“Aw, Snap!” error in Chrome: what it means and how to fix it

Applies to: Google Chrome on Windows 11 and Windows 10. Microsoft Edge is built on the same engine and shows a similar “This page is having a problem” message; most of the fixes below work there too.

What “Aw, Snap!” means

Chrome runs each tab in its own process. When that process stops unexpectedly, Chrome shows the sad-face Aw, Snap! page instead of the website, while the rest of the browser keeps working. The cause can be the page itself, an extension, a lack of memory, a graphics driver problem, or other software interfering with Chrome.

Look at the small error code under the message. It narrows things down:

Error code	What it usually means	Start with
Out of Memory	The tab or the PC ran out of memory	Fix 3
STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION	The tab tried to use memory it wasn’t allowed to	STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION guide
STATUS_BREAKPOINT	The tab hit an internal error and stopped	STATUS_BREAKPOINT guide
RESULT_CODE_HUNG	The page stopped responding	Fix 1, then Fix 2
No code, only on one site	A problem with that page	Fix 1 and Fix 4

Fix 1: Reload and restart Chrome

Select Reload on the error page or press F5. If the page loads, it was a one-off crash. If not:

1. Close Chrome completely. Check the icons next to the clock: if Chrome is still there, right-click it and select Exit.
2. Open Chrome and the page again.
3. If it still crashes, restart the PC. This clears out processes and memory that a long session can leave behind.

Fix 2: Test in an Incognito window

Press Ctrl + Shift + N and open the same page. Incognito windows start without most extensions and without your stored cookies, so if the page works there, an extension or saved site data is the likely cause.

1. Go to chrome://extensions in the address bar.
2. Turn every extension off with its switch.
3. Reload the page. If it works, turn extensions back on one at a time until the crash returns, then remove that one.

Ad blockers, antivirus browser add-ons and download managers are common culprits.

Fix 3: Free up memory

“Out of Memory” crashes are common on PCs with 8 GB of RAM or less when many tabs are open, or on very heavy pages such as large spreadsheets and video editors.

• Close tabs and windows you don’t need.
• Press Shift + Esc in Chrome to open its own Task Manager, sort by Memory footprint and end the processes using the most.
• In Chrome’s Settings, open Performance and turn on Memory Saver, which pauses inactive tabs. The exact name of the option has changed between Chrome versions.
• Close other heavy programs on the PC. If memory is always tight, check what else is running in Windows Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).

Fix 4: Update Chrome and clear its cache

Type chrome://settings/help in the address bar. Chrome checks for updates and installs them; select Relaunch when asked. Crashes caused by Chrome bugs are often fixed in a newer version.

If only one site crashes, clear its stored data: press Ctrl + Shift + Delete, set Time range to All time, tick Cached images and files (and Cookies and other site data if needed, which signs you out of sites), and select Delete data.

Fix 5: Turn off graphics acceleration

Crashes on pages with video, maps or animations can come from the graphics driver. In Chrome, go to Settings > System and turn off Use graphics acceleration when available (called Use hardware acceleration when available in older versions), then select Relaunch.

If that stops the crashes, update your graphics driver from the PC or graphics card maker’s website and turn the option back on afterwards; Chrome is smoother with it on.

Fix 6: Try a new profile or reset Chrome

A damaged Chrome profile can cause crashes on every site. Select your profile picture at the top right, choose Add (or Add Chrome profile), and test with the new profile. If it works, sign in to the new profile to sync your bookmarks and passwords.

You can also reset Chrome’s settings: go to Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults and confirm. This turns off extensions and clears temporary data, but keeps bookmarks, history and saved passwords.

Fix 7: Check for unwanted software

Adware and some security tools inject code into Chrome, which can make every tab crash. Run a full scan with Windows Security; our guide on how to scan for malware walks through it. If you see unwanted toolbars or a changed search engine, follow how to remove adware.

If you can’t get Chrome working at all, uninstall it from Settings > Apps > Installed apps, restart, and install the latest version from Google. Signing in afterwards brings your synced bookmarks and passwords back.

Related guides

• STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION in Chrome and Edge: how to fix it
• STATUS_BREAKPOINT error in Chrome and Edge: how to fix it
• How to scan for malware in Windows
• Adware removal: how to get rid of pop-ups and unwanted software
• Microsoft Edge won’t open: how to fix it

Official sources: for more detail, see these Google pages:

• Google Chrome Help: Get help with common error messages in Chrome
• Google Chrome Help: Fix connection and loading errors in Chrome

Frequently asked questions

Is “Aw, Snap!” a virus?

No. It’s Chrome’s own message when a tab crashes. Malware can cause crashes, which is why a scan is one of the fixes, but the message itself doesn’t mean your PC is infected.

Why does Aw, Snap only happen on one website?

The page may use more memory than the tab can handle, or the site may have a bug. Clear that site’s data, try Incognito, and if it still crashes on an up-to-date Chrome, the problem is likely on the website’s side.

Why do all my tabs show Aw, Snap?

When every page crashes, the cause is usually outside the page: an extension, security software injecting into Chrome, a damaged profile, or a graphics driver. Work through Fixes 2, 5, 6 and 7.

Will resetting Chrome delete my bookmarks?

No. Resetting keeps bookmarks, history and saved passwords. It turns off extensions, resets the start page and search engine, and clears temporary data such as cookies.