Let’s say you sit down and you’re ready to play a game. And then nothing. Or something is preventing you from enjoying that game. Maybe it never gets past the loading screen or runs like a slideshow, or everything freezes just as things get interesting. All of this is annoying to deal with. But before calling it quits, try these fixes to get back to gaming.

Simplest fix: Refresh the game

Start with the tried-and-true simple option. Refresh the page and let the game load again.

A temporary connection problem or failed file request can sometimes leave a web game stuck even though nothing is seriously wrong. If that fixes it, congratulations, shortest troubleshooting session ever. If not, try the following steps.

1. Check your internet connection

Browser games still need to receive information over the internet to properly execute. If your connection is unstable, the game may take a long time to load or have trouble communicating with its server.

Try opening another website. If everything is crawling, the problem probably isn’t the game. If you’re on Wi-Fi, moving closer to the router or reconnecting can also help. If that fails, consider switching to a network cable, rather than wireless.

2. Close tabs and programs you don’t need

Every open program wants a piece of your device’s memory and processing power. Twenty browser tabs, a video stream, a video call, and a game can become a surprisingly heavy combination.

Close anything you don’t currently need, then try the game again. This is especially useful on older laptops and phones with limited memory.

3. Update your browser

An old browser can cause compatibility problems with newer games.

Modern browser games rely on technologies such as Canvas, WebGL, and Web Audio. Keeping your browser version current helps ensure it supports the features games expect. WebGL, for example, is broadly supported in modern browsers but also depends on compatible graphics hardware. Once you’ve updated, close and reopen the browser before testing the game again.

4. Try a private window or temporarily disable extensions

Browser extensions can change how webpages behave. Ad blockers, privacy extensions, script blockers, and security tools can occasionally stop something a game needs from loading.

An easy test is to try the game in a private/incognito window where your normal extension setup may be different. If the game suddenly works, an extension could be involved. Rather than switching everything off permanently, re-enable things carefully until you find the cause.

5. If the browser game loads but keeps lagging

Lag can come from the connection, the device you’re playing on, or both. Close unnecessary tabs, stop bandwidth-heavy downloads or video streams, and check whether your laptop or phone is becoming unusually hot or overloaded.

For a graphically demanding game, reducing any in-game graphics settings can also help if those options are available.

6. If the browser game keeps freezing

First, check whether the entire browser has frozen or only the game. If you can still move between tabs, refresh the game.

If the browser itself is unresponsive, close it completely and reopen it. A full device restart can also clear temporary memory problems (like overflowing cache) that have built up over time.

7. Be careful before clearing browser data

Clearing cookies or site data is often recommended as a cure-all, but don’t rush into it. That’s because some browser games store progress locally.

Chrome’s own documentation notes that deleting site data can remove HTML5 storage such as Web Storage and IndexedDB, all of which can be necessary for a browser game to run or store your progress.

Before clearing anything, check whether your game is tied to an account or whether your progress is only stored in the browser. Our guide to how browser games save progress explains this in more detail.

8. Try another browser

Still stuck? Open the same game in another browser. If it works there, you’ve troubleshot something useful: the issue is probably related to your original browser or its settings rather than the game itself.

You don’t necessarily have to switch browsers permanently. This is mainly a quick way to isolate the problem.

9. Game still not working?

If the game fails on several browsers and devices while everything else works normally, there may be a temporary problem on the game’s side. Give it a little time and try again later.

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