6 Fixes for Websites Opening Automatically in Google Chrome

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides for Android, iOS, and Windows. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he’s a disciplined footfall fan and loves international travel with his wife.

Fix 1: Check Browser Extensions

A poorly built third-party extension can often cause problems. To check for this possibility, turn off any suspicious extensions running in Chrome.

Typechrome://extensions/in the URL bar at the top and pressEnter. Look for the recently installed extensions or ones you no longer use and disable them. Alternatively, you can alsoremove any suspicious extensions in Chrome.

Fix 2: Clear Browsing Data

Most websites require you to enable cookies in your browser for a better experience. While cookies are generally harmless, they occasionally harbor malicious scripts, leading to unusual browser behavior. Similarly, corrupted browser cache data can also cause such issues.

Toclear cache and cookies in Chrome, pressCtrl + Shift + Deleteto open the Clear browsing data panel. Check the boxes forCookies and other site dataandCached images and files. Lastly, click theClear databutton.

Fix 3: Block Pop-Ups and Redirects

Blocking pop-ups and redirects is another effective way to prevent Google Chrome from opening unwanted websites automatically. Here’s how to do that.

Step 1:Open Google Chrome, click thethree-dot menu iconat the top right corner, and selectSettingsfrom the list.

Step 2:Switch to thePrivacy and securitytab on your left and select theSite Settingsoption.

Step 3:UnderContent, go toPop-ups and redirects.

Step 4:Under Default behavior, selectDon’t allow sites to send pop-ups or use redirects.

Fix 4: Prevent Chrome From Running in the Background

Such issues can also arise if you have allowed Progressive Web Apps to run in the background even when Google Chrome is closed. Here’s how to stop that.

Step 1:Open Google Chrome and navigate to itsSettingsmenu.

Step 2:In theSystemtab, toggle offContinue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed.

Fix 5: Run a Virus Scan on Your Computer

If Google Chrome is still opening websites automatically, it could be a sign of malware presence. To ensure your system’s safety, it’s best to run a scan using Microsoft Defender or a reputable third-party antivirus program.

Fix 6: Reset or Reinstall Chrome

Resetting Google Chrome to its default settings can help you fix various issues, including this one. To reset Chrome, typechrome://settings/resetin the address bar at the top and pressEnter. UnderReset and clean up, clickRestore settings to their original defaults.

On the confirmation pop-up box, clickReset settingsto confirm.

If the issue remains, try uninstalling andreinstalling Chrome on your PC. This will give you a fresh start and also update Chrome.

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Last updated on 08 May, 2024

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