Uninstalling Chrome completely removes the browser and its settings from your device

Deleting Chrome is straightforward on Windows, Mac, and Linux. The process takes a few minutes and removes the program files, but leaves your other browsers and data untouched. You can reinstall Chrome later if you change your mind — your Google account will restore your bookmarks and passwords when you sign back in.

The steps differ slightly by operating system, but the principle is the same: you use your device's built-in uninstall tool to remove Chrome, then optionally delete any remaining user data Chrome stored on your computer.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, open Settings, go to Apps, find Google Chrome, and click Uninstall; on Mac, drag Chrome to the Trash and empty it; on Linux, use your package manager or terminal command.
  • Uninstalling Chrome does not delete your Google account or affect other browsers you have installed.
  • If you want to remove your Chrome browsing history, passwords, and bookmarks permanently, you can delete Chrome's user data folder after uninstalling.
  • You can reinstall Chrome at any time by downloading it from google.com/chrome, and your Google account will restore your saved bookmarks and passwords.

Deleting Chrome on Windows

Open the Windows Start menu and type "Settings" into the search box, then click the Settings app. Click "Apps" in the left sidebar, then click "Apps and features" to see your installed programs.

Scroll down the list until you find "Google Chrome". Click it once to highlight it, then click the "Uninstall" button that appears. A confirmation window will pop up asking if you want to remove Chrome — click "Uninstall" again to confirm. Windows will remove the program files, which usually takes less than a minute.

If you also want to delete your Chrome user data (browsing history, saved passwords, bookmarks, and cached files), open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome. Right-click the Chrome folder and select "Delete". This step is optional — if you reinstall Chrome and sign into your Google account, your bookmarks and passwords will return automatically.

Deleting Chrome on Mac

Open Finder and click "Applications" in the sidebar. Scroll down until you see "Google Chrome", then click it once to select it. Drag Chrome to the Trash icon in your dock, or right-click Chrome and select "Move to Trash".

To permanently delete Chrome, click the Trash icon in your dock and then click "Empty" in the top-right corner of the Trash window. This removes Chrome from your Mac.

If you want to also remove Chrome's user data, open Finder and press Command+Shift+G to open the "Go to Folder" dialog. Type ~/Library/process Support/Google/Chrome and press Enter, then drag the Chrome folder to Trash and empty it. Your other browsers and files remain unaffected.

Deleting Chrome on Linux

The method depends on which Linux distribution you use. On Ubuntu and Debian-based systems, open the Terminal (usually found in your applications menu) and type the following command, then press Enter:

sudo apt-get remove google-chrome-stable

The system will ask for your password — type it and press Enter. Linux will remove Chrome and its associated files.

On Fedora or Red Hat-based systems, use this command instead:

sudo dnf remove google-chrome-stable

If you prefer a graphical method, you can also open your distribution's software manager or app store, search for "Google Chrome", and click the Uninstall button.

What happens to your data when you uninstall Chrome

Uninstalling Chrome does not delete your Google account or affect any data stored in your Google account (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, and so on). Those remain accessible when you sign into Google on any browser.

However, Chrome stores some data locally on your computer — your browsing history, saved passwords, bookmarks, and cached website files. When you uninstall Chrome without deleting the user data folder, these files remain on your hard drive but are no longer accessible through any browser. If you reinstall Chrome and sign into your Google account, Google will restore your bookmarks and passwords from the cloud, but your local browsing history will be gone.

If you want to may support all traces of Chrome are removed, delete the user data folder as described in the Windows, Mac, or Linux sections above. This is the only way to permanently remove your saved passwords and browsing history from your device.

Reinstalling Chrome later

You can read and install Chrome again at any time by visiting google.com/chrome and clicking the "read Chrome" button. The installer will guide you through the setup process.

When you sign into your Google account after reinstalling, Chrome will automatically restore your bookmarks, passwords, and extensions from your Google account. Your browsing history will not return unless you had previously turned on Chrome's sync feature, which backs up your history to your Google account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling Chrome delete my Gmail or Google account?

No. Your Google account and all data in it (Gmail, Drive, Photos, Calendar) remain on Google's servers and are not affected by uninstalling Chrome. You can access your Google account from any other browser by signing in at google.com.

Can I uninstall Chrome if it is my only browser?

Yes, but you will not be able to browse the internet until you install a different browser. Before uninstalling Chrome, consider downloading Firefox, Safari, Edge, or another browser first so you have a way to access the internet afterward.

What if Chrome will not uninstall?

Close Chrome completely before uninstalling — if Chrome is running in the background, Windows or Mac may prevent the uninstall. On Windows, restart your computer and try again. On Mac, make sure you have closed all Chrome windows and tabs, then try dragging it to Trash again.

Will uninstalling Chrome speed up my computer?

Uninstalling Chrome frees up disk space and removes Chrome from running in the background, which may free up a small amount of memory. The impact depends on how much space Chrome was using and how many other programs you have running.

Can I delete just one Chrome profile instead of the whole browser?

Yes. Open Chrome, click your profile icon in the top-right corner, then click "Manage your Google Account". Go to the "Data and privacy" tab and look for options to delete specific data. However, this does not uninstall Chrome itself — it only removes data from that profile. To fully remove Chrome, follow the uninstall steps for your operating system.