So you are unhappy because the Google Chrome web browser won’t open or launch. This article explains how you can troubleshoot when Google Chrome won’t open after successfully installing on your Mac. More specifically the problem is that Google Chrome seems to be unresponsive and won’t start at all when trying to open the Chrome App. Do not worry, you are not alone. It seems that many macOS users are having this problem. Here is what to do:
See also: “App Is Damaged and Can’t Be Opened. You Should Move It To The Trash”
How to fix when Chrome won’t open
1-It is possible that Chrome is already running. You may want to check if Chrome is already open. Here is how you can check this:
- Press the Option, Command, and Esc (Escape) keys together or you can click Force Quit from the Apple menu (upper-left corner of your screen).
- Do you see Google Chrome there in the list
- If you do, select it and then click Force Quit, and try re-opening Chrome. if you do not see Google Chrome in the Force Quit window, then see the step below.
2-Restart your Mac. (see also: How To Use Spotlight On Your Mac)
3-If you do not see Google Chrome in the Force Quit menu (see tip#1), follow the steps below:
- Go to the Finder of your Mac.
- From the “Go” menu select “Go to Folder”
- Enter this:
- ~/Library/Application Support
- And click Go
- This will open a folder
- Find the ‘Google’ named folder
- Right click the folder and click Get Info
- Click Sharing & Permissions to open the section
- Click to Lock icon (bottom right corner) to unlock it. You need to be an admin and then enter your password.
- Find the user who is having the Chrome opening problem and click its Privilege
- Change Privilege from ‘Read Only’ to ‘Read & Write’.
- Now click the Settings icon and select ‘Apply to enclosed items..’
- Click Ok and try restarting the Chrome app.
4– If nothing helps you, you may want to try removing Google Chrome and then downloading and reinstalling. It is possible that your Google Chrome browser files may be corrupted and that is why it is now working. To uninstall Chrome, open Finder and click Applications. Then drag Google Chrome to the Trash. And then like the step number #3, select Finder and, from the Menu bar, click Go and then Go to Folder and enter ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome and click Go. A new window will open. Select all the folders, and drag them to the Trash. This completely removes Google Chrome. Now you can go head and download and install again.
See also: How To Use Terminal On Your Mac
After the M1(Apple) chip, Chrome website gives the option to download for Intel chip or for Apple chip.
Try downloading Apple chip chrome not Intel chip even though your processor is Intel.
I followed all instructions above. It don’t help. Next try, this “~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome, there is not a single folder anymore. My previous Macbook Pro OS was High Sierra, Chrome was working well then. I changed a number of times, High Sierra changed to Catalina, changed to High Sierra, Every time the OS is Catalina, Chrome don’t work. I believe the issue is with OS Catalina.
I have tried uninstall/reinstall. It worked perfectly for that day and browsing session. I left and came back the next day … and it is a repeat. Chrome not opening. WiFi good so it’s not connectivity problems. Any one have other suggestions?
Same problem here. I just restarted my computer and it’s doing the same thing won’t open the window….
Thank you! This solution (changing permissions) worked after weeks of trying other options.
My Chrome files were corrupted This saved me – ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome moved Chrome to trash and reinstalled – without out your step 3 I would have not been able to restore my beloved Chrome
Hi when I type in library application support or library application support google chrome it just says the folder can’t be found any help on how I can get google chrome on my Mac book pro many thanks
Chrome wouldn’t open from Applications folder. Tried many different ideas; restarting the MacBook, changing permissions on both the install dmg file and the application file, deleting app and reinstalling again. Only item 3, changing permissions on the ~/Library/Application Support/Google folder allowed the installation to complete after opening the Google Chrome application.