Our Favorite Tips: Remove Old Google Chrome
Tip submitted by morbidbutterfly on March 19, 2012
Remove Old Versions Of Google Chrome
Everytime Google Chrome updates, it leaves the files of old versions behind. These files let you rollback your current version to the previous one.
To delete or backup these files:
1. First, make sure you have Hidden Files showing. Click Start and type: folder options into the Search box and hit Enter.
2. Select the View tab and check Show Hidden Files, Folders and Drives. Click OK.
3. Now navigate to:
C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application
4. Hold down Ctrl on your keyboard and highlight the previous version number and the old_Chrome.exe icon. Click Delete.
Or you can backup each version on a network or external drive. Then, if you need to go back to a previous version for any reason, you have access to them all.
Each month we select the best of the tips submitted by members of the PC Pitstop community through our forums.
Check out our past favorites, HERE.
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Now for my question/concern, and the reason I came to this site:
On my Windows Vista Home Basic
C:\Program files\Google\Chrome\Application is where I have the latest updated version 24.0.1312.57 and also an earlier version 24.0.1312.56.
However, C:\Users\MyUsername\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application shows only one version, but it is an even earlier one 22.0.1229.94.
Obviously, I don’t want to delete anything I shouldn’t, but I’m guessing I should be deleting something. Just not sure if I should be deleting the only folder under C:\Users…->… Application. Btw, this folder has a ‘chrome’ application file, and also an ‘old_chrome’ application file. Whereas, C:\Program Files…->…Application only has one ‘chrome’ Application file.
Not sure if that mention makes a difference in your suggestions to me or not.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Cheers!
This is a continuation: Read the previous 2 posts before this one:
Once again, click on the little circle with the floating flag inside on the lower left-hand corner of your monitor screen.
Where it says ‘Start Search’ -all the way at the bottom of that menu, you will type: folder options. Yes, we’ve done that already. But now we must undo it.
When you see the icon named ‘Folder Options’ -click on it.
Find the tab that says, ‘View’ -Click on it.
A little lower, where it says ‘Advanced Settings:’ (inside that box in the middle of that Pop up window) -find the Section that says ‘Hidden Files and Folders’ -Click on the little circle to the left of ‘Do not show hidden files and folders.’
Click ‘OK’. That’s it.
Continued from earlier instructions:
Go to *** C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application *** I’ll explain how to get there but first place your mouse cursor before the ‘C’ that you see above -in between the *** (three asterisks). Drag your mouse all the way to the last letter before you reach the second set of *** (three asterisks). Ensure that it is highlighted (shaded in blue) then right-click your mouse and select ‘Copy’.
Now you will click on that little circle with the floating flag inside you saw earlier -remember? (By the way, that’s called the Start Button). It’s on the lower left-hand corner of your monitor screen. Click it.
Oh! And look all the way to the top-right of that ‘Start Menu’, do you see your (User) name? Remember it exactly as it you see it.
Where it says ‘Start Search’ -all the way at the bottom of that ‘Start Menu’, you will type: “Run”. Click it.
When you see an icon named ‘Run’ -click it!
You will get another Pop-up box -it will be caled “Run”.
It will say ‘Open:’ and to the right of that will be a box. Click it. If it is blank then right-click your mouse and select ‘Paste’. If it there is something inside that box then erase whatever is in it, right-click mouse, and select ‘Paste’.
!!BEFORE you click on “OK”!! Look at what you just pasted. Do you see the word, ‘Username’?
highlight it -starting at ‘U’ and ending at the ‘e’- find the ‘delete’ key (on your keyboard) and click it. Do not click anywhere else. Now, do you remember your name -exactly as you saw it on the ‘Start Menu’? Type it there -without adding any spaces. You should have your name where the word ‘Username’ used to be.
Now click ‘OK’.
And now you can continue from #4 of the original instructions submitted by morbidbutterfly.
And as someone stated above. If you don’t know what you’re doing, THEN DON’T TOUCH IT!
@Jannymaha: This is a continuation. READ THIS POST ***AFTER*** THE ONE BELOW.
Click on the little circle with the floating flag inside on the lower left-hand corner of your monitor screen.
Where it says ‘Start Search’ -all the way at the bottom of that menu you see, you will type: folder options.
When you see an icon named ‘Folder Options’ -click on it.
Find the tab that says, ‘View’ -Click on it.
A little lower, under ‘Advanced Settings:’ (inside that box in the middle of that Pop up window) -find the Section that says ‘Hidden Files and Folders’ -Click on the little circle to the left of ‘Show hidden files and folders.’
A little lower it will say ‘OK’ -click on it.
It will go away! But it’s ok!
Go to *** C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application *** Continued on next comment
@Jannymaha: These instructions are for Vista users. I believe it works on XP as well. Though not sure.
Direction are correct. The location of the above folders are OS dependent, blame Microsoft, not the OP. This appears to be for Vista. But I’d say if you can’t figure out where your user data folder is from this direction, you probably are computer challenged and shouldn’t be wandering into it in the first place.
@Blah: Tru dat!
It’s actualy there on Win 7 64bit. Stupid Chrome wasting precious space on my SSD!
C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application
I’m with Dave, my VISA x64 Chrome file only has the latest rev. Looks like the updates are cleaning them out for.
I also found the direction correct for my computer.
Thanks
On my Win7 x64 system, the path is C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\ and it appears Chrome updates clean up after themselves. There is no path C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\
How do I get to.
C:UsersUsernameAppDataLocalGoogleChromeApplication
same question. what SO are you talking about Pit Crew?
C:Users*****AppDataLocalGoogleChromeApplication
***** is the user name you use……..and make sure your hidden files are shown……cause appdata folder is hidden from the start…..
I don’t understand this either!
Your directions are horrible, Please follow up with me
@Michael P Beal: Go to the listed directory (replacing the ‘username’ with you own username, of course) and delete the old versions! Simple.
Your directions are horrible, Stop sending me this stuff it you don’t explain it
@Michael P Beal: Dude, don’t be rude. These people aren’t charging you and probably aren’t even get paid to help you. Go google it elsewhere! Yeesh!