Acer Chromebook Running Slowly

작성자: Jacob Mehnert (및 다른 기여자 2명)

It's easy to forget the troubleshooting basics during times of frustration. Before attempting any significant repairs for your device, check the following.

Close Unnecessary Tabs and Applications: Multiple open tabs and applications can consume system resources and impact performance. Keep only the essential ones open. You can see which applications use many resources using ChromeOS's Task Manager by tapping the Search button and Esc on your keyboard.
Restart Your Chromebook: Restarting your Chromebook will clear out any problematic temporary files and reset any software components that might not be responsive. To restart your Chromebook, click on the system tray, select the power icon, and choose Restart. You can restart your Chromebook by pressing the Esc + Refresh (F3) keys simultaneously and then pressing the Power button.
Check Your Internet Connection: If you notice that web-based applications are particularly sluggish, there might be a good chance that there may be an issue with your network connection.

Insufficient storage space can significantly impact the performance of your Chromebook. While Chromebooks are marketed as a cloud-based solution, they do have an internal storage system where you can store files locally. Ideally, you want to ensure that the number of files you keep does not exceed 80% of your total disk space. To check your local storage, check the following.

Click on the system tray.
Select the gear icon to open the Settings menu
Go to Storage. Ensure that you have enough free space available.

Consider deleting unnecessary files or offloading them to an external storage device or Google Drive if the storage is nearly full. You can also remove unused User Accounts from the device to free up storage space.

Note: While the actual Google Account or any information connected to this account — like bookmarks — won't be deleted, files that are stored on your Chromebook will be deleted.

One reason your Chromebook is running slowly is several different issues with the operating system.

Potential Issue caused by Cached Data: If a cached file becomes corrupted, or enough of them are stored, then it can cause your system to become slow. You can clear your browsing data by following the below steps.
- Open Settings: Click on the system tray and the gear-shaped "Settings" icon to open the Chromebook settings.
- Expand "Advanced": Scroll down and click on the "Advanced" section to reveal additional settings.
- Click on "Privacy and Security": Under the Advanced section, click "Privacy and Security" to access related settings.
- Click on "Clear Browsing Data": In the Privacy and Security section, click "Clear Browsing Data" to open the data clearing options.
Outdated Operating System: You can check if your operating system is outdated by going to Settings > About Chrome OS > Check for Updates. Install any available updates. Updates often include bug fixes and often contain performance improvements for your operating system.

Disabling or removing unnecessary extensions can significantly improve the speed and performance of your Chromebook. Each extension you have installed on your Chromebook consumes system resources such as CPU, memory, and disk space. You can check and turn off your extensions by doing the following.

Click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of the Chrome browser.
Go to More Tools > Extensions.
Disable or remove any unnecessary or unused extensions that might consume system resources and slow down your Chromebook.

Some extensions run continuously in the background and collectively contribute to increased resource usage, which can slow down your Chromebook. Disabling or removing unnecessary extensions can reduce the overall resources consumed, allowing your device to allocate its resources more efficiently.

ChromeOS is designed to be secure and virtually immune to viruses. However, it is still very susceptible to malware, which can cause issues with processing speeds. This is why it's always a good idea to ensure your device is free from malware or any unwanted software by doing the following:

Open the Chrome browser.
Click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings and scroll down to the Privacy and Security section.
Click on Security.
Under the Security section, click on Check for malicious software.

You can also factory reset your device by performing a Powerwash. Ideally, you would save your data onto either an external USB storage device or Google Drive before doing this, as this will reset the computer to its factory default state.

Open the Chrome browser.
Click on the account picture or initials in the bottom-right corner.
Click on Settings.
Scroll down and click on Advanced.
Under the Reset settings section, click on Powerwash.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the powerwash process.

Performing a powerwash can help resolve more complex issues, including persistent performance problems, software conflicts, or system errors.

Note: Powerwashing will erase all your data, so it's crucial to back up any important files before proceeding.

Jake Mehnert

With a passion for tech repair and over six years of hands-on experience, I’ve worked extensively on laptops, from MacBooks to Acer Chromebooks, while diving into game console hardware repairs for Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch controllers. My career began with maintaining Point of Sale systems in a major theme park, where I developed a keen eye for diagnosing hardware issues. Now, I apply my skills in an educational setting, tackling everything from computer repairs for students and teachers to network troubleshooting. I hold Network Administration, Cybersecurity certifications, and more, backed by a Bachelor's in Computer Science.