[Fix] Google Chrome Crashes With “Aw, Snap!” Error on Startup or Opening Websites
This tutorial will help you if Google Chrome web browser crashes on start or opening websites. It’ll also help if Google Chrome automatically closes after a few minutes of using.
When you try to open a website in Google Chrome browser, it crashes and opens the default built-in crash page which shows following error message:
Aw, Snap!
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Sometimes Google Chrome crashes at startup i.e. as soon as you launch Google Chrome browser, it crashes and displays above mentioned “Aw, Snap!” error page.
You may also see “Error code: STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION” text string displayed on the error page.
There might be several reason behind the crashing issue. It might be possible that you installed some plug-in, add-on or extension which are causing this issue or you upgraded to newer version of Chrome and it started crashing at startup or opening websites.
Today in this article, we are going to share a few solutions which you can try if you face crashing issue in Google Chrome web browser.
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SOLUTION 1:
Sometimes your antivirus or security suite program might be causing crashing issues in Google Chrome. Many antivirus and security programs come with extra protection for web browsers, email clients, etc which may cause such kind of issues in web browsers.
You can try to temporary disable your antivirus protection and then check Google Chrome again. If it doesn’t crash, then it’s 100% fault of your antivirus program. You should check antivirus settings and disable/turn off web browser related protection features.
PS: Some readers reported that they faced crashing issue in Chrome due to Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) program installed in their systems.
SOLUTION 2:
You can also try to disable code integrity feature in Google Chrome using following steps:
1. Right-click on Google Chrome’s shortcut (present on desktop, start menu, taskbar, etc) and select Properties.
2. Now add following text at the end of the string present in Target text box:
--disable-features=RendererCodeIntegrity
Remember there must be a blank space between existing text string and the appended string.
3. Click on Apply button and now try to launch Google Chrome and it should not crash on startup or opening websites.
PS: If you are already using another “–disable-features” parameter in Google Chrome shortcut, following article will help you in using more than one “–disable-features” parameter in Chrome shortcut’s properties:
[Tip] How to Use Multiple “–Disable-Features” Parameters in Google Chrome Shortcut
SOLUTION 3:
You can also disable above mentioned code integrity feature in Google Chrome using Windows Registry as mentioned in following steps:
1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator using any way given in following tutorial:
[Guide] Different Ways to Open Command Prompt as Administrator in Windows
2. Now type following command and press Enter:
REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome" /v RendererCodeIntegrityEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0
The above mentioned command will create a new DWORD “RendererCodeIntegrityEnabled” under “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome” key which will disable code integrity feature in Chrome.
Now Google Chrome should work without any crash or error messages.
PS: Since we created a policy for Chrome, you’ll notice “Your browser is managed by your organization” message in Chrome main menu and Settings page. You can disable the message with the help of following tutorial:
[Fix] Your Browser is Managed by Your Organization in Google Chrome
SOLUTION 4:
This is a weird solution but works for many users. You can try to rename Chrome’s executable file “chrome.exe” to some other name such as chrom.exe or chrm.exe and it’ll fix the crashing issue.
You’ll find Chrome executable file in following folder:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application
Right-click on chrome.exe file and select Rename option. Alternatively, you can select chrome.exe file and press F2 key to rename it.
SOLUTION 5:
You can also try to launch Google Chrome in compatibility mode using following steps:
1. Right-click on Google Chrome’s shortcut (present on desktop, start menu, taskbar, etc) and select Properties.
2. Go to Compatibility tab and enable “Run this program in compatibility mode for: Windows 8” option.
3. Click on Apply button and now launch Google Chrome and it’ll not crash any more.
SOLUTION 6:
If a 3rd party add-on/extension is causing crashing issue, you can launch Chrome in safe mode without any extension using following steps:
1. Right-click on Google Chrome’s shortcut (present on desktop, start menu, taskbar, etc) and select Properties.
2. Now add following text at the end of the string present in Target text box:
--disable-extensions
Remember there must be a blank space between existing text string and the appended string.
3. Click on Apply button and now try to launch Google Chrome and it should not crash on startup or opening websites.
Now you can uninstall and remove unnecessary extensions which you recently installed and caused this crashing issue.
More Info: [Tip] How to Launch Google Chrome with All Extensions Disabled
SOLUTION 7:
You can also try to reset/restore Google Chrome to default factory settings which will remove all extensions and customized settings and will restore your Chrome browser to original state. You can consider it like a clean installation of Google Chrome browser.
Check out following tutorial to learn how to reset Google Chrome to original factory settings:
[Tip] How to Reset / Restore Your Web Browser Settings to Default Factory State
It should fix all issues in Chrome including the crashing issue and you can start using Chrome from scratch.
Also Check:
[Fix] You Enabled Some Flags on Chrome://Flags Page and Google Chrome No Longer Opens
Number 2 does not work. Where do you come up with this inaccurate information?
Thanks again for a very helpful guide.
@Karen
I have used method 2 in past while using a testing build of Chrome. It works. You should at least appreciate the author for helping us rather than criticizing him.
I have this issue and none of the solutions work. Ugh.
Number 2 worked for me.
Thanks a lot
Henrik
Number 2 worked a treat
Thank you for solutions,
Piyush I agree.
Karen, you obviously have no background in IT since you can leave such a snotty comment, do you have any idea what these people go through to find solutions and post it or FREE? Rather check your IO and clear all your c**p before you insult people with inaccurate information :/
Thank you
Thanks a lot for the information. Solution 2 worked for me.
You can Run Google Chrome in windows 8 compatibility mode. Issue will be resolved.
1. Select Google Chrome from your desktop screen.
2. Right Click on it and select “Properties” option.
3. In newly opened window, Select “compatibility” tab and in compatibility mode check “run this program in compatibility mode for: “Windows 8”.
@Karen Lol what a Karen thing to say..
Solution 2 worked a treat by the way..
Solution 2 was the right one for me.
Thank’s to taking care of us ….. common users.
i did more research and create 1 registry value only need double click value that’s it
note- attaching txt file please rename as Reg extension and Run
symantec.com/connect/forums/chrome-version-790394579-aw-snap#comments-begin
Isue:
Chrome would crash on startup with message “Aw, Snap!”
– reinstall did not work
– could not disable extensions, it would not allow me there
– could not reach settings, it would not allow me there
Resolution:
2. Now add following text at the end of the string present in Target text box:
–disable-features=RendererCodeIntegrity
Thanks VG.
Hey VG, I would like to add that it worked for the first startup of the browser. I then closed it and attempted to restart it, the same issue popped up again
I tried several methods to restore my google chrome when it crushed. However, your worked perfectly.
Thanks for sharing this.
Number 2 worked
SOLUTION 2 worked. Thank you so much for the help.
My way to fix it was to rename the Chrome.exe shortcut in program files/google/chrome/application folder to chrm.exe.
Weird but it worked on all my computers.
what are the consequences of using method number 2?..
disabling code integrity means not using some security feature right?.. that means ill be more vulnerable to viruses and should not be done?
(my chrome runs out fine when I’m disabling the code integrity.. but should I use it this way?)
thanks
Thanks a million you save my day,
this command worked for me –disable-features=RendererCodeIntegrity
Love you.
Solution 4 worked. Can’t understand how could this work.
There is a comedy in a movie from our country, where the Hero adjusts the mirror of an automobile which is not moving, and the automobile runs. This looks like that!