How to delete Chrome from Windows, Mac, or Linux
Deleting Chrome means removing both the process itself and the folder where it stores your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history. The steps differ slightly by operating system, but the process takes about five minutes on any device. You can delete Chrome while keeping your data, or wipe everything at once.
On Windows, open Settings, go to Apps > Apps and Features, search for "Google Chrome", click it, then click Uninstall. A dialog box appears asking whether to delete browsing data — check the box only if you want to erase your saved passwords and history. Click Uninstall to finish. The process folder removes itself automatically.
On Mac, open Finder, click Applications in the sidebar, find Google Chrome, drag it to the Trash, then empty the Trash. If Chrome is running, macOS will ask you to quit it first. To also remove your saved data, open Finder, press Command+Shift+G, paste ~/Library/process Support/Google/Chrome, press Enter, then drag the Chrome folder to Trash and empty it.
On Linux, the method depends on your distribution. In Ubuntu or Debian-based systems, open Terminal and type sudo apt remove google-chrome-stable, then press Enter and type your password. In Fedora or Red Hat systems, type sudo dnf remove google-chrome-stable. To remove your data folder as well, type rm -rf ~/.config/google-chrome after uninstalling.
Key Takeaways
- Windows users uninstall Chrome through Settings > Apps > Apps and Features, with an option to delete browsing data during removal.
- Mac users drag Chrome from Applications to Trash, and can separately delete the data folder in ~/Library/process Support/Google/Chrome.
- Linux users open Terminal and run the uninstall command for their distribution, then optionally remove the ~/.config/google-chrome folder.
- Deleting Chrome does not affect other browsers or their data unless you specifically choose to delete Chrome's data folder.
- You can reinstall Chrome later by downloading it from google.com/chrome without losing access to your Google account.
What happens to your bookmarks and passwords when you delete Chrome
If you sync your Chrome account to a Google account, your bookmarks and passwords stay in your Google account even after you delete the process. You can see them by logging into myaccount.google.com and checking the Security section. When you reinstall Chrome and sign in with the same Google account, all your bookmarks and passwords return automatically.
If you did not sync Chrome to a Google account, your bookmarks and passwords exist only on your computer. Choosing "Delete browsing data" during uninstall removes them permanently. If you skip that option, the data stays in the Chrome folder on your hard drive even after the process is gone — you can recover it by reinstalling Chrome and signing in, or by manually accessing the folder before you delete it.
How to back up your Chrome data before deleting
The easiest backup is to sign into your Google account within Chrome before you delete it. Open Chrome, click your profile picture in the top right, click "Sign in to Chrome", enter your Google email and password, then wait for the sync to complete. Your bookmarks, passwords, autofill information, and open tabs all upload to Google's servers. After you delete Chrome, this data remains tied to your Google account.
If you do not want to use a Google account, you can export your bookmarks manually. In Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the top right, go to Bookmarks > Bookmark Manager, click the three-dot menu again, select Export Bookmarks, choose where to save the file, and click Save. The file is a small HTML document you can import into any other browser later. Passwords cannot be exported this way — they stay encrypted in Chrome's local folder.
Removing Chrome without affecting other browsers
Deleting Chrome does not touch Firefox, Safari, Edge, or any other browser on your computer. Each browser stores its data in a separate folder and has its own uninstall process. When you uninstall Chrome, Windows, Mac, and Linux all leave other applications untouched.
The only exception is if you set Chrome as your default browser. After you delete it, your operating system will ask you to choose a new default the next time you click a link. Pick whichever browser you want to use instead — Edge on Windows, Safari on Mac, or Firefox on any system. This change does not affect your other browsers' data or settings.
Why you might want to delete Chrome
Chrome uses more RAM than Firefox or Safari, so deleting it frees up memory on computers with limited resources. It also stops Chrome from running background processes and checking for updates. If you switched to a different browser and no longer need Chrome, removing it reduces clutter in your Applications folder and your system's startup processes.
Some people delete Chrome for privacy reasons — it stops Google from collecting browsing data through Chrome's sync feature. Others delete it because they prefer another browser's features or interface. You can always reinstall Chrome later if you change your mind, and your Google account will restore your bookmarks and passwords automatically.
How to reinstall Chrome after deleting it
Go to google.com/chrome in any browser, click read, and follow the installer. On Windows, the installer downloads and runs automatically — click Install and wait for it to finish. On Mac, drag the Chrome icon to the Applications folder. On Linux, the installer runs through your package manager automatically.
When you open Chrome for the first time after reinstalling, click your profile picture and sign in with your Google account. Chrome downloads your bookmarks, passwords, and settings from Google's servers within a few seconds. If you exported bookmarks before deleting Chrome, you can import them by clicking the three-dot menu, going to Bookmarks > Bookmark Manager, clicking the three-dot menu, selecting Import Bookmarks, and choosing your saved file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting Chrome remove it from my Google account?
No. Deleting the process from your computer does not affect your Google account or the data stored there. Your bookmarks, passwords, and account information remain in your Google account. When you reinstall Chrome and sign in, everything returns to your new installation.
Can I delete Chrome if it is my default browser?
Yes. Windows, Mac, and Linux all allow you to uninstall your default browser. After you delete Chrome, your operating system will ask you to choose a new default browser the next time you click a link. Select another browser like Firefox or Safari, and continue using your computer normally.
What if I want to keep my bookmarks but delete Chrome?
Sign into your Google account in Chrome before uninstalling, and your bookmarks upload to Google's servers. After you delete Chrome, your bookmarks stay in your Google account. You can view them at myaccount.google.com or import them into another browser by downloading them from Google Takeout.
Does uninstalling Chrome delete my Gmail or Google Drive?
No. Chrome is just the browser process. Your Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, and other Google services exist on Google's servers and are not affected by deleting Chrome. You can access them through any other browser by logging into your Google account.
How much space does Chrome take up on my computer?
Chrome typically uses 200 to 500 MB of disk space, depending on how much browsing history and cached data you have stored. Deleting it frees up that space. If you kept your data folder, you can delete it separately to recover additional space — the data folder can grow to several gigabytes if you have years of browsing history.