Google Chrome has completely revolutionized internet browsing with its focus on user experience before everything else. However, there have been problems too such as chrome using too much CPU or memory. This can cause the CPU temperature to skyrocket which leads to bottlenecks.
The good news is that all of these problems can be solved. Chrome’s CPU usage can be toned down by troubleshooting and the RAM issue can be contained to a certain extent. Before we dive into the solution, it is important to understand why chrome is using too much memory and CPU in the first place.
Why Does Chrome Use so Much CPU?
There can be a lot of problems with your browser that cause you to have high CPU usage. With Google Chrome, CPU usage can be much more difficult to ascertain than RAM usage. However, here are some of the most common reasons for an increase in Chrome CPU usage:
- Excessive Extensions
- Malware
- Hardware Acceleration
Of course, older systems have slower CPUs and are at a bigger risk of having a high Chrome CPU usage problem. Remember that you can follow our comprehensive guide on how to lower CPU usage so that Chrome hogging the resources is not as big of a deal.
Why Does Chrome Use so Much RAM?
Chrome uses a lot of RAM because, like all other modern processors, it has each of its processes running separately. This is actually a good thing for the user since a tab or a web page crashing will not crash your entire browser.
On top of that, you also get extra security due to the multiple processes. An attack on any of the plug-ins running on one tab will not be transferred to another tab within the processor. This will make sure you do not lose any important work files even if one of your tabs crashes.
However, this leads to problems too such as certain processes must be unique for each of the tabs. Because of this, Google Chrome can end up using a lot more RAM than is necessary. If you find it slowing your computer down, then there are certain measures you can take to curtail Chrome using too much memory.
How to Fix Chrome Using Too Much Memory And CPU
There are numerous steps you can follow which will massively decrease the amount of resources your web browser utilizes. Although Chrome will always have high RAM usage, it is possible for you to tone it down enough so as to not have a detrimental effect on the performance of your computer.
Before we begin, remember to perform a standard scan of your computer for malware and viruses as they could be one of the reasons why your browser is taking up so much of your processing power.
Use Google Chrome Task Manager
Chrome’s built-in task manager is the perfect tool for you to evaluate Chrome CPU usage. In order to open the task manager, press the Shift and Escape keys together and you will be able to see the task manager window.
Here, you will be able to monitor individual processes which are hogging your resources. Sometimes, it is only a single web page taking up a mammoth amount of resources. If the web page is not essential to your workflow, simply close the process and you will have some processing power on your hands.
You can also stress test your CPU to make sure your hardware is not in need of an upgrade. If your computer’s performance is not up to par, a new CPU or more RAM might be in order.
Remove Extra Extensions
Extensions can be a great way for you to add additional functionality to your browser. However, too many extensions can end up slowing down your computer unnecessarily. For this reason, it is a good practice to monitor all of your extensions once in a while (through the Chrome task manager) and remove the ones you do not need.
You can manage your extensions by opening Chrome and typing in ‘chrome://extensions/’. This will bring up all the installed extensions on your computer. From there, simply disable or remove the ones that you feel are unnecessary.
Once the extensions have been removed, simply restart chrome and see if Chrome is still using too much memory/CPU. Another thing you can do to reduce Chrome CPU usage is to disable the extensions when they are not in use and only enable them when required.
Use Chrome Flags
This is a feature that many users are not aware of. Flags are experimental chrome features which offer a plethora of benefits to the user. Simply load up Chrome and type in ‘chrome://flags’ in the address bar to bring up a list of flags that you can enable/disable.
From here, you need to enable both ‘Show Saved Copy Button’ and the ‘Automatic Tab Discarding’. Once you have done this, the browser will automatically discard tabs when not in use to preserve memory. When you click on the tab, the content will be displayed once again.
Disable Hardware Acceleration
Hardware acceleration is rarely the reason for Chrome using too much CPU, but it has been known as a cause for this issue. In order to turn off acceleration, you need to open settings and click on ‘Advanced’.
Once there, simply toggle the option titled ‘Use Hardware Acceleration when available’. After this, monitor CPU usage to see if it had any effect. If you find that the CPU usage is unchanged, then remember to toggle the option back on.
Reset Chrome to Default
Although this is not recommended, resetting Chrome back to its default settings can be a last resort if nothing else on this list is working for you. In order to reset Chrome back to its factory settings, you need to head to the Advanced settings menu (the same one which disables hardware acceleration) and scroll to the bottom.
Here, click on the ‘Reset settings to their original defaults’ option and confirm the action. Remember that this will erase all settings as well as extensions that you have installed.
If this also does not reduce your RAM/CPU usage, you can also try deleting and reinstalling Chrome. However, resetting Chrome should be enough for most people.
Final Words
There is absolutely no doubt that Chrome can sometimes be a hassle. However, following all of the aforementioned tips should reduce the resources that Chrome utilizes by a considerable amount. In the end, it is up to you to balance functionality with performance according to your liking.