Google Chrome not launching after latest Windows update, issue acknowledged (workarounds inside)

Google Chrome is one of the most powerful and widely used web browser and it has surely revolutionized the way we access and engage with the internet.

It prioritizes ease of use and simplicity, acting as a dependable and effective gateway to the online world. However, that is not enough to ensure immunity to various bugs and issues.

For instance, we previously highlighted an issue where users were unable to import HAR files after v114 update. The broken print function also came to light for many after the v112.0.5615.49 update.

Google Chrome not launching after latest Windows update

Some Google Chrome users (1,2,3,4) are now reporting an issue where the web browser is not opening or launching after the recent Windows update (KB5027231).

@googlechrome I can’t get chrome to download on my computer. I tried downloading the newest version 114.0.5735.134. It will not open up.
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@googlechrome Are you experiencing any instability? Many friends are reporting that Google Chrome for desktop is not working. We try to open it, but it just runs in the background
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Reports indicate that after updating their system, users are unable to access Google Chrome as it refuses to open. Surprisingly, all other browsers open and operate just perfectly fine.

It seems that the bug is caused by Malwarebytes (the exploit protection of MB). It one disables it, Chrome opens just fine.

Affected users have tried uninstalling and reinstalling the update, but to no avail. Even restarting their devices doesn’t seem to help either.

@Google have you had many people from the UK complaining about Google Chrome not loading up, I installed a Windows update before I went to bed and had this problem now, I also tried deleting the app and reloading it #GoogleChrome, is anyone else getting this issue ?
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It is incredibly frustrating considering Google Chrome is a default and most reliable web browser for a number of users out there.

Official acknowledgment

Fortunately, the Chrome issue has been acknowledged by the team. As noted earlier, it has been confirmed that the issue is due to compatibility issue related to Malwarebytes antivirus.

So you can try turning it off by following the above-mentioned steps. Apart from that, you can also try the following workaround.

I was able to resolve the issue. Chrome itself would launch but I was unable to browse any web pages, open settings, or tools. I uninstalled and reinstalled several times. Ensured my firewall was off for testing purposes. I couldn’t even clear the history on it. I went into the file location of Chrome and deleted two files, didn’t uninstall, but reinstalled it and it’s now working. This all happened after the last Windows cumulative update. Thankful it’s working again!
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Moreover, the issue has been addressed by Google on Twitter and an update has also been shared.

Hey Kat, thanks for reaching out! We’re aware of reports about this behavior and have shared an update in our help community
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We hope that Google looks into the reports and comes up with a fix as soon as possible.

We’ll keep tabs on the latest developments and update this article accordingly.

Note: There are more such stories in our dedicated Google section, so make sure that you follow them as well.

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