Fixed: Google Chrome is waiting for cache issue on Windows

Chrome has been causing problems ( cache issue on Windows ) for a lot of people, especially Windows users. They get the notice “Waiting for cache” in the bottom left of the window while trying to load a page. The website pauses for a few seconds or minutes whenever this happens. This may have an impact on the overall performance of your computer since system resources will be needed to try to connect. When you visit a website, your browser collects certain basic files in order to help the page load quicker the next time you go there. Because the procedure runs in the background, you wouldn’t notice it. Chrome occasionally fails to load that cache, causing the website to freeze.

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You can attempt fixing the problem yourself before moving to a Chrome alternative. We’ll provide you with some pointers on how to repair the Chrome waiting for cache problem. Let’s have a look at them.

Google Chrome is waiting for cache issue on Windows

Also Read: How to Change Themes on Windows 11

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What does “Waiting for cache” actually mean?

Let’s start with a simple definition of cache. The cache is the location where your internet browser, in this example Google Chrome, saves information about your browsing behaviour so that it can access frequently visited websites faster. When Chrome is unable to retrieve this information, the waiting for cache error appears on your laptop or computer. This problem is particularly frequent on Windows 10 PCs that feature a solid-state drive (SSD) rather than a hard disc drive (HDD) (Hard disc drive).

Let’s break down the fixes we have in store for you.

5 Best Ways to Fix Chrome Wait­ing for Cache Error

In this guide, therefore, you’ll learn some quick fixes to help you fix this bug.

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1. CLEAR CHROME CACHE

Chrome’s cache files might be corrupted, resulting in an error while trying to load them. To check if that helps, try deleting the cache in Chrome. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Launch Chrome and click on the three-dot menu in the top right corner, select More Tools and choose Clear browsing data.

Alternatively, you can also press Ctrl + Shift + Del shortcut to quickly open the Clear Browsing Data panel.

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Open Clear Browsing Data Panel in Chrome

Step 2: Use the Time range option to select All time from the drop-down menu. Mark the checkboxes that read ‘Cookies and other site data’ and ‘Cached images and files’.

Lastly, hit the Clear data button.

Clear Cache and Cookies in Chrome

Now relaunch Google Chrome and see if the issue is resolved.

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2. PREVENT CHROME FROM WRITING CACHE

The waiting for cache issue in Chrome usually appears when the browser is unable to generate or access cache files on your computer. The problem is especially prevalent in PCs that employ a Solid-state drive (SSD) as a write cache. You might try preventing your PC from saving any cache data in certain situations to see if it helps. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Click on the Search tool on the Taskbar, type in device manager, and press Enter.

Open Device Manager

Step 2: In the Device Manager window, expand the Disk drives, double-click on your SSD drive to open Properties.

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If you’ve multiple SSD drives on your PC, pick the one on which you’ve installed Google Chrome.

Device Manager

Step 3: In the Properties window, navigate to the Policies tab and uncheck the box that reads ‘Enable write caching on the device’. Lastly, click on OK.

Prevent Chrome from Storing Cache

Reboot your PC for changes to take effect and Chrome should work fine.

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3. CREATE A NEW USER PROFILE

Creating a new user profile is another possible solution for the Chrome waiting for cache problem. This should start Chrome with its default settings, which should cure the problem.

Follow the steps below to create a new user profile in Chrome.

Step 1: Click on the current profile icon in the top right corner. Under Other profiles, click on the Add button.

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Create New Profile

Step 2: Next, select the ‘Continue without an account’ option.

Set Up New Profile on Chrome

Step 3: Now write a suitable name and pick a color scheme for your profile. Then click on Done to proceed.

Customize Your Chrome Profile

This should bring up your new profile in Chrome. Now check to see if the problem has been addressed. If it is, you may use your Google account to retrieve previous bookmarks and establish preferences.

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4. RESET GOOGLE CHROME

To fix the problem, you may need to restore Chrome to its original settings. It’s crucial to understand that resetting Chrome will delete all extensions, cache, and preferences.

To reset Chrome, type chrome://settings/reset in the address bar up top, and press Enter. Under ‘Reset and clean up’, click on ‘Restore settings to their original defaults’.

Reset and Clean up

On the confirmation pop-up box, click Reset Settings to confirm.

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Reset Chrome

5. REINSTALL CHROME

If the problem remains after you’ve reset Chrome, you’ll have to remove and reinstall it. This manner, you may delete all of the previous data linked with Chrome and start over. You’ll also be updating Chrome at the same time. If you choose this option, make sure to sync all of your crucial data with your Google account first.

Step 1: Press Windows key + I to launch the Settings app and use the left pane to navigate to the Apps tab. Now click on Apps & features

Step 2: Scroll down to find Google Chrome. Click on the three-dot menu and select Uninstall option.

