How to Completely Remove and Reinstall Chrome on Mac

What a clean install means and why you might need one

A clean install of Chrome means removing the browser completely — including all your saved passwords, bookmarks, browsing history, and cached files — then downloading and installing a fresh copy. This is different from simply updating Chrome, which keeps all your data intact.

You might do this if Chrome is crashing repeatedly, running slowly, or behaving strangely. A clean install can also help if an extension is causing problems and you want to start fresh without it. The trade-off is that you lose your saved information unless you back it up first or sign in with your Google account after reinstalling.

Key Takeaways

Back up your bookmarks and passwords by signing into your Google account before uninstalling, so they sync back when you reinstall.
Uninstalling Chrome from the Applications folder does not remove all its files — you must also delete the Chrome user data folder from your Library.
The Chrome user data folder is hidden by default; you need to show hidden files in Finder to locate and delete it.
After reinstalling Chrome from google.com/chrome, sign in with your Google account to restore bookmarks, passwords, and settings.

Back up your data before you start

If you have bookmarks or passwords you want to keep, the easiest way to preserve them is to sign into Chrome with your Google account before uninstalling. Open Chrome, click your profile icon in the top right corner, and select "Sign in to Chrome" if you are not already signed in. Enter your Google email and password, then allow Chrome to sync your data.

Once you are signed in and synced, your bookmarks, passwords, autofill information, and browser settings are stored in your Google account, not just on your Mac. When you reinstall Chrome and sign back in, all of this information returns automatically.

If you prefer not to use a Google account, you can export your bookmarks manually. Click the three-dot menu in the top right, go to Bookmarks, then select "Bookmark manager." Click the three-dot menu in the Bookmark manager and choose "Export bookmarks" to save them as an HTML file you can import later.

Uninstall Chrome completely from your Mac

Simply dragging Chrome to the Trash does not remove all of its files. Chrome stores user data — including cached files, cookies, and site data — in a hidden folder in your Library. You need to delete both the application and this folder for a true clean install.

First, quit Chrome completely. Click the Chrome menu at the top of the screen and select "Quit Chrome," or press Command+Q. Make sure Chrome is not running in the background.

Next, open Finder and go to the Applications folder. You can do this by pressing Command+Shift+A or by clicking Finder in the dock, then selecting Applications from the sidebar. Find Google Chrome in the Applications folder, right-click it, and select "Move to Trash."

Now you need to delete the hidden Chrome user data folder. In Finder, press Command+Shift+Period (the period key) to show hidden files. This reveals folders that normally stay out of sight. Navigate to your Library folder — you can press Command+Shift+G to open the "Go to Folder" dialog, then type ~/Library and press Enter.

Inside the Library folder, look for a folder called Google. Open it and find the Chrome folder inside. Right-click the Chrome folder and select "Move to Trash." This removes all your Chrome settings, extensions, and cached data.

Empty your Trash to complete the removal. Right-click the Trash icon in the dock and select "Empty Trash," or press Command+Shift+Delete.

Download and install a fresh copy of Chrome

Go to google.com/chrome in your web browser. Click the "Download Chrome" button. The site detects that you are on a Mac and offers the correct version automatically.

A file called "googlechrome.dmg" downloads to your Downloads folder. Double-click it to open the installer. You will see a window with the Chrome icon on the left and an Applications folder icon on the right, with an arrow between them.

Drag the Chrome icon onto the Applications folder icon. This copies Chrome into your Applications folder. Wait for the copy process to finish — it usually takes less than a minute.

Once the copy is complete, you can close the installer window and eject the disk image. The googlechrome.dmg file remains in your Downloads folder and can be deleted if you want to free up space.

Set up Chrome and restore your data

Open Finder, go to Applications, and double-click Google Chrome to launch it for the first time. Chrome may ask for permission to access your contacts or calendar — you can allow or deny these as you prefer.

When Chrome opens, you will see a welcome screen. Click "Sign in" and enter your Google email address and password. Chrome syncs your bookmarks, passwords, autofill data, and settings from your Google account back to your Mac.

If you exported your bookmarks as an HTML file instead of using a Google account, you can import them now. Click the three-dot menu, go to Bookmarks, then select "Bookmark manager." Click the three-dot menu in the Bookmark manager and choose "Import bookmarks." Select your exported HTML file.

Chrome may also ask whether you want it to be your default browser. You can choose yes or no depending on your preference — this does not affect how Chrome works.

Verify the clean install worked

Check that your bookmarks and passwords are back by clicking the three-dot menu and going to Bookmarks. Your bookmarks should appear in the list. To verify passwords synced, go to Settings, then Autofill and passwords, then Passwords. You should see your saved passwords listed.

If you were experiencing crashes or slowness, those problems should be gone now. If they return after a few days, the issue may be caused by an extension you install later, or by a website you visit regularly. Try disabling extensions one at a time to identify which one is causing trouble.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my bookmarks and passwords if I do a clean install?

Only if you do not back them up first. If you sign into your Google account before uninstalling, your bookmarks and passwords sync to Google's servers and return when you sign back in after reinstalling. If you do not sign in, you will lose this data unless you exported your bookmarks manually.

Do I need to uninstall Chrome to fix a crashing or slow browser?

Not always. Try clearing your cache and cookies first — go to Settings, Privacy and security, Clear browsing data, and select "All time." If that does not help, disable your extensions one by one to see if one is causing the problem. A clean install is a last resort when other fixes do not work.

Can I keep my extensions when I do a clean install?

If you sign into your Google account after reinstalling, Chrome automatically reinstalls your extensions. However, if you are doing a clean install specifically because an extension is causing problems, you may want to skip signing in initially, then add back only the extensions you need.

How long does a clean install take?

The entire process — uninstalling, downloading, and reinstalling — usually takes 10 to 15 minutes depending on your internet speed. Syncing your data back after signing in may take a few more minutes if you have many bookmarks or passwords.

What if Chrome still crashes after a clean install?

A persistent crash after a clean install may indicate a problem with your Mac itself rather than Chrome. Try restarting your Mac, then reinstalling Chrome again. If crashes continue, check the Chrome Help Center or contact Apple Support, as the issue may involve your operating system or hardware.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.