Why Is My Chromebook So Slow? Here’s What You Can Do

ChromeOS is designed to run smoothly on low-spec’d devices. So it can be surprising to see a Chromebook lag like a Windows computer. You shouldn’t panic, as the platform also has its own bad days. I’ll explain why you’re experiencing the problem and show you the fixes to apply.

Why Is Your Chromebook Running Slow?

When a Chromebook is slow, even performing normal tasks like taking a screenshot in ChromeOS will become tedious. The following are the main reasons for the problem. Understanding them will guide you on how to make your Chromebook faster:

• Outdated operating system

As you already know, ChromeOS auto updates itself unless you turn off the feature. If you do turn off the feature to save data and the drag on your system, you’ll miss out on important updates that keep your system in good shape. As time goes on, your old software version will be unable to handle certain websites and online applications and will cause your system to lag.

• Google update

Systems can run slow when downloading and installing updates in the background. That’s because most updates can be bulky and use up system resources. Also, certain updates, no matter how small, can ship with bugs that affect overall system performance and keep your Chromebook running slow until the issue is fixed.

• Installed extensions

Problematic or heavy extensions can bog down your system’s resources, including your internet connection. Also, having a lot of extensions turned on at the same time can make the system run slow, as their demands may be too much for your hardware.

• Numerous background processes

As mentioned, updates running in the background can make your Chromebook slow. In the same vein, running too many apps and other background processes, especially multiple tabs, will tank your Chromebook’s performance if your hardware is not equipped for the load.

• Low disk storage

Low performance can also be the by-product of full storage devices. Every system needs a fair bit of free storage space to run smoothly. In most cases, hard drive space is filled up due to unnecessary files like large temporary browsing data.

• Android apps

Most Android apps, such as games and those written in native code, work better with Arm chips. Most Chromebooms are powered by x86 chipsets. Since ChromeOS must translate the Arm-optimized Android, especially 32-bit versions, this translation could significantly use up system resources and make any Chromebook slow. Other poorly optimized Android applications can also affect system performance.

• Slow internet connection

ChromeOS requires a stable internet connection for optimal performance. A slow connection means responsiveness in web applications will drop, and you’ll experience slower load times.

• Hardware problems

Older, less powerful, and damaged hardware devices generally struggle to handle intensive tasks, particularly when you have to run multiple tabs simultaneously. This could spoil your user experience, as it keeps any old Chromebook slow and laggy.

• Malicious programs

Some malware websites, files, applications, and extensions run down computer resources as part of their activities. Some of these elements include adware, spyware, and ransomware that work hard to steal data or simply wreak havoc. You may have unwittingly installed them while trying to download certain files and apps outside the Play Store and the Chrome Web Store.

How to Make Your Chromebook Faster

The following solutions will show you how to speed up your Chromebook by resolving the issues I outlined above.

Fix 1: Update Chromebook

If you turned off ChromeOS’s automatic update feature, consider turning it back on to get the platform’s latest update installed. The most recent update could also be what you need to get your system running smoothly again if the old update is buggy. Whenever Google releases problematic updates, it tends to realize its mistakes quickly and publish hot fixes for the problem through subsequent updates.

Follow these steps to manually check for updates:

• Ensure your Chromebook is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network.
• Go to your screen’s bottom-right corner, select the status bar (where your time and battery icons are displayed) and click the Settings icon.
• When the Settings interface opens, select About ChromeOS at the bottom of the left sidebar.
• Check for your operating system version under Google ChromeOS.
• Click Check for updates.

• Available updates will download and install automatically.
• Click Restart to complete the process.

Move on to the next fix if you’re still asking, “Why is my Chromebook so slow?”

Fix 2: Improve your internet connection

Speeding up an internet connection is one of the most effective “How to make Chromebook faster” solutions. Start by restarting your router/Wi-Fi device and your Chromebook (press and hold the power button till your computer goes off).

If nothing works, consider changing your DNS server. Here’s how:

1. Click your time display in the bottom-right corner and select your Wi-Fi icon.
2. Go to the drop-down menu and select the wireless network you’re currently connected to.
3. Go to the Name servers section and choose Google name servers. You can choose other DNS servers you trust by selecting the custom option.

You should approach your internet service provider to be sure the issue is not their fault.

That’s it. You should no longer be asking, “Why are Chromebooks so slow?” But if you still are, the next solution might help.

Fix 3: End the background processes using Chromebook’s inbuilt Task Manager

Some processes have no business running in the background, and your system will be lighter once you close them.