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Now restart your PC and install Google Chrome again.

Fix 1. Prevent Google Chrome from writing on your SSD (Solid-state drive).

If you have an SSD, you may turn off Windows 10’s disc write caching capability. This feature can help with performance and speed, but it can also lead to memory loss. Although disabling this function may have a minor impact on your computer’s efficiency and speed, many have claimed that it resolves the “waiting for cache” issue in Chrome. So, how do you go about doing it? Simple, we’ve broken everything down into easy-to-follow stages for you.

  1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run utility. Type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open the Device Manager.
  2. Look for Disk Drives on the list and click on the arrow next to it to expand it. Right-click the SSD where Google Chrome is installed and click on properties.
    Device manager
  3. From the Policies tab, ensure “Enable write caching on the device” option is unchecked.
    Policies
  4. Click on OK.

Once you are done, restart your computer and open up Chrome to see if the problem persists. If it does, we have a couple of tricks up our sleeves that can help.

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Fix 2. Clear Google Chrome’s browser cache.

Usually, the issue breaks down to corrupted files stored in your cache directory. Removing them allows Google Chrome to create new ones and eliminate the problem.

So how do you clear the cache on Google Chrome if you are using Windows 10?. Follow these steps:

  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. Click on the three vertical dots at the top right corner of your browser.
  3. Scroll down the list and select More Tools and click on Clear browsing data. Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + Shift + Del.
  4. This will bring up another tab and a Clear Browsing Data window will pop-up. You want to select a Time Range of All Time to avoid issues. Then tick all the boxes of the data you wish to be removed. You have the option to see the basic and advanced options. Once you’re done click on clear data.
  5. Restart Google Chrome.

You should be able to prevent the “waiting for cache” issue by following these simple steps. This will require Chrome to create a fresh cache for the websites, erasing any previously damaged or unavailable data.

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If that did not fix the issue, you can try the following fix.

Fix 3. Resetting Google Chrome to the default settings.

Resetting Google Chrome to its default settings is another option. Keep in mind that doing so will wipe out all of your Chrome’s customizations and other settings, returning it to its default form. Follow these procedures to return to the default settings:

  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. Click on the 3 vertical dots at the top right corner of the browser.
  3. Click on Settings. This will open up a new tab where you can see and edit your Chrome settings.
  4. On the left-hand panel, look for Advanced and click on it to expand it. There you will find the Reset and clean up feature. Alternatively, you can go to chrome://settings/reset
  5. Click on Restore settings to their original defaults. A pop-up will appear asking for confirmation. Click on Reset Settings.

And that’s it!. This will restore your Google Chrome settings to its defaults.

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If this still does not fix the “waiting for cache” issue there are 2 other fixes that you can try.

Fix 4. Create a new profile.

Another quick fix is to create a new profile in Google Chrome. Let’s break it down.

  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. Click on the picture or letter that represents your profile (next to the 3 vertical dots) and click on Add.
  3. This will open up a new window where you can create a new profile. Add a name and select an Icon.

Chrome will restart and open with the updated profile after that. You can see if the problem still exists. If the problem has been resolved, sign in with your original Google account and import your data into the newly formed profile.

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If all else fails, there is the ol’ reliable reinstall option.

Fix 5. Reinstall Google Chrome.

My grandpa used to say, “If it doesn’t work, uninstall and reinstall.” But first, see if Chrome needs to be updated. Check if the problem still exists after the update. Simply follow these instructions to reinstall Chrome.

  1. Click on the Start button at the bottom left corner of the screen and search for the Control Panel.
  2. Sort the view by Category and click on uninstall a program under Programs and Features.
  3. Find Google Chrome on the list, right-click on it, and click on Uninstall.
  4. You will be guided through the uninstallation of Chrome. Once you remove the browser completely, you can get the newest version online.
  5. Open up another browser like Firefox or Microsoft Edge.
  6. Go to Chrome’s website https://www.google.com/chrome/ 
  7. Click on Download Chrome
  8. Wait for the download to finish and then run the application. Follow the steps and continue with the installation.

If you followed all the steps shown before, you should have a brand new, working Google Chrome on your Windows with no “Waiting for cache” error.

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The majority of the time, this unpleasant issue is caused by faulty cache data, so hopefully that is no longer the case with these improvements. Subscribe to our email to receive more helpful hints and exclusive offers from our store!

THE WAIT IS OVER

Any web browser’s cache is an essential component. Web browsers cannot attain lightning-fast loading speeds without it. Most of the time, the problem is caused by damaged cache data or incorrectly adjusted settings. Rest confident, if you follow the steps outlined above, the problem should be rectified.

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