you will find universal recipes to speed it up.
Why is Google Chrome so slow on Mac computers? Are you a Mac blogger?
Let’s get started discovering what to do if Google Chrome slow on Mac computers is an issue for you.
For those of you who prefer to watch videos instead of read text, here you will find solutions to Google Chrome slow on Mac and PC in video format.
Web Pages Load Slow?
Do you have slow-loading web pages?
For instance, is Chrome slow when you try to load Google maps?
The solution is in this guide. This Google Chrome Slow on Mac Guide will show you how to troubleshoot.
Although this post was written with Mac users in mind, the solutions you receive about how to speed up slow loading web pages on a Mac can be applied to Windows and other browsers such as Firefox.
Google Chrome | Firefox |
2 billion users globally | 300 million |
The table contains data that shows the market share for Google Chrome vs Mozilla Firefox web browsers. Both browsers are referenced in this guide.
Is Google Chrome Slow on Mac? How to Speed Up Your Browser
When people discover Google Chrome slow on Mac computers, they ask, “Why is Chrome so slow on Mac,” or “What is wrong with Google?”
The answer to “Why is Google Chrome slow on Mac?” may lie with your computer.
Let’s discover the answer to “Why is Google Chrome so slow?” and how to solve the problem.
Update Your Browser
Your browser craves updating for several reasons. For one, recent versions come with improved user experience, for example, I recently discovered Reading List in Google Chrome. Secondly, if you put browser updates to the backburner, you may expose your data to cybercriminals who tend to exploit holes in browsers’ older versions.
Below, we’ll show you how to run updates in major browsers.
If you’re with Safari, you can update the browser via the Apple Menu – Preferences – Updates. Look for a pending update for Safari and click on the “Update” button.
Updating Chrome is pretty straightforward as well – all you need to do is launch Google Chrome, click on the Menu (in the top right corner of your screen), and find an “Update” notification.
Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
Your browser stores a lot of data, including your past search requests and files from websites you visited. Although by design, the cache is meant to speed up your browsing experience, in reality, when it gets full, your browser can become sluggish. You can troubleshoot it by erasing cached data, such as temporary files and cookies.
To clear cache in Chrome, launch the browser, click on the three-dot menu in the upper right corner, select More Tools and find the “Clear browsing data” option. You’ll see a menu asking how far you want to clear your browsing history. Then check the box saying “Cookies and other site data” and hit “Clear Data.”
Google Chrome slow on Mac? Follow these steps to fix the problem.
Steps to Clear the Cache when using Google Chrome:
- Click the 3 dots in the upper right-hand corner of your screen.
- Click History.
- Click History again.
- Click Clear Browsing Data.
- Click the arrow.
- Decide on the time period you want to clear the data.
- Change the default if you want longer than 7 days.
- You can also change the default for the type of data you want to clear.
- Click Clear Data.
This should speed up your browser if Google Chrome slow on Mac is your frustration.
If you’re a Safari user, you should open the browser and go to the top left corner menu bar. Then follow this path: Safari – Preferences – Advanced. Then, move on to the Developer section in the menu bar and click Empty Caches. Your browser is now free of old data – it’s that simple!
The browser cache is just one type of cache. Read this article for a recipe on how to clear the system and app cache as well, which will boost your Mac’s speed.
If you prefer to watch videos, here you can see how to solve the problem of Google Chrome slow on Mac. The video shows you how to clear the browsing history in your cache.
Dial Down on Browser Extensions
Tools like extensions make your browser super convenient, but they can also make your browser overworked. When that happens, you’ll experience a severe drop in performance. Diving deeper into your browser’s extensions, you may be surprised by their number and the fact that you don’t remember installing them, as extensions often come with apps.
Typically, users don’t need every extension they have. More so, if your browser collects a vast amount of extensions, it can even begin launching at a slow pace. Thus, it’s essential to track and disable the unneeded extensions. The rule is simple – if you can’t determine what it does, you’re probably better off uninstalling it.
In Google Chrome, you can delete an extension via the extension icon, which you can find near the three-line menu. Just look for a puzzle icon and click on it. Review the list of extensions you have and get rid of the ones you don’t need by clicking on three dots and choosing Remove from Chrome.
