Google Chrome Not Loading Images After Update (9 Solutions)

Ensure your device is connected to a stable internet, so it can load the complete webpage with images.

Google Chrome is one of the most popular web browsers known for its speed, security, and minimalistic user interface. The browser is regularly updated with the latest bug fixes, new features and security enhancements. However, after certain updates, some users have reported an issue where images fail to load on websites. “Images not loading & displaying on Chrome browser“. If you are experiencing this, it can be frustrating, especially if you rely on Chrome for work, research, or daily browsing. In this article, we’ll explore various reasons why images might not be loading in Google Chrome after an update and provide several methods to resolve the problem.

Images Not Loading After Chrome Update

There could be several reasons why images are not loading in Chrome, it may be slow internet or too much cache data, an interfering extension or the recent update may have triggered or exposed these issues.

  • Corrupt Cache or Cookies: Outdated or corrupted cache files and cookies can prevent images from loading properly.
  • Disabled Image Settings: Chrome might be blocking images due to misconfigured settings.
  • Browser Extensions: Some browser extensions may interfere with Chrome’s ability to load images.
  • Outdated or Corrupt Graphics Drivers: Problems with your graphics drivers can also affect how Chrome displays images.
  • Website-Specific Issues: Sometimes, the issue may not be with Chrome, but with the website itself.
  • Security Software Conflicts: Antivirus or firewall software might block certain content, including images.

Clear Cache and Cookies

Almost all browsers, including Chrome use cache data to improve loading times. However, if this data somehow gets corrupted, it could stop the browser from functioning properly. Clearing the cache and cookies not only resolves this issue but also optimizes Chrome’s overall performance.

  • Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
  • Go to Settings and scroll down to Privacy and Security.
  • Click on Delete browsing data.
  • In the pop-up, select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
  • Select time range all time then Click Delete data.

Clear chrome cache

Check Chrome’s Image Settings

Chrome allows users to manage how images are displayed. An update could have altered these settings. If you see broken image icons, let’s check Chrome’s image settings and ensure the Sites can show images option is selected.

  • Open Chrome and type chrome://settings/content/images in the address bar.
  • Ensure that the Sites can show images option is selected.
  • If you have any sites listed under Not allowed to show images, remove them unless you want them blocked intentionally.

Chrome image settings

Test in Incognito Mode

Sometimes, extensions or cookies in normal browsing mode can interfere with images loading in Chrome. Testing in Incognito mode can help isolate the issue to either browser settings or extensions, making it easier to find a fix.

  • Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
  • Select New Incognito Window.
  • Try loading a website to check if the images appear.

If the issue is resolved in Incognito mode, the problem is likely caused by extensions or browsing data in your regular mode.

Disable Browser Extensions

Chrome Extensions enhance the functionality but can sometimes conflict with how websites load, including images. Some extensions, such as ad blockers, may inadvertently block images. Temporarily disable all extensions to identify the one causing the problem.

  • Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner and navigate to Extensions -> Manage extensions.
  • Disable all extensions by toggling the switch off.
  • Restart Chrome and try loading a webpage with images.

Enabling them one by one will help you find the culprit, allowing you to keep the necessary extensions while fixing the image-loading issue.

Chrome Extensions

Reset Chrome Settings

Sometimes, after a browser update, certain settings get changed, leading to problems like images not loading. Resetting Chrome to its default settings is a quick way to resolve configuration-related problems without losing data.

  • Open Chrome and go to Settings.
  • Select Reset settings then click on Restore settings to their original defaults.
  • Click Reset settings to confirm.

This restores the browser to its default state, resolving any misconfigurations caused by the update.

Note: Reset Chrome, will remove any extensions, cache, and history data. However, Chrome will preserve your bookmarks and passwords, so you don’t have to worry about losing access to important sites.

Reset Chrome Settings

Disable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration can enhance Chrome’s performance by offloading some tasks to the GPU, but it can also cause issues with image loading. Disabling hardware acceleration can often resolve these rendering issues.

  • Open Chrome and go to Settings.
  • Look for the System section, then Toggle off the Use hardware acceleration when available option.
  • Restart Chrome to see if this resolves the issue.

Turning off hardware acceleration could slightly reduce performance, but it can fix image-loading problems caused by GPU conflicts.

Enable hardware acceleration on chrome

Check for Graphics Driver Updates

If your graphics drivers are outdated or corrupted, Chrome may struggle to display images correctly. Checking for driver updates ensures your system is properly supporting image rendering in Chrome.

  • Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
  • Expand the Display Adapters section and right-click your graphics card.
  • Select Update driver and choose Search automatically for updated driver software.

Up-to-date drivers can enhance performance and resolve issues with rendering images in your browser.

update graphics driver

Check for Conflicts with Antivirus or Firewall Software

Antivirus or firewall software may sometimes block specific content on web pages, including images, for security reasons. Disabling your antivirus or adjusting its web protection settings temporarily can help you determine if it’s causing the issue.

  • Open your antivirus software and look for any settings related to Web protection or Internet browsing.
  • Disable the settings temporarily and open Chrome to see if the images load properly.

If this resolves the problem, you may need to add Chrome to your antivirus whitelist or adjust your security settings.

Reinstall Google Chrome

If none of the previous methods work, it’s possible that the Chrome update caused a corruption in the installation. Reinstalling Chrome can resolve deeper issues with the browser itself.

  • Go to the Control Panel on your computer and select Uninstall a program.
  • Find Google Chrome, right-click, and choose Uninstall.
  • After uninstalling, download the latest version of Chrome from Google’s official site.
  • Install Chrome and check if the images are loading correctly.

Reinstalling ensures you have a fresh installation without any corrupted files from previous updates, which should resolve the image-loading issue.

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