Microsoft Preps Fix For Google Chrome Crashes Caused By Windows 10 April 2018 Update

Have you been experiencing wonky issues on your PC after installing the April 2018 Update for Windows 10? Well, you're not alone, if that comes as any consolation. Others have taken to Reddit and other destinations on the web to complain of annoying behavior after applying the update, including freeze ups in Chrome and even complete system hangs. Fortunately, Microsoft is aware of the issue and is working on a fix.

In a support document, Microsoft acknowledges that some devices running the latest version of Windows 10 (build 1803) "may hang or freeze when using certain apps, such as 'Hey Cortana' or Chrome." This is separate from the 'low disk space' pop-up you might be receiving in relation to a new partition that the April 2018 Update created, which is also annoying but at least it doesn't affect the function of your PC.


If you are experiencing issues after updating Windows 10, Microsoft recommends a couple of troubleshooting steps you can try while it works on a fix.

1. Try a Windows key sequence to wake the screen. If you have a keyboard connected, simultaneously press the Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B. If you’re on a tablet, simultaneously press both the volume-up and volume-down buttons, three times within 2 seconds. If Windows is responsive, a short beep will sound and the screen will blink or dim while Windows attempts to refresh the screen.
2. If you're using a laptop, close and open the laptop lid.

For whatever reason, the latest update to Windows 10 seems to have particular trouble with Chrome, and the issue can manifest in different ways.

"It's completely random, sometimes on opening new tab, new window or just on starting chrome. I had also couple of freezes with VS Code but there was always Chrome in the background," a user on Reddit wrote. "And I don't need to go to sleep or restart to fix it, just unplugging it from the power does the job and as screen comes back on Chrome minimizes so it's got to be Chrome related issue."

Even though this is ultimately a Microsoft problem, you'll want ot make sure you have the most recent version of Chrome installed. You can check for updates by clicking on the three vertical dots in the upper right-hand corner of Chrome and going to Help > About Google Chrome. As of this writing, the latest stable release for Windows 10 is is version 66.0.3359.139.

As for Microsoft, the company is planning to include a fix in its next Patch Tuesday roll out that is due out on May 8, 2018.

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