If your Chromebook apps (Zoom, Google Classroom, Docs, Gmail, etc.) won’t load or stay stuck on a spinning screen, don’t worry; this is usually caused by a simple browser or cache issue. Follow the steps below to get your apps working again.
What You'll Need
- Your Chromebook
- A working Wi-Fi connection
Step 1: Refresh the App Page
- Press Ctrl + R to refresh the page.
- If it still doesn’t load, close the page or app window and reopen it.
If it still doesn’t load, close every Chrome window (including app windows), fully quit Chrome, then reopen it and try again.
Note: If you opened the app through a bookmark or shortcut, try opening it directly from source, e.g. docs.google.com.
Step 2: Restart Your Chromebook
- Click the clock → click the Power icon → select Restart.
- Once it powers back on, try the app again.
Step 3: Clear App-Specific Site Data
Clear Google Docs Data
Go to chrome://settings/siteData in your browser.
Search for docs.google.com
Click Delete
Clear Zoom Website/App Data
- Go to chrome://settings/siteData in your browser.
- Search for zoom.us.
- Click Delete
Step 4: Turn Off Extra Extensions
- Go to chrome://extensions in your browser.
- Turn off any extensions you don’t need (Grammarly, ad blockers, VPNs, etc.).
-
Refresh the app page.
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Note: Some extensions can block login pages or break Google Docs while running in the background.
Step 5: Check for ChromeOS Updates
- Click the clock → Settings → About ChromeOS.
- Select Check for updates.
-
Restart when prompted.
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Step 6: Reset Chrome Browser Settings
- Go to chrome://settings/reset in your browser.
- Click Restore settings to their original defaults.
-
Select Reset settings.
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Step 7: Powerwash (Factory Reset)
If the app is still not loading after all steps, performing a Powerwash can fix deeper profile or system issues.
- Back up files to Google Drive.
- Go to Settings → Reset settings → Powerwash.
- Follow the prompts.
- Sign back in with your Campus account.
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Note: Powerwashing removes local files but keeps everything stored in your Google account.
Need Help?
If your Chromebook still feels slow or keeps freezing, contact Campus Tech Services — we can check your device’s logs and help further:
- Email: it@campus.edu
- Phone: (877) 257-2834
- Support Portal: campuswire.com > Tech Help