How to fix Chrome installation failed in Windows 10?

Have you tried to install or reinstall Google Chrome, only for the Chrome installer to display the “Installation failed. The Google Chrome installer failed to start” error message? The “Chrome installation failed” error is not new to Windows PCs. Users have long been complaining about encountering the error and not knowing how to bypass it. So, if you’re interested in knowing why Chrome installation fails, keep reading this post. We’ll show you how to fix Chrome installation errors in Windows 10, and hopefully, you’ll be able to install and use Google Chrome on your Windows PC.

Here is a list of the most common Chrome installation errors that you may encounter while trying to install Chrome:

• “Google Chrome install failed to start, not working”.
• “Google Chrome installation failed due to unspecified error”.
• “Can’t install Google Chrome”.
• “Installation failed. The Google Chrome installer failed to start”.

“Why Am I Getting Chrome Installation Errors?”

This is a question many Windows users ask. There could be a number of reasons why the Chrome installation process is failing. Here are the most common ones:

• Windows Registry files could be broken or corrupted.
• Chrome setup files could be corrupted.
• There are remnants of an old version of Chrome left behind on your PC after the uninstallation.
• Malware infection in your Windows system may have deleted some Chrome installation files, therefore interfering with the process.
• Your PC doesn’t meet the system requirements for installing that particular version of Google Chrome.
• Your internet connection is not working normally.
• Your antivirus program could be blocking the installation of Chrome.

The solutions below will show you how to fix the “Chrome installation failed in the first boot phase” problem. But before you begin, here are a few troubleshooting steps you should try first:

• Be sure to verify whether your internet connection is working properly, especially if you are using an online installer.
• Make sure that your computer meets the system requirements for installing Google Chrome.
• Reboot Windows and try the installation process again.

How to Fix Chrome Installation Issues in Windows 10

Fix 1: Install Google Chrome as an Administrator

Some users reported that installing Chrome with administrator privileges had solved the installation errors for them. To check whether this fix works, follow the steps below:

1. Launch another browser, like Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge, and search for “Google Chrome for Windows 10”.
2. Click “Download now” and select “Download Chrome”. Follow the instructions to complete the download process and save the file to your preferred location.
3. Open the download location, right-click on the file and select “Run as administrator”.
4. Click “Yes” if prompted by the system. Follow the setup instructions to install Google Chrome.

This should resolve your problem. If it doesn’t, try the next solution below.

Fix 2: Delete the Google Update Directory

According to multiple posts on various forums, deleting the Google Update directory can fix Chrome installation errors. Here’s how:

1. Press the Windows Key + R.
2. Type %LOCALAPPDATA% into the “Run” box and press “OK” or hit “Enter”.
3. Locate the “Update” directory and delete it.
4. Try reinstalling Google Chrome and check if the process goes through this time.

If the “Update” directory doesn’t exist, you can skip this solution. Alternatively, locate the “Google” folder and delete it. Now try installing Chrome, and hopefully, it should work without an issue. If this doesn’t work, move to the solution below.

Fix 3: Modify the Registry

Editing the registry is a risky process that should be handled by an advanced user. If you don’t feel comfortable making changes to your registry, ask for help from an expert since the smallest mistake could severely damage your system.

To modify the registry and fix your Chrome installation issues, follow these steps:

1. Press the Win + R keyboard shortcut, type regedit into the “Run” box and click “OK”.
2. If prompted by the system, select “Yes”.
3. Once the “Registry Editor” window opens, click on “File” and then select “Export…” to back up your registry. This will be helpful in case something goes wrong.
4. Choose where you want to store the backup and assign the file a name. For instance, type “Original Registry Backup” into the “File name:” field.
5. Select “All” under the “Export range” section in the bottom left corner and click “Save”.
6. Once you’re done creating a backup of the Windows Registry, go back to the “Registry Editor” window and open the following location:
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Google\Update\ClientState
7. Locate the {4DC8B4CA-1BDA-483e-B5FA-D3C12E15B62D} folder, right-click on it and select “Delete”.
8. Open the path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\Update\Clients, look for the same folder and delete it.
9. Exit the Registry Editor and try the installation process again. If the Google installer throws up the same error message, try the next solution.

