For folks who put privacy, performance, and security at the top of the leaderboard, “Brave” has been a go-to destination. With a wide range of features designed to let you browse the web at your own pace, flexibility, and the desired level of customization, it ensures you always remain in complete control of what you are up to. Add to that the enhanced ad blocker as well as seamless cross-platform syncing and it becomes really hard to ignore this privacy-centric browser. Especially if the uncompromised shield is what you are after.
For all being so fast and efficient, Brave is not immune to issues. Recently, a good many PC users have complained that the privacy browser is malfunctioning on their Windows devices. While some have stated that the browser refuses to launch, others have stated that it freezes time and time again. Worse, for a handful of folks, the open-source browser has become too sluggish. Whatever issue has derailed your browsing experience, I’ve got you covered with 20 best tips and tricks to fix Brave not working on Windows 11.
Fix Brave Not Working in Windows 11
So, what has derailed your Brave browser, rendering it unresponsive or incapable of working with the desired efficiency? Well, a number of factors could have contributed to this problem including –
- Temporary browser glitches
- Your sluggish internet connection
- Confliction from your proxy server
- Unwanted interference from your VPN service
- Problematic antivirus software
- Malicious extensions
- Persistent Windows 11 bug
- Corrupted profile
- Cluster of cache and cookies
1. Check Network Connection
For smooth functioning and an interrupted browsing experience, ensure that your device is connected to a strong and stable internet connection. As Brave relies on a stable network connection to load websites faster, your below-par internet connection could be playing the spoilsport.
- Press Win+A to launch the Quick Settings > head into the Wi-Fi menu > turn off Wi-Fi > wait for a few seconds and turn the Wi-Fi back on.
2. Restart Brave Browser
Believe it or not, a simple relaunching can let you not only refresh Brave but also clear any temporary glitches that may be affecting its performance. Therefore, restart the browser to check if it comes back on track.
3. Reboot Your PC
A simple restart often works like magic in flushing out miscellaneous glitches. So, it deserves to be given a go – right off the bat. Once your PC has restarted, launch Brave and go to a website to check it is back to normal.
4. Force Kill Brave
Force-killing comes in handy in eliminating issues like unresponsiveness or freezing. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to launch the Task Manager > Select Brave in the left sidebar and click on the End task option at the top.
5. Update Brave Browser
Bear in mind that running an outdated version of Brave may often trigger frustrating problems like security vulnerabilities, and crashes. Besides, it may also cause the problem where websites won’t load correctly. Even though Brave automatically updates, you have the option to manually check for updates in the browser’s settings and upgrade it to the latest version.
- Open Brave on your device and click on the three horizontal lines in the upper-right corner.
- Now, Select “Help” in the drop-down menu > About Brave, and let it update to the latest version.
6. Disable Extensions
Though extensions play a vital role in boosting the overall browsing experience, sometimes, they can cause conflicts and invoke unexpected issues. Particularly, the ones that block ads, modify web content, or interact with websites could cause problems like sluggish performance and crashes.
- To disable extensions in Brave, navigate to the Menu button at the top right > Settings > Extensions.
7. Disable Proxy or VPN
Are you using a proxy or VPN to access the internet on your PC? Your VPN/Proxy server could be causing Brave to misbehave by interfering with its connection to the web. Hence, try to temporarily turn them off.
- Go to the Settings app on your PC > Network & internet > VPN/Proxy and disable it.
8. Disable Hardware Acceleration
Hardware acceleration enables Brave to make full use of your computer’s GPU for certain tasks to bolster performance. Though there is no denying the fact that hardware acceleration is a great asset, it can sometimes prove to be the major reason for problems like freezing or sudden crashing.
- To disable it, head into the menu button > Settings > Additional Settings > System, then turn off the toggle for Use hardware acceleration when available.
9. Check for Conflicting Software
Note that antivirus software, firewalls, or other system utilities could also be blocking or restricting Brave’s ability to function properly. To determine whether or not they are triggering the problem, temporarily disable security software.
