Why Is My Chromebook So Slow? (12 Ways To Make It Speedy)

If you bought your Chromebook because you heard Chrome OS is lightweight and fast, finding it so laggy can be a surprise. It turns out that a slow Chromebook isn’t a rare phenomenon for a couple of reasons.

A slow computer will always slow you down, regardless of what you’re doing with it. Before you can make your computer faster, diagnosing the reason for the sluggishness and finding solutions to speed up your computer is essential.

In this article, you’ll learn why your Chromebook is so slow and how to make it faster. Firstly, let’s look at some of the top reasons why your Chromebook may be running sluggishly to guide you towards speeding up your computer.

Table of Contents

Why Is My Chromebook So Slow? (Causes)

A slow Chromebook is likely because you have too many open tabs running. Other possible causes include constantly running background processes or having little storage space.

Here are the top reasons why your Chromebook may be slow in detail.

Extensions

Extensions are small software programs designed to customize your browsing experience. While browsing the Chrome web store for the latest extensions is okay, it’s essential to consider the side effects. Having too many extensions creates too many background tasks, slowing your Chromebook.

Downloads And Locally Stored Files

One of the most significant downsides of using Chromebooks is they usually have little storage. In entry-level Chromebooks, the internal storage may be as low as 16GB! With that said, it’s essential to be wary of the files you store on the internal storage because more files will occupy the limited space and bog down your computer.

Apps

Chromebooks are capable of running Android apps as well as Linux apps. However, that doesn’t mean all Chromebooks can run them excellently. If you have an entry-level Chromebook with limited RAM and internal storage, filling it with apps will be detrimental to its speed.

Outdated Softwares

Google pushes software updates to Chromebooks regularly to keep them working at their best capacity. If a Chromebook has been left unused for a long time, it will take tens of updates to get it up to speed again.

Slow Internet Connection

An internet connection is required to set up a Chromebook and complete different tasks on the computer. If your internet is spotty, you should generally expect slowdowns, even when completing basic tasks on the Chromebook.

Low Disk Storage

Your computer may run and respond to commands slower than average if your storage is far spent. If your Chromebook is slow because of insufficient storage space, uninstalling some apps and deleting downloaded files should speed it up.

Too Many Tabs Are Open In The Background

Opening too many tabs concurrently on your browser might be why your computer is slow. To confirm this assumption, you can conduct a little experiment. Open many tabs on your browser and work on other tasks, close them, and try running the same tasks as before.

What did you observe? You’ll notice that you can execute the tasks more quickly when you open fewer tabs. This experiment illustrates that opening too many tabs can slow down your computer.

Damaged Hardware

If there’s a problem with your computer or hard disk, your computer may slow down. However, diagnosing problems with your hardware could be an uphill task if you’re not very technical, and you may have to involve the help of a technician,

12 Ways To Speed Up Your Slow Chromebook

Now that we’ve outlined why your Chromebook is slow, finding solutions should be straightforward. Here are some of the ways to speed up your slow Chromebook.

1. Uninstall Unnecessary Chrome Extensions And Apps

If you’ve made the mistake of stuffing your device with unnecessary apps and files, there’s no cause for alarm. Uninstalling these extensions and apps will get your Chromebook back to normal.

Open your menu and click “More Tools” to initiate the process. Under “More Tools,” click on extensions. This activity will take you to the extension page, where you can find all installed apps. Scroll through the lists and uninstall unimportant apps by clicking “Remove” on the extension or app’s card.

2. Update Your Chromebook

Using an outdated version of the Chromebook might cause it to lag. If this is the case, you may need to update it to the newest version. While you may not be sure if an outdated system is an issue, it’s good to try.

To update your Chromebook, go to the device settings. Click on “Check for Updates.” If there’s an update for your system, the computer will indicate “Update Available,” allowing you to proceed with the update. However, if the prompt tells you that your Chromebook is up to date, it might be because your Chromebook cannot receive any more updates.

3. Clear Some RAM On Your Chromebook

Your computer RAM is essential, impacting your Chromebook’s functionality directly. The RAM determines the apps and browser tabs you can open concurrently. If you’re using the RAM excessively, you may want to consider clearing it.

Press the “Esc + Search” buttons simultaneously to enter the task manager. Here, you can view the tabs and apps consuming your RAM and do something about them if necessary.

4. Powerwash Your Chromebook

It would help if you use powerwash as a last resort, and this is because it is a factory reset. You will lose all the files on your Chromebook’s internal storage, and to avoid that, you may want to consider backing up all important files before you embark on the powerwash.

To reset your Chromebook, go to the Chrome OS settings, scroll down, and select the “Advanced” option. Under the advanced settings, scroll down and click “Reset Settings,” Under reset settings, click “Powerwash,” Confirm the action, and your Chromebook will reset.