Safari provides an easy way to shut down unneeded extensions as well. To do that, you need to launch Safari, go to Preferences and pick Extensions, which will open the list of extensions. To remove an extension, click on the Uninstall button.
Related Reading: These Are the 10 Best Free Chrome Extensions
Curb Your Plug-Ins
Many programs you install on your Mac enable browser plug-ins, which can strain your browser’s powers, bringing no value for you as the user. These include turning on your camera, microphone, location tracking, etc. In most cases, they are switched on in your browser latently.
To find out what plug-ins are active and disable them, you can do the following:
In Chrome, you can manage your plug-ins through the Chrome menu – Setting – Privacy and Security – Site Settings. This way, you’ll access the list of your plug-ins, so you can choose the ones you want to disable.
To do that, use the toggle to switch on / switch off a plug-in. You can also go with the “block” and “allow” options to allow plug-ins on websites of your choice.
On top of that, you can have websites alert you when a website intends to enable a plug-in. In the Site Settings section, you need to turn on “Ask when a site wants to use a plug-in to access your computer.”
Moving on to Safari, you should consider your browser version. In Safari 10 and later versions, plug-ins aren’t supported, with extensions performing their functions. You can check the version of Safari you’re running by launching the browser and going to the menu bar where you’ll see the About Safari option. Click on it for information on your current version.
Why Does Chrome Take So Long to Open?
If your Google Chrome Browser is slow to open, there is a likely cause. The probability is you are using too many resources.
For instance, do you have many tabs open? Close them, you will find your computer operates quicker.
It’s true: This is happened to me many times. When I close my tabs, my new tabs open quicker.
Try closing your tabs the next time Chrome is slow top open.
Google Chrome Slow on Mac: FAQ
Why is Google Chrome Slow on Mac Computers?
There could be a number of reasons. For instance, you might need to clear your browsing history. If you haven’t cleared your cache of your browsing history in a while, this could clog your memory and slow your browser down.
How Do I Speed Up Chrome on Mac?
There are various ways to speed up Chrome on Mac. For instance, you can clear your cache and get rid of unnecessary browser extensions and plugins.
Why Does Chrome Take So Long to Open?
If Chrome takes long to open, try closing your browser tabs that are open. The odds are you are using too much memory. Close your tabs, you’ll use fewer resources, your computer will open faster, and Chrome won’t take so long to open.
How do I fix slow-loading web pages?
Is Chrome loading slow? If Chrome, Firefox, or another browser is making your web pages slow loading, you might need to clear your browser’s cache. Use too many resources, and you’ll slow the performance of your computer.
Is Chrome slowing down my Mac?
If Google Chrome is slow on a Mac computer, it’s possible that your Chrome browser extension is slowing down the performance of your Mac. Try clearing the browser cache. That will reduce the memory and make your Mac computer perform quicker.
Wrap Up: Safari and Google Chrome Slow on Mac
A fast Mac browser is usually down to applying updates in time, clearing cache regularly, and keeping your browser extensions and plug-ins in check. Hopefully, our tips will come in handy and enable you to bring your browser back to speed.
In closing, by reading this article you learned the answer to “Why is Google Chrome so slow?”
This guide shared the causes of the slowness of Safari and Google Chrome on your Mac. We also shared advice on how to fix the issue.
Readers, please share so Mac users discover why Safari and Google Chrome are slow on Macs and how to troubleshoot the issue.
I look forward to your views in the comments section. Are you a Mac user? Do you find Safari and Google Chrome slow on Mac computers?
Authors: Janice Wald and a Contributing Author
Janice Wald is the founder of MostlyBlogging.com and co-founder of the Mostly Blogging Academy. She is an ebook author, blogger, blogging coach, blogging judge, freelance writer, and speaker. She won the Best Internet Marketer Award and the Best Blogger Award at the 2021 Infinity Blog Awards. Wald was also nominated as 2019 Best Internet Marketer by the Infinity Blog Awards and in 2017 as the Most Informative Blogger by the London Bloggers Bash. She’s been featured on Small Business Trends, the Huffington Post, and Lifehack.
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