Chrome address bar lags or crashes while typing? You aren't alone, and Google is aware

If you’ve noticed that typing in Google Chrome address bar has recently felt like wading through molasses, you’re not alone. Users across different platforms — including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux — are raising their virtual hands, all pointing to the same culprit: the latest Chrome update, version v128. Luckily, the bug, which causes severe lag or even crashes when typing in the URL or search bar, has caught the attention of Chromium developers, who are now on the case.

Picture this: you’re in the zone, typing furiously, only to have Chrome take a coffee break mid-sentence. For some, the lag is a mere annoyance, a brief stutter before the text finally appears. For others, it’s a full-blown freeze, with Chrome seemingly lost in thought for several seconds. And then there’s the unlucky bunch who experience crashes that kick them out of the browser entirely. This isn’t just a bad dream — these issues have been popping up since the recent Chrome update on multiple platforms.

What’s particularly puzzling is the wide range of environments affected. Whether you’re on a smartphone or a computer, you’re not safe from the address bar’s temper tantrum. The issue doesn’t discriminate based on RAM size or CPU usage, either.

While the developers work on an official fix, some resourceful users have found temporary solutions to bring back Chrome’s snappiness. One potential fix involves diving into the Chrome flags, specifically by disabling the omnibox feature designed to enhance search predictions. Ironically, this very feature seems to be causing the issue.

I’ve disabled all the omnibox related settings and enabled them one-by-one. And found out #omnibox-ml-url-scoring was causing this issue. You can disable it through chrome://flags/#omnibox-ml-url-scoring.

Another solution involves a bit of digital housekeeping. By going into Chrome’s settings and managing the search engines, users have found that deleting old or inactive shortcuts clears up the lag. It appears that these lingering shortcuts are gumming up the works. To do this, go to Chrome Settings -> Search Engine tab -> Manage search engines and site search and browse all the way down to ‘Inactive shortcuts’.

Interestingly, some users have reported that the issue disappears entirely when using incognito mode or a guest profile. This points to the problem being related to user profiles or extensions. So, if you’re in desperate need of a quick fix, switching to incognito might just save the day.

And, of course, keeping your Chrome browser updated is always a good practice. Google has rolled out new builds for Chrome version 128 which may address these glitches. Make sure you’re running the latest version to take advantage of any fixes that have been implemented.

As if the lag wasn’t enough, some Android and iOS users are facing an even weirder issue: certain words typed into the search bar crash the entire app. Phrases like “What’s boombox” or even words like “cheek,” “meek” and “identify” and “mania,” among others, can send Chrome into a tailspin. If this sounds familiar, changing your default search engine to something like DuckDuckGo or disabling “Improve search suggestions” under “Google services” in options might help avoid these crashes until the issue is fully resolved.

While these issues are certainly a hassle, the Chrome development team is on it, and user feedback is being taken seriously. In the meantime, try the suggested fixes, keep your browser updated, and remember that you’re not alone in this digital adventure. Whether it’s a laggy address bar or a crash-happy search bar, Chrome users around the world are in this together. Hopefully, the next update will bring back the smooth, speedy Chrome we all know and love.