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Google Chrome is the most popular web browser by far, but it also has a reputation for being a resource hog. However, that has more to do with how we use Chrome than the browser itself, and just a few small changes can help speed Google Chrome up.
Manage Your Extensions
Chrome is a fairly open platform. That means third-party developers can create new Chrome apps, plugins, and extensions. Many of these are great and can add new features and functionality to your browser.
Unfortunately, they all add to the amount of resources Chrome needs as well. You can think of browser extensions as micro-apps, all running every time you open a browser or a new tab. That means each requires a certain amount of RAM and CPU resources to run.
Adding every useful Chrome extension might seem like a good way to get more out of your browser or increase productivity, but adding too many will slow down your computer. Furthermore, having old and outdated browser extensions is a security risk. Being selective about which extensions you use and keeping seldom-used extensions turned off until you need them will keep you safer and speed up your machine.
Close Some Tabs
If you’re like me, you tend to keep more tabs open than you need. It’s convenient because all of your frequently used websites are just a click away, and those great articles that you found are just waiting for you to do something with them.
Unfortunately, every tab you have open in Chrome (or any other browser that uses tabbed browsing) increases the amount of RAM it needs. RAM (random access memory) is like your computer’s short-term memory, and each browser tab needs to remain in short-term memory to be easily accessible. If you have tabs reloading in the background, it can also consume more processing power.
Reducing the number of open tabs might make things less convenient, but it will improve your computer’s performance.
Clear Your Chrome Browser Cache
Pages you visit frequently or have visited recently will load more quickly than new pages. That’s because Chrome stores information from those pages in its cache to load them faster next time. Your browser also stores cookies, which websites use for various purposes, including web page customization and tracking. Cache files and cookies are tiny files individually, but over time, their accumulation can actually slow your browser down as the browser searches all the files instead of loading them from the web server. Regularly clearing the browser cache can keep things running smoothly and speed up your browser.
Ultimately, all of this will depend on the individual user and how big a problem the resource drain from Chrome is. You could always free up RAM by shutting down other applications running in the background and leaving Chrome alone. However, if your browser is becoming a problem, clearing your cache, closing some tabs, and reducing the number of extensions you use should make things more manageable.
