Easy steps on how to fix “Aw, Snap!” errors in Chrome [troubleshooting guide]

If you’ve been using Google Chrome for some time now, you must have encountered “Aw, Snap!” errors. If you’re wondering what this error means, and whether or not there’s something that you can do about it, this troubleshooting post should help you. “Aw, Snap!” error can happen anytime and it can be caused by a lot of problems. This troubleshooting guide should walk you through the steps on how to identify where the problem is coming from.

Before we proceed to the main topic though, we would like to remind you that we accept requests for assistance regarding their Windows computers. If you have a problem that you can’t seem to find a solution to, send us your issue by following the link at the bottom of this page. Just remember, windows problems can sometimes be difficult to diagnose so kindly make sure that you give us very detailed description of the problem. You want to mention relevant history that may have led to the issue. The more information that you can provide, the higher the chance of us diagnosing the issue more efficiently. We also expect that you mention whatever troubleshooting step/s that you may have done before contacting us in order to prevent repeating them in our article. Again, the more details you can give us, the faster it is for us to pinpoint the cause and its corresponding solution.


There’s a long list of “Aw, Snap!” errors that can happen in a Google Chrome browser. If you’re getting one of the following errors below, it means that Chrome is having trouble loading up a page:

“Aw, Snap!”: Chrome is having problems loading the page.

ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED: The hostname (web address) doesn’t exist.

ERR_INTERNET_DISCONNECTED: The device isn’t connected to the internet.

ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT or ERR_TIMED_OUT: The page took too long to connect. Your internet connection might be too slow, or the page might be too busy.

ERR_CONNECTION_RESET: Something happened that interrupted your connection to the page.

ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED: Your device disconnected from the network or connected to a new network while loading the page.

ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED: The page didn’t let Chrome connect.

ERR_CACHE_MISS: The page needs information you entered earlier to be submitted again.

ERR_EMPTY_RESPONSE: The website didn’t send any data, and might be down.

ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR: The page sent data that Chrome doesn’t understand.

BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT: Signing in to the website (for example, a bank or work website) isn’t working due to an errored client certificate.

A site can’t be reached.

A website won’t open.

An HTTPS site won’t open.

A photo won’t load.

A new tab won’t load.

Troubleshooting “Aw, Snap!” errors in Chrome

If you’re getting any of the errors in the list above, you can do a set of troubleshooting steps to fix a fix. Google Chrome troubleshooting is a relatively easy task so it should not take long before you’ll be able to solve the problem. Unless the cause of the problem is website-related, you should be back up and running in no time.

Solution #1: Reload the site

The first simple step that anyone must do is to press one single button — refresh or reload button. By default, the F5 button is nominated as the standard refresh button in most keyboards. You can also try the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+R). For some laptops, there may be a dedicated reload button in their keyboard. If you don’t know where the refresh button in your keyboard is, simply find the refresh button in your Chrome browser. The icon looks like a circling arrow.

Solution #2: Ensure that your internet connection is working

If your internet connection is slow, intermittent, or not working at all, Chrome browser may find it hard to load a page. Make sure that you don’t have a problem with your internet before you proceed with the rest of the troubleshooting steps. If you tend to regularly get slow internet connection speed, talk to your internet service provider (ISP) for help.

Solution #3: Clear Google Chrome browser cache

Just like any browser, Chrome stores a set of temporary files called cache in order to be efficient. Sometimes, this cache can get corrupted and can lead to problems. The most common result of a corrupted cache is slow loading or failure to load a page at all. On top of these issues, an Google Chrome cache can also clutter your PC’s storage device so we recommend that you regularly clear it. In most cases, deleting Chrome cache is an effective method in fixing “Aw, Snap!” errors.

A good way to know if Chrome cache is causing “Aw, Snap!” errors is by opening the website you’re having trouble in Incognito mode.  Incognito mode lets a user to browse the internet in private by preventing Google Chrome from remembering your browsing activity.  For example, Chrome will not save your browsing history, cookies and site data, or information entered in forms. Downloaded and bookmarks will also not be kept in this mode.

To browse in Incognito Mode, follow these steps:

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. At the top right, click More More and then New Incognito Window.
  3. A new window appears. In the top corner, check for the Incognito icon Incognito mode.

You can also use a keyboard shortcut to open an Incognito window by pressing Ctrl + Shift + N.

To exit Incognito mode, simply close out all Incognito windows. Remember, your entire browsing activity can still be recorded by your employer, school, or ISP even when you browse in private.

Clear Google Chrome browser cache

If the site you’re having an issue with opens in Incognito mode fine, that’s a clear sign that you have a cache problem. To clear your Chrome browser cache, follow these steps:

  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. At the top right, click More icon.
  3. Click More tools.
  4. Click Clear browsing data.
  5. At the top, select beginning of time.
  6. Select Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data. Deselect the other types of data.
  7. Click Clear browsing data.
  8. Try reloading the tab with the error.

Solution #4: Disable extensions

Google Chrome uses extensions in order to do other tasks. Extensions are small add-ons that add new and useful features to Chrome. like block ads, show emojis, manage passwords, to mention a few. Too many installed extensions though can use a lot of resources and can potentially cause your computer to run out of memory.  If this occurs, “Aw, Snap!” errors may happen. To fix the problem, you can either disable or uninstall extensions before loading the page again. It’s highly recommended that you disable extensions if you’re not actively using them. To check if an extension is causing Chrome to load the page slowly or not at all, try to start it in safe mode. Here’s how:

  1. Close all Chrome tabs.
  2. Press Windows key +R to open the Run box.
  3. Type in chrome.exe –disable-extensions in the Run box.
  4. Hit Enter.

When Chrome is in safe mode, all extensions will be disabled. If you can load a page in this mode only, that’s a clear indication that one of your extensions is causing the problem. Uninstall extensions until the issue is fixed. To do that, click on More icon>More tools> Extensions>click Remove icon.

Solution #5: Install Chrome update

Chrome is set to install updates by default. However, if you want to manually check if it’s fully updated, you can do by clicking on the More icon (three-dot icon)>Help>About Google Chrome. If there’s an update, you’ll see an option to click Relaunch. After relaunching, try reloading the tab with the error.

Solution #6: Ensure that there’s no virus or malware causing the “Aw, Snap!” errors

Most malicious software or viruses slow down a system and clog internet connection. If you regularly encounter slow loading error in Chrome, it’s possible that your computer may be infected by a virus or malware. If you have an antivirus software, make sure that it’s fully updated before using it to scan your computer.

Alternatively, you can use the Chrome Cleanup Tool to find and remove unwanted software.


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