Browser slow, pop-ups, or pages won't load

A browser that's crawling, throwing pop-ups, or opening the wrong search page is usually caused by too many extensions, a hijacked setting, or junk “cleaner” and “coupon” software. Here's how to clean it up.

First, rule out the internet

If pages won't load at all, the problem may be your connection rather than the browser — check the Wi-Fi & internet guide first.

Clear the clutter

1. Close tabs you aren't using — each one uses memory.
2. Restart the browser, then restart the computer.
3. Update the browser. An out-of-date browser is slower and less safe.

Remove bad extensions / add-ons

1. Open your browser's Extensions (or Add-ons) page.
2. Remove anything you don't recognize or didn't add on purpose — "coupon", "search", "shopping", "PDF" and "cleaner" add-ons are common culprits.
3. Restart the browser.

Fix a hijacked homepage or search

If your homepage or search engine changed on its own, reset them under Settings → "Search engine" and "On startup", then remove the extension that changed them. If it keeps coming back, there's likely unwanted software to remove.

Clear the cache (if one site misbehaves)

Clearing cached images and files fixes pages that load half-broken or show old content. Keep your saved passwords when the browser asks.

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