Google Chrome Didn't Shut Down Correctly: Fix & Restore Pages

Getting the Chrome didn’t shut down correctly error message when you try to launch the browser? Keep reading, we’re here to help you.

For most users, it was misconfigured settings that led to the. And one, in particular, was the Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed option.

Extensions, conflicting programs, or corrupt data may also cause Chrome issues. Here’s how to address them:

How do I make Google Chrome shut down correctly?

1. Edit the Preferences File if Chrome didn’t shut down correctly in Windows 11

1. Press Windows + E to open the File Explorer.
2. Next, paste the following path in the address bar while replacing the UserName with the one on your computer, or simply navigate to it:C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
3. Right-click on the Preferences file and select Open with from the context menu.
4. Select Notepad and click on OK.
5. Press Ctrl + F to open the Find box, enter exit_type in the text field, and then hit Enter.
6. Then delete Crashed and enter normal instead.
7. Next, press Ctrl + S to save the changes.
8. Close the Notepad, restart the computer, and then launch the Chrome browser.

Editing the Preferences file is another resolution that some users have confirmed disables the Chrome didn’t shut down correctly error. So, make sure to try it before moving to the other solutions here.

2. Change the Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed setting

1. To do that, paste the following path in Chrome’s address bar and hit Enter:chrome://settings/system
2. Toggle the Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed option off if it’s on. In case it’s already turned on, disable it.
3. Now, relaunch Google Chrome.

The Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed option works both ways, disable it if it’s turned on, and enable it if it’s turned off. Both have worked for users, so make sure to try it out.

3. Edit the Default Folder title if Chrome didn’t shut down correctly in Windows 10

1. Open the File Explorer with the Windows + E hotkey.
2. Now, navigate to the following path or paste in the address bar and hit Enter. Make sure to replace UserName with the one for your account.C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data
3. Right-click the Default subfolder and select Rename.
4. Enter default.old as the new folder title, and press Enter to save the changes.
5. Now, relaunch Google Chrome.

If Google Chrome didn’t shut down correctly and you still see the Restore tabs button, try changing the Default subfolder’s title to fix the error.

4. Reset the browser if Chrome didn’t shut down correctly in Windows 7

1. Launch Chrome, paste the following path in the address bar, and hit Enter:chrome://settings/reset
2. Now, click the Restore settings to their original defaults option.
3. Finally, click Reset settings in the confirmation prompt.

5. Chrome didn’t shut down correctly on Mac

The Chrome didn’t shut down correctly error is as frequently encountered on Mac as it is on Windows. And the best fix here is to reset the browser to its default settings.

The process pretty much remains the same and once the reset process is complete, you can start using Chrome without coming across any issues.

6. Chrome didn’t shut down correctly on Chromebook

Creating a new profile on Chrome worked for most users. Try that and check if it helps fix things.

If you still come across the Chrome didn’t shut down correctly error, there’s no option but to uninstall the app, and then download and install it all over again.

Oftentimes, issues creep in during the installation process and cause these errors.

7. Try an alternative browser to avoid crashes

Google Chrome tends to misbehave occasionally and some users probably get fed up with it. There’s an ocean of alternatives, but our go-to is Opera.

Now, you might ask what’s so special about Opera One? The developers who made it, based on the Chromium project architecture, put the focus on privacy and safety.

Opera One

Stable browsing and minimum errors encountered thanks to its versatility.

Free Visit website

What do I do if Chrome didn’t shut down correctly and then crashes?

In addition to the methods listed earlier, you may try disabling or removing the installed extensions on Chrome. Some of these are known to introduce conflicts and lead to a bunch of errors.

Also, if this happens when another particular program is open on the computer, uninstalling that app could help eliminate the issue. Besides, updating the browser is also an effective fix in this case.

The above methods have fixed the Chrome didn’t shut down correctly error for numerous users. So, there’s a good chance that at least one of these will fix the issue for you.

Also, find out what to do if Google Chrome is not responding or working.

If you have any other queries or know of a method that’s not listed here, drop a comment below.