Can’t uninstall Google Chrome? Here’s how to fix that
- Google Chrome is currently the most used web browser in the world.
- Many users reported various errors and some reported that they can’t uninstall Google Chrome at all.
- To fix this problem, make sure that you close all Chrome processes and remove all extensions.
- Are you having more problems with Chrome? If so, head over to our Chrome hub, for more in-depth solutions.
Many Windows 10 users complained they can’t uninstall Google Chrome from their PCs.
Usually, this issue comes together with an error message but that is not always the case.
What do I do if Chrome won’t uninstall?
We know that many of you encountered this problem quite a few times. We are trying to come to your aid with this guide.
Hopefully, after you have followed the steps listed below, you will be able to safely remove Google Chrome from your Windows computer.
Quick solutions to remove Chrome for good:
- Close all Chrome processes
- Close all related background processes
- Disable any third party extensions
- Use CCleaner
1. Close all Chrome processes
- Press ctrl + shift + esc in order to access Task Manager.
- Afterwards, Under the Processes tab, find Google Chrome
- Select it, and press End Task.
After you are sure that all the processes and sub processes are closed, you can continue with uninstalling the program.
2. Close all related background processes
- In order for you to do so, you will first need to open the Google Chrome Tools (the three dots in the top-right corner of the screen).
- Afterwards, you need to click on Settings, then scroll all the way down.
- At the bottom of the Settings window you will find the Advanced tab.
- Under Advanced, under the System section, you will be able to see Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed
- After you toggle-off that button, you can safely close your browser and reattempt to uninstall it.
3. Disable any third party extensions
- Open the Google Chrome Tools menu from top-right corner
- Click More tools and then Extensions
- Disable or remove all the extensions then turn off your browser.
4. Use CCleaner
When everything else fails, maybe a third party app might be the solution you are looking for.
If you were unable to uninstall your browser up to this point, but also, if you want to keep your PC clean, you can try using a computer utility program like CCleaner.
You can download the software from its official website and you can find out more about how to use it by accessing this link.
We really hope that one of these solutions worked for you. If we missed something, or if you came across another workaround, please let us know in the comment section below.
FAQ: Learn more about Google Chrome
- Why can I not uninstall Google Chrome?
If you can’t uninstall Chrome, it means that you still have Chrome processes running in the background. Close them with Task Manager and try again.
- Can’t uninstall Google Chrome says Close all windows?
Sometimes Close all windows message will prevent you from uninstalling Chrome. This means that Chrome is still running, so be sure to close it completely.
- How do I uninstall and reinstall Chrome?
To uninstall Chrome, go to Settings app > Apps, select Chrome and choose Uninstall. To reinstall Chrome, check our in-depth Chrome installation guide.
- How do you reset Google Chrome?
To reset Google Chrome, open Chrome settings > Advanced and choose the Reset option. Follow instructions on the screen to complete the reset process.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2019 and has been since revamped and updated in April 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
