Chrome can’t be launched on some Android tablets
The annoying prompt many users are getting | Image by Reddit
The issue was brought to light on Reddit and picked up by Android Police later on. Reddit user ExplodedSpaceToast (such a cool username) reported that his Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ refuses to open Chrome and displays a message reading, “You can have up to 5 windows.”Clearing the cash, force stopping the app, and a hard restart aren’t clearing the problem.
The issue has been corroborated by more users down the comments on the subreddit post, and a Google representative also entered the discussion.
Google is aware of the issue
A certified Googler entered the comments, acknowledging that the company is currently investigating the issue and asking for additional information.
“Hey all, thanks for taking the time to help bring this to our attention. Our team is investigating reports of this behavior, and we need additional information to help find the cause,” wrote the Google Chrome Support Manager Reesha.
Google is apparently working on a fix, but there’s no workaround for the time being. Android tablet users are recommended to use a different browser until the Chrome issue is resolved.
UPDATE: Some users reported that uninstalling Chrome and reinstalling it again fixed the problem, so this solution is worth trying while we wait for an official fix.
The issue is not limited to Samsung tablets
Even though most of the reports are coming from Galaxy Tab users, the bug has been spotted on Xiaomi and Lenovo slates as well.
The bug has been reported on different Android versions and different Chrome builds as well, pointing toward a bigger problem not tied to the specific OS or app versions.
Best Google Chrome alternatives?
Opera is a great Chrome alternative with many features and powerful privacy options | Image by Opera
There are a ton of good Chrome alternatives, most of which use the Chromium engine, so the overall experience is more or less the same.
The most popular ones include Opera and Mozilla Firefox, but there are privacy-oriented browsers such as Brave and Tor, as well as lightweight distributions like Vivaldi and Chromite.
This annoying bug is giving you a chance to try something new if you look on the bright side. But don’t worry, a fix is on the way.
