If you are a Windows user, you may have encountered high disk usage errors. One of the notorious apps for 100% disk usage on Windows is Google Chrome (we’re not surprised here). Google Chrome consuming all disk usage can cause a slow experience on your computer. So let’s fix Google Chrome’s high disk usage on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Follow the step-by-step methods outlined below and troubleshoot Chrome’s high disk usage on your computer.
1. Use the Google Chrome Task Manager
First, you can browse the tabs opened in Google Chrome. Then close the open to source tabs, such as autoplay videos running in the background or those with lots of high-definition graphics in them.
If you have trouble finding them, you can use Google Chrome’s built-in task manager. Here’s how.
Stage 1: Go to Google Chrome on your PC.
Step 2: Use the shortcut Shift + Esc and it will open Google Chrome’s built-in Task Manager.
Stage 3: Check for Chrome processes running in the background.
Chrome tabs, extensions, etc. You can see how much resources it uses. Click on the problematic processes and select End process at the bottom.
2. Disable Chrome Pages Preload
This trick has worked wonders for many out there. By default, Google Chrome preloads pages that the browser thinks you can visit. The browser uses cookies to preload your frequently visited pages. You should disable the options from Chrome’s Settings menu. Here’s how.
Stage 1: From the Google Chrome home page, click the three-dot menu at the top.
Step 2: Open the settings menu.
Stage 3: Go to the privacy and security menu.
Step 4: Choose cookies and other site data.
Step 5: Scroll down and disable preload pages for faster browsing and search switching.
Close Google Chrome and it will fix Chrome’s high disk usage error.
3. Delete Google Chrome Cache and Cookies
Like other browsers, Google Chrome uses cache and cookies to preload pages. When this collection of cookies and cache gets old, you tend to see high disk usage errors on Windows 10/11. Let’s remove the cache and cookies from Google Chrome to fix the problem.
Stage 1: Go to the Chrome homepage and click the three-dot menu at the top.
Step 2: Open More tools and select Clear browsing data.
Stage 3: Go to the Advanced tab and select Browsing history, Cookies, Cached data and more.
Step 4: Click Clear data at the bottom and restart the Chrome browser.
4. Disable Problematic Chrome Extensions
With Google Chrome’s extensive library of extensions, it’s pretty easy to populate the browser with dozens of extensions. While some extensions are outdated, some may be filled with malicious files to send you to Yahoo search, and a few may not match modern standards.
It’s not easy to specify a single extension for Chrome’s high disk usage. You should disable or remove all installed extensions and keep the ones you need.
Stage 1: From the Google Chrome home page, click the three-dot menu and open More tools.
Step 2: Select Extensions.
Stage 3: Uninstall and disable extensions from the Extensions menu in Google Chrome.
Restart Chrome and you will no longer see the high disk usage error.
5. Reset Google Chrome
If you have made a lot of changes in the Chrome browser, it is difficult to revert them to default. You can use Chrome’s Reset tool and reset every option in Chrome. Here’s how.
Stage 1: Go to Chrome Settings and scroll down to Advanced.
Step 2: Open the Reset and clean section and select Restore settings to their original defaults.
The gesture opens a window with a warning that it will reset all Chrome Settings. Confirm Reset Settings.
Do not worry. This reset does not affect bookmarks, history and saved passwords.
6. Update Google Chrome
Google Chrome’s high disk error could be caused by an old Chrome build on your PC. You need to update Google Chrome to the latest version from the Chrome Settings menu.
To install the latest version of Google Chrome on Windows, open Chrome Settings and go to About.
7. Use Windows Task Manager
Microsoft Teams or Skype are other culprits behind high disk usage errors on your PC. Even after doing all the steps above, if you still get the high disk usage popup, you need to use the Windows Task Manager to fix the problem.
Press the Windows key and open the Task Manager on your PC. Check which processes are consuming unusual power and kill the process for them.
Solve Chrome’s High Disk Usage
If Chrome continues to be the culprit of high disk usage errors even after trying the methods mentioned above, you should consider using another browser on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC. Microsoft Edge is a solid competitor that supports all Chrome extensions and comes with unique features like Collections, Sleep tabs and more.
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