Fix 4: Uninstall All Previous Versions of Google Chrome

It could be that when you uninstalled the old version of Chrome, some components were left behind and are preventing you from reinstalling Chrome. If that’s the case, then you need to delete all Chrome registry entries. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Press the Win + R shortcut, type regedit into the “Run” box and hit “Enter”.
2. Open the following paths and delete these keys:
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Google
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\Google

The problem should now be resolved, and you should be able to install Chrome without issues. However, if the installation fails, don’t give up. There are still other methods that could work.

Fix 5: Try the Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter

Microsoft rolled out the Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter to help users who are struggling with the installation and uninstallation of programs. The tool is free to download on Microsoft’s official download website. Among other functions, the tool helps you to fix issues that are preventing you from installing or uninstalling programs and problems preventing existing programs from being completely uninstalled. To proceed, follow this guide:

1. Visit Microsoft’s official download page and click the “Download” button to download “Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter”.
2. Once downloaded, launch the program and select “Next”.
3. Allow Windows to scan for and detect problems, and then choose “Installing”.
4. Google Chrome should be listed on the next screen. If it’s not listed, click on the “Not Listed” option.
5. Otherwise, if Chrome is listed, select it and click “Next”.
6. Select “Yes, try uninstall” and wait for the troubleshooter to do the hard work for you. Once the process is complete, you’ll see a notification showing all the problems that were fixed. You can also choose the “Explore additional options” link to check what other options you have.

Now you can exit the “Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter” window and try installing Chrome again. The process should now be smooth and successful.

Fix 6: Check If the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) Is Running

BITS should be enabled for the transfer of data to be successful. The service only works if there is idle bandwidth – that is, the bandwidth that’s not being used by other applications. This service runs in the background and is tasked with supporting downloads and uploads. You need to check if the service is running, and to do so, follow these steps:

1. Press the Win + R keyboard shortcut, type in msc and click “OK”.
2. Locate “Background Intelligent Transfer Service” and double-click on it to open its “Properties” window.
3. Set “Startup type:” to “Automatic” and click “Start” to make sure the service is running.
4. Click Apply > OK.

You should now be able to install Google Chrome without any problems.

Fix 7: Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus Program

Your antivirus software could also be the reason why you’re unable to install Chrome. If you suspect this to be the case, disable the antivirus software temporarily and check if you can now install Chrome. The process of disabling your antivirus program depends on the software that you’re using. Refer to the user guide for instructions.

If disabling the antivirus doesn’t help, try uninstalling it from your PC. If this fix works, it’s wise to use a different antivirus program that won’t cause Chrome installation errors.

Fix 8: Use the Offline Installer

If you’re still running into problems while trying to install Chrome, we suggest using the offline installer. Google provides users with the option to download a standalone offline installer that may come in handy in such situations. To get the offline installer, visit the Google Chrome download page on a different computer and download it. Be sure to select the Chrome version that is supported by your system to avoid running into incompatibility issues. Next, transfer the file to an external media storage device.

Plug the external media storage device into the PC where you want to install Chrome, run the file and follow the on-screen instructions.

Run Regular Malware Scans

Every now and then, your PC may be targeted by hackers whose intentions are to steal your data and use it for criminal activities. If you’re using an ordinary antivirus program, you probably think that it’s enough to keep you safe. However, hackers are developing sophisticated malware that can circumvent your primary antivirus program without detection and infect your PC. That’s why we recommend installing a more advanced security tool like Auslogics Anti-Malware.

This malware removal tool performs a comprehensive scan of your entire Windows system to detect and remove any suspicious entities that could be hiding on your computer. The program checks the registry entries, temporary folders, browser extensions, and system memory, among other areas that could be targeted. The tool adds another layer of security to ensure that your privacy is protected. We always encourage Windows users to run regular malware scans using Auslogics Anti-Malware for continuous protection.

If malware infection is the reason why Chrome installation keeps failing on your computer, then you can trust Auslogics Anti-Malware to remove it from your PC and prevent future attacks.

That’s it! We hope you were able to fix Chrome installation issues on your Windows PC. For additional information or queries, leave your comments below and we’ll get back to you.