- To prevent Windows Security from restricting Brave, head into the Settings app > Privacy & Security > Windows Security > Firewall & network protection > then make the required changes.
10. Run Brave as Administrator
Note that running Brave as an administrator offers the browser higher-level permissions, which may be necessary to ensure it can perform all actions without having to deal with limitations.
- On your PC, right-click the Brave shortcut and choose Run as administrator to make sure it has the needed permissions.
11. Check Date & Time Settings
It’s worth reiterating that the incorrect system time can invoke unexpected issues with websites that rely on secure connections (like HTTPS), since certificates are tied to specific dates and times. To ward off this problem, be sure your date and time are set correctly.
- Navigate to the Settings app on your Windows 11 device > Time & Language > fine-tune the date and time settings.
12. Check for System Updates
It’s no secret that the outdated versions of Windows could trigger compatibility issues with apps, including Brave. Hence, make sure your system is fully updated. Since most Windows updates come packed with bug fixes, security patches, and performance improvements, you can count on the software update to resolve the compatibility problems or the ones that are hurting the browser.
- To update your PC, go to the Settings app > Windows Update > Check for Updates.
13. Clear Cache and Cookies
Just like any other browser, Brave also accumulates cached data and cookies to deliver a more personalized experience. While it’s a pretty helpful feature, the huge pileup of cached data (if not cleaned up from time to time) can slow down the browser and even cause it to behave unpredictably. Therefore, clearing the cache and cookies can help you resolve the issue.
- In Brave, head over to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data and proceed to clear cached images and cookies.
14. Reset Network Settings
Your system’s plagued network settings could also be playing their part in hurting Brave’s functionality.
- To troubleshoot this specific issue, reset the network settings on your PC by going to the Settings app > Network & internet > Advanced Network Settings > Network reset > Reset now.
15. Repair Brave
Should Brave remain dysfunctional, why not repair it to help it recover from damage or shrug off a serious issue?
- Open the Settings app on your Windows 11 device > Apps > Installed Apps.
- Click on the triple-dot icon next to Brave and choose Modify > Go through the instructions to Repair your browser.
16. Reset Brave Settings
Resetting Brave settings to their default values can help you resolve issues caused by a misconfigured setting or customization. It will let you restore all settings to their original state without needing to uninstall the browser.
- Dive into the Brave browser on your PC > menu button at the top right > Settings > Advanced > Reset Settings.
17. Reinstall Brave
If nothing has brought the privacy-centric browser back on track, reinstall it. A fresh installation will wipe out the clutter and restore the browser to its original state.
- On your PC, navigate to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps.
- Locate Brave and click on the triple-dot icon right next to it > Uninstall.
- Now, open the Microsoft Store app > Find Brave and install it.
18. Disable Windows SmartScreen
Windows SmartScreen is designed to let you block potentially malicious apps or content, including web content. While this security feature is worth having at your disposal, in some rare cases, it might mistakenly flag Brave or websites as insecure. So, for now, disable this Windows security feature.
- Go to Settings on your PC > Privacy & Security > Windows Security > App & Browser Control > Turn off SmartScreen.
19. Check for Conflicting User Profiles
Brave provides full freedom to use multiple user profiles. Sometimes, a corrupted or malfunctioning profile can make the browser malfunction. Thus, try creating a new profile and figure out if it works properly under it.
- To create a new user profile in Brave, click on your profile at the top right > Add Profile.
20. Check for Corrupted User Data
To tailor the whole browsing experience in line with your preference, Brave stores a number of pivotal information including user data such as history, cookies, and saved passwords. In case the stored data becomes corrupted, it severely impacts the performance of the browser.
- On your computer, close Brave, head over to C:\Users[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data.
- Now, you need to rename the User Data folder (i.e., User Data Backup). Restart Brave to make a fresh user profile.
Wrapping Up…
There you have it! I’m pretty sure your Brave is once again live and kicking as usual. More often than not, you can restore this privacy-defining browser by clearing the clutter, updating the app, or taking control of the conflicting services. Now, let us know what has enabled you to eliminate the chaos.
