Fix hardware and system problems

If you're having a problem with your Chromebook hardware or operating system, try the steps below. Test your Chromebook after each step to find if the problem is fixed.

If you're still having trouble after trying these steps, contact your Chromebook manufacturer.

Hardware problems

Battery won't charge

First, check that:

  • The charger or adapter cables are completely plugged in, both to your Chromebook and the wall.
  • The power outlet is working.

If your Chromebook still won't charge:

  1. Unplug your charger from the wall and your Chromebook.
  2. Plug your charger back in to your Chromebook, then the wall.
  3. Charge the device for at least 30 minutes.

If the battery still won't charge, reset your Chromebook hardware.

Tip: Use Diagnostics to troubleshoot your issue with the battery. If you still have trouble after these steps, contact your Chromebook manufacturer.
Bluetooth doesn't work

Can't connect to Bluetooth

  1. Make sure that your Bluetooth device is supported and fully charged.
  2. Make sure you've entered your Bluetooth PIN correctly.
  3. Turn off Bluetooth, then turn it back on.
  4. Recover your Chromebook.

Can connect, but Bluetooth keeps dropping

  1. Make sure that your Bluetooth device is supported and fully charged.
  2. On your Chromebook, turn off Bluetooth, then turn it back on.
  3. Move the Bluetooth device and your Chromebook closer together.
  4. Move your Bluetooth device away from other wireless devices and appliances.
  5. Close browser tabs and apps you're not using.

If Bluetooth still doesn't work, contact the manufacturer of your Bluetooth device for more help.

Camera doesn't work

If your camera isn't working, or if you get a message that says "No camera found":

  1. Turn off your Chromebook, then turn it back on.
  2. Try to use the camera in another app, like Google Meet. If it works in that app, uninstall the app where it doesn't work, then reinstall the app.
  3. Reset your Chromebook.
  4. Recover your Chromebook.

If you're still having trouble after trying these steps, contact your Chromebook manufacturer.

Can't connect to monitor

Learn more about connecting to monitors.

If you're still having trouble after trying these steps, contact your Chromebook manufacturer.

Keyboard doesn't work

Learn how to troubleshoot your keyboard.

If you're still having trouble after trying these steps, contact your Chromebook manufacturer.

Sound doesn't work
  1. Make sure sound isn't muted:
    1. At the bottom right, select the time.
    2. Adjust the volume using the slider.
  2. Change the sound input or output:
    1. At the bottom right, select the time.
    2. Next to the volume slider, select the Right arrow .
    3. Change where sound comes from (output) or where you speak into (input).
  3. Unplug audio devices (like headphones or speakers) from your Chromebook.
  4. Reset your Chromebook.
  5. Recover your Chromebook.

If you're still having trouble after trying these steps, contact your Chromebook manufacturer.

Touchpad doesn't work

Learn how to troubleshoot your touchpad.

If you're still having trouble after trying these steps, contact your Chromebook manufacturer.

Touchscreen doesn't work

Learn how to troubleshoot your touchscreen.

If you're still having trouble after trying these steps, contact your Chromebook manufacturer.

System problems

"ChromeOS is missing or damaged" Chromebook crashes or freezes

If your Chromebook is crashing or freezing:

  1. Turn off your Chromebook, then turn it back on.
  2. Close all your apps and browser windows.
  3. If a specific tab in your browser causes your Chromebook to crash or freeze, hard refresh the page: Ctrl + Shift + r.
  4. If you've installed any new apps or extensions recently, uninstall them.
  5. Reset your Chromebook.
  6. Recover your Chromebook.

Tip: Use Diagnostics to troubleshoot your issue with memory. If you still have trouble after these steps, contact your Chromebook manufacturer.

Chromebook is slow

Check for system updates. If any updates are available, install them.

Tip: Use Diagnostics to troubleshoot your issue with the CPU. If you still have trouble after these steps, contact your Chromebook manufacturer.

Chromebook turns off, then back on, over and over again

Recover your Chromebook.

Tip: Use Diagnostics to troubleshoot your issue with memory. If you still have trouble after these steps, contact your Chromebook manufacturer.

Chromebook won't turn on or won't charge

First, check if the battery is charging by plugging your Chromebook into a power outlet. (Usually, you'll find a light turn on.)

If your Chromebook is charging, let it charge for at least 30 minutes. If it still won't turn on, recover your Chromebook.

If your Chromebook still isn't charging:

  1. Check if the charger or adapter cables are completely plugged in, both to your Chromebook and the wall.
  2. Make sure that the power outlet is working.
  3. Unplug your charger from the wall and your Chromebook.
  4. Plug your charger back in to your Chromebook, then the wall.
  5. Charge the device for at least 30 minutes.

If these steps don't fix the problem, reset your Chromebook.

Tip: Use Diagnostics to troubleshoot your issue with the battery. If you still have trouble after these steps, contact your Chromebook manufacturer.
System update causes error
  1. If your Chromebook is connected to mobile data, connect it to Wi-Fi or Ethernet instead, then try downloading the update.
  2. Turn off your Chromebook, then turn it back on.
  3. Reset your Chromebook.
  4. Recover your Chromebook.
System update won't download
  1. If your Chromebook is connected to mobile data, connect it to Wi-Fi or Ethernet instead, then try downloading the update.
  2. Turn off your Chromebook, then turn it back on.
  3. Reset your Chromebook.
  4. Recover your Chromebook.

Tip: Use Diagnostics to troubleshoot your issue with memory. If you still have trouble after these steps, contact your Chromebook manufacturer.

Webpage problems

"Aw, snap!" Tabs refresh constantly

Your Chromebook might be running low on memory. To fix this problem:

  1. Close any browser tabs you're not using.
  2. Turn off your Chromebook, then turn it back on.
  3. Open the Task Manager (press Shift + Esc).
  4. Close any apps or windows you're not using.
  5. Try turning off some of your extensions:
    1. Open Chrome Chrome.
    2. At the top right, click More .
    3. Choose More tools and then Extensions.
    4. Review your list of extensions. Turn off extensions you don't need.

Tip: Use Diagnostics to troubleshoot your issue with memory. If you still have trouble after these steps, contact your Chromebook manufacturer.

Webpage won't open

If the site needs certain credentials to sign in or open the page, contact the site's administrator for help.

If the site doesn't require certain credentials:

  1. Check if the site is down for everyone.
  2. If you're using a proxy, make sure it's set up correctly.
  3. Clear your cache.
  4. Clear your DNS cache:
    1. Open Chrome Chrome.
    2. Go to chrome://net-internals/#dns
    3. Click Clear host cache.

If the site still won't open, contact the site's administrator.

Tip: Use Diagnostics to troubleshoot your issue with memory. If you still have trouble after these steps, contact your Chromebook manufacturer.

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