What Cricket startup means and why you might want to turn it off

Cricket is a notification and messaging tool that some versions of Chrome load automatically when you open the browser. If you see a Cricket window or notification panel pop up each time you launch Chrome, it is set to start with your browser. Disabling it means Chrome will open normally without Cricket running in the background.

You might want to turn this off because it slows down Chrome's startup time, uses memory your computer could use for other tasks, or simply because you do not use the Cricket feature. The steps to disable it are straightforward and take less than a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • Cricket startup is controlled in Chrome's settings under the "On startup" section, where you can choose what loads when the browser opens.
  • You can disable Cricket by unchecking the box next to it or by removing it from your startup list entirely.
  • If Cricket does not appear in your startup settings, it may be running as an extension instead, which you can disable from the Extensions page.
  • Restarting Chrome after making changes ensures the new settings take effect.

Disable Cricket in Chrome startup settings

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu that appears.

On the left side of the Settings page, click On startup. You will see a list of programs and services that load when Chrome opens. Look for Cricket in this list. If you see it, uncheck the box next to it or click the X button to remove it from the startup list.

Close the Settings tab. The next time you open Chrome, Cricket will not start automatically. You can still open Cricket manually if you need it — disabling startup just prevents it from loading on its own.

Remove Cricket if it appears as an extension

If Cricket does not show up in your startup settings, it may be installed as a Chrome extension instead. Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner, then select More tools and Extensions.

Scroll through the list of extensions and look for Cricket. If you find it, click the toggle switch to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray when the extension is disabled. If you do not want Cricket at all, click the trash icon to remove it completely.

Close the Extensions tab and restart Chrome. The extension will no longer run when you open the browser.

Check your Chrome profile settings

Some versions of Chrome allow different startup settings for each user profile. If you have multiple profiles set up, Cricket might be enabled in one but not others. Click your profile icon in the top right corner of Chrome to see which profile you are currently using.

If you switch profiles and Cricket still starts up, repeat the steps above for that profile. Each profile has its own startup list and extension settings, so you may need to disable Cricket in more than one place if you use multiple profiles regularly.

Restart Chrome to confirm the change

After disabling Cricket, close Chrome completely — not just the window, but the entire application. On Windows, you can check the system tray (bottom right corner) to make sure Chrome is not still running in the background. On Mac, close all Chrome windows and check the dock.

Open Chrome again. If Cricket does not appear, the startup setting has been successfully disabled. If it still opens, go back to Settings and check that the change was saved. Sometimes the setting reverts if Chrome did not close properly the first time.

What to do if Cricket keeps reappearing

If Cricket continues to start up even after you have disabled it, it may be installed as a system-level program rather than just a Chrome feature. Check your computer's list of installed programs and uninstall Cricket from there if you do not need it.

On Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Apps and features, find Cricket in the list, and click Uninstall. On Mac, open Applications in Finder, find Cricket, and drag it to the Trash. After uninstalling, restart your computer and open Chrome again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling Cricket startup affect other Chrome features?

No. Disabling Cricket startup only prevents that specific tool from opening automatically. All other Chrome features and extensions will work normally. You can still use Cricket manually if you need it — you just have to open it yourself instead of it opening automatically.

Can I disable Cricket for just one profile instead of all profiles?

Yes. Each Chrome profile has its own startup settings and extensions list. You can disable Cricket in one profile and leave it enabled in another. Switch to the profile you want to change and follow the startup settings steps for that profile only.

What if I want to use Cricket but just do not want it starting automatically?

Disable it in your startup settings or turn off the extension. You can still open Cricket manually whenever you need it by searching for it in your applications or accessing it through Chrome's menu. Disabling startup just removes the automatic launch.

Does uninstalling Cricket from my computer affect my Chrome data?

Uninstalling Cricket as a program will not delete your Chrome bookmarks, passwords, or browsing history. Those are stored separately in your Chrome profile. However, if Cricket stored its own data, that data will be removed when you uninstall the program.