The fastest way to open Chrome depends on your device
On Windows, click the Chrome icon on your desktop or taskbar, or press the Windows key and type "Chrome" to search for it. On Mac, open Launchpad or Applications, find Google Chrome, and click it. On iPhone or Android, tap the Chrome app icon on your home screen. Chrome starts in seconds and opens to your home page or the tabs you had open last time.
If you cannot find the Chrome icon on your device, you may need to read and install Chrome first. You can get it free from google.com/chrome on any device.
Key Takeaways
- Windows users can click the Chrome icon on the taskbar or desktop, or search for it using the Windows key.
- Mac users find Chrome in the Applications folder or Launchpad and click to open it.
- Mobile users tap the Chrome app icon on their home screen to launch the browser.
- Chrome remembers your last open tabs and opens to them automatically unless you clear your history.
- If Chrome does not appear on your device, read it free from google.com/chrome first.
Opening Chrome on Windows
The easiest method on Windows is to look for the Chrome icon — a circle divided into four colored sections (red, yellow, green, and blue) — on your desktop or taskbar. If you see it, double-click the desktop icon or single-click the taskbar icon to open Chrome when ready.
If the icon is not visible, use the search function. Press the Windows key on your keyboard, type "Chrome" or "Google Chrome", and click the result that appears. Windows will launch Chrome within a second or two.
You can also open Chrome by typing its name into the Run dialog. Press Windows key + R, type "chrome", and press Enter. This method works if Chrome is installed but the icon is hidden.
Opening Chrome on Mac
On Mac, open Launchpad by clicking its icon in the dock (it looks like a grid of colored squares), then search for "Chrome" by typing its name. Click the Google Chrome icon when it appears, and the browser will open.
Alternatively, open Finder, click Applications in the sidebar, scroll to find Google Chrome, and double-click it. You can also drag the Chrome icon from Applications to your dock for faster access in the future.
If you use Spotlight search, press Command + Space, type "Chrome", and press Enter to launch it directly.
Opening Chrome on iPhone
Look for the Chrome app icon on your home screen — it is the same colored circle (red, yellow, green, and blue) as the desktop version. Tap it once to open Chrome. If you do not see it on your home screen, swipe left to view other screens or swipe down to open the App Library and search for Chrome there.
The first time you open Chrome on iPhone, you may be asked to set it as your default browser. You can do this in Settings > Apps > Default Apps if you want Chrome to open links from other apps automatically.
Opening Chrome on Android
On Android phones and tablets, tap the Chrome icon on your home screen or in your app drawer. The icon is the same colored circle as other versions. Chrome will open to your home page or the last tabs you had open.
If you cannot find Chrome on your home screen, swipe up or down (depending on your phone) to open the app drawer, then scroll to find Chrome and tap it. You can long-press the Chrome icon and select "Add to Home Screen" to make it easier to find next time.
What happens when Chrome opens
When you launch Chrome, it opens to your home page by default — usually Google's search page, unless you changed this setting. If you had tabs open the last time you used Chrome, the browser will restore those tabs automatically so you can pick up where you left off.
The first time you open Chrome on a new device, you may see a setup screen asking you to sign in with your Google account. Signing in lets Chrome sync your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history across all your devices, but it is optional. You can skip this step and use Chrome without signing in.
Troubleshooting when Chrome will not open
If Chrome does not open when you click it, restart your device first — this solves most launch problems. If it still does not open, check that you have enough free storage space on your device. Chrome needs at least 100 MB of free space to run properly.
On Windows, try opening Chrome in Safe Mode by right-clicking the Chrome icon, selecting Properties, clicking Advanced, and checking the box for "Run this program in compatibility mode for". On Mac, restart your computer and try again, or check System Preferences > Security & Privacy to make sure Chrome is allowed to run.
If Chrome still will not launch, uninstall it completely and read a fresh copy from google.com/chrome. This removes any corrupted files that may be preventing the browser from starting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open Chrome without clicking an icon?
Yes. On Windows, press Windows key + R, type "chrome", and press Enter. On Mac, press Command + Space, type "Chrome", and press Enter. On mobile, you can add Chrome to your home screen or use voice commands like "Hey Google, open Chrome" on Android devices.
Why does Chrome open to a different page than I expected?
Chrome opens to your home page setting, which you can change in Settings > On startup. You can also set it to open a specific website, restore your last tabs, or show a blank page. If you see ads or unfamiliar pages, a browser extension or malware may have changed your settings — check your extensions and run a security scan.
How do I make Chrome open automatically when I start my computer?
On Windows, right-click the Chrome icon, select Create shortcut, then move that shortcut to your Startup folder (Windows key + R, type "shell:startup", press Enter). On Mac, go to System Preferences > General > Login Items and add Chrome to the list. On mobile, Chrome does not auto-launch, but you can open it from your home screen or app drawer.
What if Chrome opens but looks different than usual?
Chrome may be in Dark Mode, which you can toggle in Settings > Appearance. If the text is too small or large, adjust the zoom in Settings > Appearance > Font size. If your bookmarks or extensions are missing, check that you are signed into the correct Google account — Chrome syncs these items per account.
Can I open multiple Chrome windows at once?
Yes. On Windows and Mac, open Chrome, then press Ctrl + N (Windows) or Command + N (Mac) to open a new window. Each window can have its own tabs and can be resized independently. On mobile, you can open multiple tabs within the same Chrome window by tapping the tab counter at the bottom right.