5. Move Your Locally Stored Files On Your Chromebook To Cloud Storage

As mentioned earlier in the article, excessive use of your storage space might be the culprit. You can move some of your files to cloud storage to access later, freeing up more space on your Chromebook.

Additionally, you can set the cloud storage as your default download folder or use an external SD card.

6. Clean Up Your Hard Drive

It’s as simple as it sounds. Remove unwanted files to your download folder if your computer’s hard drive or SSD is full. You can move the ones you may need later to cloud storage.

7. Avoid Opening Too Many Tabs At Once

Limit the number of tabs you leave open while surfing the internet. Too many tabs use up more memory. Identify the “priority tabs” and eliminate the less important ones, and you’ll see a dramatic increase in your Chromebook’s performance.

8. Deactivate Your Offline Sync In Google Drive Settings

If you automatically set your Google Drive to sync documents and files for offline editing, you may want to turn it off if your Chromebook runs slowly. When you have too many documents on Google Drive, they may cause your computer to slow down by clogging your hard drive. Disabling offline sync should solve this problem.

To disable offline sync, head to the drive.google.com. Go to the top of the page and click on the gear icon. Uncheck “Sync Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings files to this computer that you can edit offline.” This action will disable offline sync and hopefully make your Chromebook run faster.

9. Have A Speedy Internet Connection

Having a stable and speedy internet connection is vital to the functionality of your Chromebook. A bad internet connection might be the root cause of the lag on your computer. If you have stable internet and the situation remains the same, it’s time to try other options.

10. Check With The Task Manager To Spot High-Performace Issues

You can always go to the task manager to see the files currently consuming the highest amount of memory and the ones on the lower side of the spectrum.

Press the Search + Esc buttons together to open the Task Manager.
Here, you can see the running applications and close the unwanted ones.
Select an application and click “End Process” in the lower right corner to close it.

11. Change Privacy Settings

Changing your computer’s privacy settings might help you fix the lagging issue. Go to the device settings and click Show “Advanced Settings” to fix the problem. Select “Privacy” and uncheck “Use a web service to help resolve navigation errors” and “Use a web service to help resolve spelling errors.”

12. Logout And Sign In As A Guest In Your Chromebook

Another handy hack might be to log out of administrator mode and sign in as a guest. Signing in as a guest allows you to use your computer in standard settings. The problem is probably with one of your device settings if the system works fine in guest mode.

You may have to change your laptop if none of the above tips fix your system in the worst-case scenario. Technology is advancing, and manufacturers constantly release newer Chromebook models. So, it may be time to ditch your longtime friend for a new one. It may not be easy, but it’ll be worth it.

FAQ

Why Is My School Chromebook So Slow?

One of the most important reasons your school Chromebook is slow is usually because the internal components are slow. Schools like to save on purchases, and an inexpensive Chromebook with limited storage space and RAM is an excellent way.

Why Is My Chromebook So Laggy On Roblox?

A slow internet connection or graphics issues could cause your computer to slow when playing Roblox. Also, your computer may not be powerful enough to run the game. If your computer is okay and your internet is fine, consider closing unwanted tabs on your computer before re-launching the game.

Why Is My New Chromebook So Slow?

A new Chromebook shouldn’t lag unless it’s an entry-level computer with a mediocre processor. A slow internet connection might also be the reason for the slowdown. If the Chromebook is used, consider a powerwash before using the system to clear all unwanted files.

How Can I Make My Chromebook Run Faster?

You can make your Chromebook run faster by uninstalling unnecessary Chrome apps and extensions and not opening too many tabs simultaneously. Beware of stuffing up the memory, as this could cause lag. Use cloud storage to store files for future use.

Are Chromebooks Slower Than Laptops?

Chromebooks are cheaper, have longer battery life, and are more secure than laptops. They are pretty responsive when undertaking lightweight tasks that help with productivity. However, these little machines aren’t as powerful as laptops.

Will Powerwash Speed Up Chromebook?

A powerwash should speed up your Chromebook if it’s low on storage. However, you should note that your Chrome extensions will be reinstalled when you reset your Chromebook, and they may affect your computer speed if they are too many.

Why Is Chromebook So Slow After Update?

If you’re in the Chrome OS Dev or Beta channel, there’s a good chance you’ll get buggy updates too often. Since you’re testing it for regular users, a slow Chromebook may be one of the trade-offs for the latest features.

Are Chromebooks Fast?

Chromebooks are like any other computer; there are entry-level and premium devices. While entry-level Chromebooks can be a pain to use for speed, expensive ones usually run very fast, thanks to the inclusion of cutting-edge components designed for speed.

Conclusion

Chromebooks can be a good companion if they run as fast as a regular laptop. If you use a cheap Chromebook, you’ll probably worry about your computer’s speed than you spend using it.

This article has outlined some of the causes of a slow Chromebook and what you can do to fix it. If the lackluster speed results from outdated components, there’s only so much you can do about that.

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