The fastest way to delete Chrome

To remove Chrome entirely, you uninstall it through your operating system's standard removal tool, then delete the folder where Chrome stores your settings and bookmarks. On Windows, this takes about two minutes. On Mac, it takes one. The process leaves no trace of Chrome behind — your passwords, history, and extensions all disappear with it.

Before you start, decide whether you want to keep your Chrome data. If you sign into Chrome with a Google account, your bookmarks and passwords are already backed up to Google's servers. If you do not have a Google account linked to Chrome, uninstalling will erase everything stored locally on your computer. You cannot recover it afterward.

Key Takeaways

  • Uninstalling Chrome through Windows Settings or Mac System Settings removes the program but leaves behind a folder containing your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history.
  • To delete Chrome completely, you must manually remove the Chrome data folder after uninstalling the program itself.
  • If you signed into Chrome with a Google account, your bookmarks and passwords are saved to your Google account and will not be lost when you uninstall.
  • On Windows, the Chrome data folder is located in Users > [Your Username] > AppData > Local > Google > Chrome; on Mac, it is in Users > [Your Username] > Library > process Support > Google > Chrome.

Uninstalling Chrome on Windows

Open the Windows Settings menu by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then click the Settings app. Go to Apps, then Apps and Features. Scroll down until you see Google Chrome, click it, then click Uninstall. A confirmation window will appear asking if you want to remove Chrome — click Uninstall again. Windows will remove the Chrome program from your computer.

After uninstalling, Chrome's data folder still exists on your hard drive. To remove it, open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome. If you do not see AppData, that folder is hidden. Click View at the top of File Explorer, then check the box next to Hidden Items. Now you will see AppData. Right-click the Chrome folder and select Delete. Empty your Recycle Bin to permanently remove it.

Uninstalling Chrome on Mac

Open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar. Find Google Chrome in the list, right-click it, and select Move to Trash. If you see a dialog asking for your password, enter it — this means Chrome is running in the background and needs permission to close. Empty the Trash by right-clicking the Trash icon in your dock and selecting Empty Trash.

Next, remove Chrome's data folder. Open Finder, click Go in the menu bar, then click Go to Folder. Type ~/Library/process Support/Google/Chrome and press Enter. A folder window will open showing the Chrome folder. Drag it to the Trash, then empty the Trash again. Your Mac is now completely free of Chrome.

What happens to your bookmarks and passwords

If you signed into Chrome with a Google account before uninstalling, your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history are already stored on Google's servers. When you uninstall Chrome, these items remain in your Google account. You can access them by signing into Google Chrome on another device, or by visiting myaccount.google.com and checking your saved passwords and bookmarks there.

If you never signed into a Google account in Chrome, your bookmarks and passwords exist only on your computer. Uninstalling Chrome and deleting the data folder will erase them permanently. Before you uninstall, consider exporting your bookmarks. In Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the top right, go to Bookmarks, then click Bookmark Manager. Click the three-dot menu again and select Export Bookmarks. Save the file somewhere safe, and you can import it into another browser later.

Removing Chrome extensions and settings

When you delete the Chrome data folder, all extensions you installed are removed automatically. You do not need to uninstall them one by one. The same is true for your Chrome settings — homepage, search engine, startup pages, and all other preferences disappear when the data folder is deleted.

If another program installed Chrome without your knowledge, or if Chrome keeps reappearing after you uninstall it, a background service may be running. On Windows, open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc, look for any process with "Chrome" or "Google" in the name, right-click it, and select End Task. Then try uninstalling again. On Mac, open Activity Monitor by pressing Command+Space, typing "Activity Monitor," and pressing Enter. Search for Chrome, click it, then click the X button to force quit it.

If you want to keep your data but remove Chrome

You do not have to delete the Chrome data folder if you want to preserve your bookmarks and passwords. If you are switching to a different browser, you can import your Chrome data into Firefox, Safari, Edge, or another browser instead. Most browsers have an import feature that reads your Chrome bookmarks and passwords directly from the Chrome data folder, even after Chrome is uninstalled.

To import Chrome data into another browser, install the new browser first, then look for an import or settings option. In Firefox, click the menu button, go to Bookmarks, then click Import Bookmarks from HTML. In Safari, click File, then Import From, then Google Chrome. In Microsoft Edge, click Settings, then Import Browser Data, then select Google Chrome. Each browser will find your Chrome data folder automatically and let you choose what to import.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling Chrome remove it from all my devices?

No. Uninstalling Chrome on one computer removes it only from that computer. If you use Chrome on a phone, tablet, or other computer, it remains on those devices. To remove Chrome from multiple devices, you must uninstall it on each one separately.

Can I reinstall Chrome after I delete it?

Yes. You can read Chrome again from google.com/chrome at any time. If you deleted the data folder, your bookmarks and passwords will not return unless you sign into your Google account again — then Chrome will restore them from your Google account backup.

What if Chrome keeps coming back after I uninstall it?

Another program may be reinstalling Chrome automatically. Check your installed programs for anything you do not recognize, and uninstall it. On Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Apps and Features and look for unfamiliar software. On Mac, check the Applications folder. If you cannot find the culprit, a malware scan may help — run Windows Defender on Windows or Malwarebytes on Mac.

Do I lose my Google account if I delete Chrome?

No. Your Google account exists independently of Chrome. Uninstalling Chrome does not affect your Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, or any other Google service. You can still access them through any web browser or the Google apps on your phone.

How much space will I free up by deleting Chrome?

Chrome itself uses about 200 to 300 megabytes of disk space. The data folder containing your bookmarks, passwords, and cache can range from 100 megabytes to several gigabytes, depending on how long you used Chrome and how many websites you visited. Deleting both will free up that space.