Why Is My Chromebook So Slow All of a Sudden? (Explained)


Why Is My Chromebook So Slow All of a Sudden

Because most data is kept on the cloud rather than on the Chromebook itself, it’s a convenient feature that many people like. Unfortunately, your Chromebook may suddenly become very slow, leaving you perplexed as to why this is happening and how to resolve the problem. We will go through why your Chromebook may become slow and how to resolve the situation.

There are various reasons why the Chromebook may become very slow all of a sudden

  • It might be because you have not updated your Chromebook in a long time.
  • If you have not cleared your cache. 
  • A Chromebook may also become very sluggish if several applications run concurrently and utilize many resources. 
  • Finally, in some instances, the poor performance of your Chromebook may be caused by several extensions installed on your device.

How to Fix a Chromebook That Is Slow?

If your Chromebook is very slow, there are multiple things that you can do to help rectify the problem and improve your Chromebook’s speed. The fixes you can apply to speed up your Chromebook are explained below:

Update the software on your Chromebook.

What to do to get your Chromebook back in working order is to do an update. However, let’s suppose you previously installed the latest updates on your computer and notice that it is still experiencing lag or showing indications of sluggishness. Otherwise, you’ll need to look into the alternative solutions listed below.

To see if there is an available update, navigate to the “Settings” menu and choose “Updates.” Whenever an update becomes available, you’ll be alerted with the message “Update available.” You will then be required to download and install this update. Once installed, completely reboot your device for the updates to take full effect. 

Boost the performance of your Chromebook by clearing some RAM. 

RAM-intensive programs running on your device will inevitably slow down the speed of your Chrome operating system, particularly if they are left unattended. This is because RAM (random access memory) is among the most important components in the computer. You can’t expect your gadget to perform correctly if it’s overloaded with information. 

The Google Chrome browser is essential to the operation of Chromebooks. Aside from the files, programs, and other data stored on your computer, this browser consumes significantly more RAM than you may expect.

Look at the Chromebook resources. 

A Task Manager is available on Chromebooks, just like any other computer. It contains a list of all the apps and systems that are currently running. Examining the available resources enables you to determine what is causing the machine to slow down. The actions outlined below should assist you in checking Chromebook resources and determining the root of the issue.

  1. Bring up the Task Manager using Shift + Esc.
  2. After you’ve opened the window, you’ll see a list of programs and systems and information about their memory, processor, and network use. 
  3. Determine which one consumes the most resources.
  4. When you locate the questionable activity, right-click on it and choose End task.

Usually, terminating apps from inside Task Manager is the approach that many people use because it is practical and has the potential to resolve the problem quickly. However, following a thorough examination of Chromebook resources, determine if the issue has persisted.

Reduce the extensions. 

An excessive number of extensions causes most Chromebooks to have performance issues. In addition, extensions may cause the browser and machine to stutter due to the additional weight they place on the RAM. As a result, it is critical to minimize the number of extensions installed on your machine. 

However, if you want to keep them, make sure to handle these extensions with the extension management tool. Your Chromebooks will run quicker due to reducing the number of extensions installed.

Uninstall all unwanted programs and software. 

Chromebooks are equipped with Google Play Store features and the all-powerful Linux operating system. These services are major heavyweights in supplying a plethora of applications and games. On the other hand, you may be completely unaware that your Chromebook is loaded with superfluous programs that negatively impact the performance of your device on occasion. Therefore, go through the programs on your computer and uninstall anything taking up valuable storage space on your computer or laptop.

Change settings. 

If you discover that the solutions listed above do not make a substantial difference in the performance of your computer, you might try adjusting the settings. Even though Chromebooks do not have many configuration options, there are a few key ones to keep in mind. The process of changing the settings might be different based on the model of the Chromebook you are using. 

Powerwash the Chromebook. 

If your Chromebook is still moving at a snail’s pace, you may consider getting a “powerwash.” It’s basically the same thing as a factory reset, in which you wipe the device clean and return it to its original settings. Be cautious, though, because this method will wipe out all of the data saved on your machine, including any locally stored files. The only way to get your data back beyond this point is if you have a backup of it.

How do I clear RAM on my Chromebook?

Chromebooks may automatically erase downloaded files, browsing data, cache, and unused accounts if they run low on storage space.

Try these remedies to free up space if your Chromebook is lagging or running low on storage:

  • Remove files from your Chromebook that you no longer use. 
  • You can transfer files to Google Drive if you need extra storage.
  • Delete all of your downloaded files and browsing history.
  • Remove programs you no longer use. 
  • Remove any additional Chromebook user accounts. 

Conclusion

Generally, Chromebooks are considered very fast machines; however, sometimes, they can become sluggish. Various reasons may cause the Chromebook to become very slow. First, you must resolve the problem: a sluggish page load time or poor overall performance. 

Taking the steps outlined above might help speed things back up if they’ve already slowed down in your instance. If you’ve done everything and still haven’t had any luck, you may want to consider taking the Chromebook to an expert so they can have a good look at it. 

 

Eddie Mcfarren

Eddie Is no stranger to technical writing after spending years in Networking, IT Infrastructure management, and online content marketing. He is an avid researcher, Software and apps dev tester who spends hours solving problems behind the scenes. Get in touch with him via social media and you can email him via contact@gawkygeek.com

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