Chrome is not Working after Updating Mac to macOS Sequoia

After updating to macOS Sequoia on Mac, some users have reported that Chrome is not loading websites correctly or, in some cases, failing to open altogether. Clearing the cache, a common fix, doesn’t seem to resolve the issue in this case. For some users, Chrome may open certain sites while struggling with others—YouTube, in particular, seems to be a common site where issues are occurring. Whether Chrome is slow, unresponsive, or experiencing frequent crashes, these issues can disrupt productivity and be frustrating. This article will provide step-by-step solutions to troubleshoot and restore Chrome’s functionality on your Mac after the Sequoia update.

I previously wrote what to do if Chrome crashes on Mac.

1. Check for the Latest Version of Chrome

Start by ensuring that you’re running the latest version of Chrome. A recent update was released, and it may include fixes for compatibility issues with Sequoia. For some users, Chrome appears to open certain sites while struggling with others—YouTube, in particular, seems to be a common site where issues are occurring.

Steps to Update Chrome:

1. Open Chrome on your Mac.
2. Click on the three-dot menu icon in the upper-right corner.
3. Select Help > About Google Chrome from the dropdown menu.
4. Chrome will automatically check for updates and install any available ones.
5. Once the update is complete, click Relaunch to apply the changes.

After updating, try loading a website, including sites like YouTube, to see if the issue is resolved.

2. Reset Chrome Settings

If updating Chrome didn’t resolve the issue, try resetting Chrome’s settings. This can help clear any configuration conflicts or corrupt settings that might be causing issues with loading certain sites.

Steps to Reset Chrome Settings:

1. Open Chrome on your Mac.
2. Click on the three-dot menu icon in the upper-right corner.
3. Go to Settings > Reset Settings in the left sidebar.
4. Select Restore settings to their original defaults.
5. In the confirmation pop-up, click Reset settings.

This will restore Chrome to its default settings, which can often resolve issues with loading websites. After the reset, open a site (like YouTube) to check if Chrome is now working properly.

3. Adjust Firewall Settings

Some users have found that temporarily disabling the firewall or explicitly allowing Chrome access through it can resolve loading issues. Here’s how to either turn off the firewall temporarily or ensure that Chrome (or Firefox) is allowed access.

Option 1: Turn Off the Firewall Temporarily

1. Open System Settings on your Mac.
2. Go to Network and select Firewall.
3. Toggle the firewall switch to Off.

Try loading a website in Chrome to see if this resolves the issue. If it does, you may want to proceed with the steps below to permanently allow Chrome through the firewall.

Option 2: Allow Chrome or Firefox Through the Firewall

1. Open the Terminal app on your Mac.
2. Locate your web browser’s path under the /Applications directory. You can list the applications by running:

   ls -l /Applications

3. Once you’ve found the path, run the following command to add your browser to the firewall (even if it’s already there, this can sometimes help).

• To allow Google Chrome access: /usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/socketfilterfw --add /Applications/Google\ Chrome.app
• To allow Firefox access:
  bash /usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/socketfilterfw --add /Applications/Firefox.app

After completing these steps, open Chrome and try loading a site to check if the issue is resolved.

4. Reinstall Chrome

If previous steps haven’t resolved the issue, try reinstalling Chrome by downloading a fresh installer. Don’t worry—this won’t affect your bookmarks or saved settings.

You can uninstall Chrome first.

Steps to Reinstall Chrome:

1. Go to the Chrome download page in another browser.
2. Download the latest version of the Chrome installer.
3. Once the download is complete, open the installer and follow the prompts to reinstall Chrome on your Mac.

After reinstalling, open Chrome and try loading a website to see if the issue is resolved.

These steps should help resolve Chrome issues after updating to Sequoia. By following each fix in order, you’ll increase the chances of getting Chrome back to normal operation on your Mac.

Related articles:

• Chrome Won’t Open On Mac, Fix
• Google Chrome Showing Blue Horizontal Lines, Fix