5 most common Chromebook errors and how to fix them

Chromebooks are incredibly powerful machines, but they can still malfunction from time to time. However, most common problems with Chromebooks are easily resolved. Below are all the essential troubleshooting tips to solve the most common Chromebook problems.

1. Chromebooks often crash or freeze

If your Chromebook keeps crashing or freezing, it could be because you have too many tabs open in Chrome, your Chromebook has malware, or even too many browser extensions installed. Any issues that cause Chromebook apps to constantly crash can usually be resolved by restarting the Chromebook. If not, you may need to look at your browser.

If you think just one tab is causing the problem, press Ctrl + Shift + R to refresh the page. If the problem recurs, open the Chrome menu by clicking the three vertical dots in the upper right corner, then navigate to More Tools > Task Manager , select the tab causing the problem, and click End Process .

If the problem persists, it's almost certainly the result of a malicious app or extension. To fix this, try closing all browser windows and applications. You can also disable extensions and re-enable them one by one to identify problematic extensions by going to Settings > Extensions .

2. Chrome browser is slow

Browser lag is often a sign that a laptop is old, but users can relieve some of the stress on older hardware by changing their browsing habits. Start by taking basic steps to improve Chrome browser performance - try disabling extensions or even reinstalling Chrome.

You can also try using a tab manager app for Chrome. Browser performance issues are often caused by memory usage exceeding your computer's available RAM, so reducing the amount of memory Chrome consumes is the only simple way to fix the problem. Depending on the laptop, you may also be able to upgrade the RAM.

3. Everything is slow on Chromebooks

If you find your Chromebook slows down even when just using your computer or watching locally saved videos, it could be a sign that it needs to be updated. New versions of ChromeOS usually download automatically.

You can check if your Chromebook has any updates by going to Settings > About ChromeOS > Google ChromeOS . After verifying that your Chromebook has an Internet connection, click the button labeled Check for updates . If any updates are available, your Chromebook will automatically start installing the updates.

4. Chromebooks have problems with the second screen

By default, Chromebooks will stretch the image when connecting another display. If you want to mirror your screen, you may find this annoying. However, adjusting display settings is a relatively simple process.

You can troubleshoot your Chromebook screen and change your display settings by navigating to Settings > Device > Displays . Select Mirror Built-in Display to project your screen or use the other available options to adjust the display settings to your liking.

If the second screen doesn't work at all, there may be a hardware problem. Try disconnecting the power cable, display cable, and second monitor cable. If your Chromebook has multiple display ports, try connecting the display to a different port.

5. Chromebook camera not working

If your Chromebook camera isn't working, it might be because another app is using it. Please check which applications have permission to use the camera at Settings > Apps > Manage your apps . Check which websites have camera access in Chrome browser at Settings > Privacy and Security in Site settings > Camera .

If you can't find which application is using the webcam, you can also use Google Task Manager to manually close browser processes and close any open applications on the screen. If this fails, try restarting your Chromebook. If it's an external camera, you should also verify that it works by connecting to another device.