Windows 10 April 2018 Update causes Google Chrome to freeze - now with work-around

Microsoft released Windows 10 April 2018 Update two days back after fixing a bug that blocked the rollout. However, it looks like the final release is still not stable enough for the public rollout. Earlier today we reported that users are facing issues after upgrading which included problems related to the microphone, mouse, etc.

Now, it looks like hardware compatibility is not the only issue. According to Reddit, users are facing freezing issues with Google Chrome. It seems like Chrome is not ready for Microsoft’s latest update hence resulting compatibility issues.

The root problem for this is still unknown, however, users on Reddit are guessing the potential cause of the problem and the workaround for the same. Right now, there are some users who have shared what worked for them but it might differ because of different configurations. A user named l0lhax shared the following solution to the problem and it seems to work for some so you can give it a try.

interestingly enough if I navigate Users \ User \ AppData \ Local \ Google \ Chrome \ User Data (Symbolic Link) manually in Explorer BEFORE I launch Chrome….. it works fine…. This probably forces the OS to build/cache the link, probably something to do with the way Chrome is opening files, or maybe it’s a issue with symbolic links in general with this build.

Neither Microsoft nor Google has commented anything on this matter so it looks like we will have to wait for an official solution or a workaround. If you’re facing this issue then you might consider switching to another browser like Edge or Firefox until the issue is fixed. For now, it’s safe to say that April 2018 Update doesn’t look stable even after testing and delays caused by last-minute bugs. If you have faced this issue and were able to fix it, do share the solution in the comments section below.

Update: Microsoft has now acknowledged the issue and has posted a workaround, with a solution expected in a later update.

Microsoft writes:

Microsoft is aware that some devices running the Windows 10 April 2018 Update (version 1803) may hang or freeze when using certain apps, such as “Hey Cortana” or Chrome. 

If your device freezes when using an app, try one of the following steps to recover Windows without needing to restart:

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.

Microsoft is working on a solution with the goal of including it in the next regular monthly update, currently targeted for a release date of May 8, 2018.

Via: Neowin; Softpedia; Reddit