8 things to try if your browser isn’t working properly

There are many different internet browsers out there for us to use. And whilst Google Chrome has grown and grown into the most popular one over the last decade, there are also other good options too in Mozilla and Safari.

But across them all, they all have a common problem; sometimes, your browser may stop working. Even the most reliable of web browsers will likely have this issue from time to time.

Now, there could be a specific reason for this as a reaction to something you’ve done, but often this can come out of nowhere and happen suddenly. We’re going to find out the most common reasons why your browser is not working.

Browser not working – What to do

There are several different reasons why your browser may not be working. Here are some ways that you can get your browser up and running again.

  1. Keep your browser updated.
  2. Turn off some extensions.
  3. Fix any crashing problems.
  4. Restart your home router.
  5. Reset the whole device.
  6. Remove any conflicting software.
  7. Troubleshoot the issue.
  8. Use a completely different browser.

If you follow the steps above, then you should be able to resolve any of the problems you may have with your browser not working. This should work for pretty much any different browser in Windows 10, whether it be Firefox or Internet Explorer.

Let’s run through the above solutions in more detail so you know exactly how you can fix the issue.

1. Update your browser

browser-update

The easiest solution to your problem, and the most likely cause of the issue, might actually be as simple as your browser being outdated. Fortunately, this has a very simple solution, and all you’ll need to do is update your browser.

Why should you update your browser? Well, this is always a good idea if you want to turn the newest and fastest version of the browser you’ve downloaded. Newer browsers are likely to have more features that you might not get on an older model.

As well as giving you access to more recent features, keeping your browser updated is also very important if you want to keep your device secure too. Out of date browsers definitely have more security vulnerabilities. This can leave you more exposed to your device being hacked, and others gaining access to your own personal information.

So, keeping your browser updated is the best way for you to keep your browser working as it should be. The latest version released is always going to be preferable, and it is the most simple solution to your browser not working properly.

2. Extensions

browser-extensions

I love Google Chrome extensions as much as the next person. They’re great, and they can easily make it much easier to do whatever you need to when you’re browsing online.

However, there is a potential downside to extensions as well. There are some extensions out there that might actually slow your laptop down significantly, and this is often the case with older extensions that haven’t been updated properly.

You can find out if the extension is the cause of your browser problems by simply deactivating it and seeing if this resolves the problem. Do this one-by-one so you can try and isolate the problem.

And whilst extensions won’t typically cause your browser to slow down to much, they can definitely have an impact. This is especially true if you have a lot of them downloaded, so it’s something worth checking.

3. Browser Crashing

crash-laptop

Maybe your browser hasn’t stopped working completely. One common thing that can happen with an internet browser is that it tends to get in the habit of crashing, especially when you try to use more than one tab at the same time.

The first things that you’re going to want to check if your browser is crashing is the first two mentioned things; check your extensions, and make sure that your browser is fully up to date. They’re the most likely causes of a crashing browser.

But as well as this, there are other potential reasons why your browser might be crashing. You don’t want to just keep your browser updated, but all of the software and hardware that you have installed with your device – this includes your computers drivers as well.

Two other things you can do is to limit the amount of tabs you’re using, but also check that your flash player is updated too. This is another potentially common reason why your browser might be closing.

If you can’t figure out why this browser keeps crashing, then you might want to consider looking at another one. Or at the very least, turn the “Restore Tabs” feature on, so at least if it does crash you can reload what you have within the browser itself.

4. Restart your home router

router

Sometimes the issue may not actually be a fault of your browser. If your device hasn’t got a solid connection with the internet, then there’s no way for it to access a web page properly.

It’s not unusual for most of us to face connection issues from time to time. In most cases, simply switching our router on and off again is the quickest way to resolve any connection problems.

If you run through the rest of the advice below without any improvement, then you may want to get in touch with your internet service provider. They can give you an idea if there’s a common fault in your area that may be affecting your home internet connection.

5. Reset your device

restart-laptop

When you’re using your device over a long period of time, the memory of your laptop is going to become more and more occupied. And when it does this, it can make your browser run slow and laggy.

Fortunately, there’s a very easy way for you to fix the issue here, and that’s by simply resetting your device. This will “flush” all of the temporary browsing data that’s stored in your RAM, and therefore end up making your computer or laptop run a little faster.

This can also help to fix any bugs that you’ve encountered, too. It’s so simple to restart your computer or laptop that it’s always worth trying.

6. Remove clashing software

vpn

Depending on what operating system you’re using, you may have some software installed that your browser doesn’t like.

The most likely culprit is going to be a VPN. When we’re using a VPN, we’re often using a dynamic IP address. This changes when you connect to it, as opposed to a static IP address, which stays the same. This can end up confusing your browser, and sometimes stop it from working altogether.

Another typical one for this is anti-virus software. It may clash with the browser, and stop it from working properly. Making sure that this is turned off will let you know whether it’s conflicting with your browser.

7. Troubleshooting

troubleshooting

Something that you should always think about doing if you have an issue with your laptop or device in general is to try and troubleshoot the issue. This can definitely help you to find out what may actually be causing your browser not to work.

All you need to do is going into your troubleshooter and see what it says for connecting to the internet. This is another step along the journey to try and get your browser up and running properly.

8. Use a different browser

change-browser

Although I hate it when this advice is given to me, at the end of the day this is the easiest solution to the problem. If you’ve tried everything else to try and resolve your browser problems with no fix, then you should go ahead and download a different browser to use.

Whilst many of us are using Google Chrome to good avail, you can also check out Mozilla Firefox and Opera too. These are both fast alternatives to the most popular browser out there, and if you’re having crashing issues with it, then switching to another browser is always a viable solution.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are some reasons why your browser might not be working as it should be. In many cases, you can try and fix the problem pretty simple with a few of the different methods that I’ve mentioned here.

In certain scenarios, it may be better to look at switching the browser that you use. This is definitely true if your browsers not working and you don’t have time to spend hours searching for information on what’s wrong with it!

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About Jon

Hey, I'm Jon. I'm an engineer by trade, so it makes sense that I'm obsessed with anything technology related! On the weekends, you can find me playing around with my computers or fixing something around the house. Feel free to leave a comment if you want to get in touch.

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