Forum Discussion
How To Stop Chrome From Opening Up A window
Recently Chrome has been opening up a browser window on my desktop PC. It does not happen while I am actively using MS Edge, but if I step away from my PC for a while, the Chrome window sometimes pops up.
I have searched for this problem and there seems to be many suggestions. For instance, some say to open the Chrome App and do certain things. I DO NOT have the Chrome App on my PC. I do have a Google account (which I never use) - could that be the cause? Is there something I could do on the Google website to fix this?
So far this does not seem to be a major problem - just annoying. But I am worried it could cause other problems.
Thank You
5 Replies
I figured it out. Some how an app named "SHIFT" got installed. I un-installed it and the Chrome browser is not popping up any more.
rockydean nice! third party apps...In your case explains.
The "SHIFT" is an application that allows users to manage multiple email accounts and apps in one place. It may use Chromium-based components to render its interface, which means it can trigger Chrome processes in the background without the user noticing.
Hello rockydean. If the Chrome self-triggers can be many things. Malware, old windows versions installed. Others Hard Drivers with windows there. Windows defender not properly configured. Extensions that can run Chromium on background. Dev Kits (Python, Anaconda etc.) that use selenium as VS code, Jupyter Notebook. Registry Entries with Google Chrome services. Or a simple Auth that you gave permissions to Google link to your account. So, is not simple to know exactly whats is going on. But have some tips to rule out some options:
1- Check any suspicious extensions or programs that can do it.
press: Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
On process-> check if have Chrome process running on the background.
If yes and you do not know Finish the process.
note: you must be sure that you are not using it!
As you can see here, when i open the Chrome, is already with many options that i need to be sure what is it.
If you see the date 2021 on the image, just shows that this is something strange: extensions, malware or just my develop environment.
In your case, you said that do not use it. So, check the task manager ->Process to see.
2- Registry Entries
may some app or tasks be calling Chrome. So, Type on search bar Registry Editor:
go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run
Delete if you find malware, or something that you don´t recognize.
Note: just delete if you are sure!
3- Go to your Google account and see if your device is synchronized with Google account.
You said that don´t use it, so, you can remove your device.
4- Windows defender to make a complete scan.
5- Cache of this service.
next time this happens, wait to see where this Google Chrome is stored. Track the folder and process.
If you do not recognize, delete the folder.
Best whishes and hope it helps.
Since you don’t have Chrome installed, it’s likely another program or background process is triggering a Chrome‑based component. Check Task Scheduler (Win + R → taskschd.msc) for any tasks launching chrome.exe or similar and disable them, review Task Manager → Startup for anything Chrome/Chromium‑related, uninstall any Chrome‑based apps or PWAs from Control Panel → Programs and Features, check edge://apps in Edge for unwanted web apps, and run a full malware scan to rule out anything suspicious.
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