Here’s how to make Chromebooks faster by stopping apps from running in the background:

1. Press the Search and Esc keyboard buttons simultaneously to launch the Task Manager.
2. Once the Task Manager opens, you can check how each app is consuming system memory.
3. To force quit an app, click it and select End process.

Check if the Chromebook running slow issue persists.

Fix 4: Enable hyper-threading

Hyper-threading is an Intel process that allows applications to utilize multiple processor cores at once. While AMD and other manufacturers have similar functionalities, this feature is peculiar to x86 Intel chips. It is turned off by default on Chromebooks with Intel processors.

However, turning it on can significantly boost performance, as it allows apps and extensions to access advanced resources.

Follow these steps to turn on hyper-threading:

1. Launch Google Chrome.
2. Go to the address bar and enter the following:

chrome://flags#scheduler-configuration

1. Navigate to Scheduler Configuration and select Enables Hyper-Threading on relevant CPUs.
2. Choose the Restart option.

Note: While hyperthreading is great to turn on when you see yourself asking, “Why is my Chromebook so slow?” I don’t recommend keeping it on permanently. To turn it off, go to the Scheduler Configuration settings and select Default or Disables Hyper-Threading on relevant CPUs and restart.

Fix 5: Remove extensions

I understand that you need extensions to get certain things done, like block ads and trackers, organize your tabs, and manage your workflow when browsing. However, they may be the reason for your Chromebook running slow. The best way to identify the specific extension causing the problem is by turning one app off and restarting your computer to check if the problem persists.

Repeat the process until the lagging stops. The last extension you disabled is the cause of the issue, and you should find an alternative.

To turn off an extension, open Chrome, select the three dots in the top-right corner, go to More tools > Extensions, and turn off the extension. 

To remove an extension, go to the Extensions page, click the Remove option next to the extension you want to uninstall, and confirm your decision.

Still asking, “Why are Chromebooks so slow?” Move on to the next solution.

Fix 6: Uninstall apps you don’t need

Applications you no longer need may be running in the background and slowing down your system. Here’s how to make Chromebooks faster by uninstalling apps:

1. Select the launcher in the corner of your screen.
2. Go to All apps and locate the app you want to remove.
3. Right-click the application and select Uninstall.

Fix 7: Clean up your SSD or HDD

Cleaning up your hard drive involves uninstalling apps and extensions you no longer need, removing unwanted profiles, and deleting junk files. You can also move large files to Google Drive or other cloud storage services to free up space. 

Another way to create more storage space is by deleting browsing data. Open Chrome, select the three dots in the top-right corner, and click Delete browsing data in the menu. Next, choose the types of data you want to remove, select the time range, and click Delete data.

Move on to the next fix if you’re still asking, “How to make my Chromebook faster?”

Also read: SSD vs. HDD: What’s the Difference and What to Choose?

Fix 8: Use an ad blocker

Visiting websites running too many ads may burden your CPU and system memory. An ad blocker can help you block ads in Chrome and free up your system resources. However, it’s important that you use competent and reliable extensions to avoid creating a different type of problem.

Fix 9: Perform a hard reset

A hard reset, also called a hardware reset, refreshes your Chromebook hardware and resolves common glitches that may be causing the computer to lag. There are different ways to perform this operation depending on your Chromebook manufacturer and device model.

Important warning: The hard reset may delete some of your downloads and other files. So, ensure you back up critical files before you continue.

However, the general method involves turning off your Chromebook, pressing and holding the Refresh button on your keyboard, and tapping the Power button. Only release the Refresh button after your Chromebook boots.

Fix 10: Factory reset your Chromebook

This process is also called Powerwashing, and it is similar to factory resetting a Windows 10 or 11 computer because it removes your files and applications. If you have critical files, back them up to an external drive or move them to a cloud storage before you begin.

Follow these steps:

1. Click your status bar in your screen’s bottom-right corner and select Sign out.
2. You can also select the power icon after clicking the status bar, then select Sign out if you don’t see the option.
3. Next, press and hold the Control, Alt, Shift , and R buttons.
4. Select Restart.
5. Choose the Powerwash option in the next interface you see and select Continue.
6. Follow the subsequent steps to reset your device.
7. Sign in with your Google account (owner account).
8. Follow the next series of on-screen instructions to set up ChromeOS again.

The performance problem should now be resolved.

Why Is My Chromebook So Slow? Explained

The Chromebook running slow issue should no longer be a problem. Ensure you always maintain a healthy amount of free storage space, mind the extensions and apps you install, and always keep your Chromebook operating system updated to avoid asking, “Why is my Chromebook so laggy?” in the future. You should also avoid using too many tabs and running too many background programs if your hardware cannot handle too much load.

Let us know in the comments section how you fixed the problem.

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