Fix: Chrome “Out of Memory” Error When Loading Web Apps

A business contacted us because their staff kept getting memory errors in Chrome when using a cloud-based reporting platform. The browser would crash every time they tried to export or view large datasets, displaying a “This page is having a problem” error with the code “Out of Memory”. The same issue occurred in both Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Here is what causes it and how to fix it.

Symptoms

When loading a web application or attempting to export/view large amounts of data in the browser, Chrome or Edge displays the following error:

This page is having a problem
Error code: Out of Memory

You may also see variations of this error:

Aw, Snap! Something went wrong while displaying this webpage.
Error code: Out of Memory

Common scenarios where this occurs:

• Exporting large reports or datasets from cloud platforms (e.g. AWS QuickSight, Power BI, Google Sheets)
• Working with complex web applications that process data in the browser (e.g. accounting software, CRM dashboards, data visualisation tools)
• Having too many tabs open simultaneously
• Visiting pages with heavy JavaScript, animations, or embedded media
• The error occurs in both Chrome and Edge (since both use the Chromium engine)

Affected Software

• Application: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based)
• Platform: Windows 10 / Windows 11 / macOS
• Related Services: Any web application that processes large datasets in the browser

Cause

Chrome and Edge allocate a limited amount of RAM to each browser tab. When a web page exceeds this memory limit, the browser terminates the tab to prevent the entire system from becoming unresponsive. Common causes include:

• Large datasets being processed in the browser: Exporting or rendering tens of thousands of rows of data in a web app can exceed Chrome’s per-tab memory limit
• Too many tabs open: Each tab consumes memory. With 20+ tabs open, the browser may not have enough memory to allocate to a demanding page
• Browser extensions consuming memory: Extensions run in the background and can significantly increase overall memory usage
• Memory leaks in web applications: Poorly optimised web apps can gradually consume more memory the longer they are open
• System RAM limitations: Machines with 4-8GB of RAM are more prone to this error, especially when running other applications alongside the browser

Resolution

Method 1: Reduce the Data Load (Quick Fix)

If the error occurs when exporting or viewing large datasets:

1. Reduce the number of rows or the date range of the report before exporting
2. Export in smaller batches (e.g. export 10,000 rows at a time instead of 50,000)
3. Use the web app’s server-side export option if available (e.g. “Export to CSV” or “Download report” rather than rendering the data in the browser first)
4. Check if the application has a desktop client or API that can handle larger exports without browser memory limitations

Method 2: Close Unnecessary Tabs and Extensions

1. Close any tabs you are not actively using
2. Open Chrome Task Manager by pressing Shift + Esc
3. Sort by Memory footprint to identify which tabs or extensions are using the most memory
4. End any processes that are consuming excessive memory
5. Disable unnecessary extensions: go to chrome://extensions and toggle off extensions you do not need

Method 3: Increase Chrome’s Memory Limit

By default, Chrome limits memory usage per tab. You can increase this limit by modifying the Chrome shortcut:

1. Right-click the Google Chrome shortcut on your desktop and select Properties
2. In the Target field, add the following at the end (after the closing quote):

    --max-old-space-size=8192

3. Click OK and launch Chrome from this shortcut
4. This increases the JavaScript heap memory limit to 8GB (default is typically 4GB)

Method 4: Clear Browser Cache and Data

Accumulated cache data can contribute to memory pressure:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open the Clear Browsing Data dialog
2. Set the time range to All time
3. Select Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data
4. Click Clear data
5. Restart Chrome and try again

Method 5: Disable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration can sometimes consume additional memory:

1. Open Chrome and go to chrome://settings/system
2. Toggle off “Use hardware acceleration when available”
3. Click Relaunch

Method 6: Add More RAM

If the error occurs frequently across multiple web applications:

• Check your current RAM: press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, click the Performance tab, and check Memory
• For general business use with web apps, 16GB RAM is recommended
• If your machine has 4-8GB, a RAM upgrade will significantly reduce Out of Memory errors

Important Notes

• The Out of Memory error is a browser-side limitation, not a server or internet issue. The web application is sending more data than the browser tab can handle
• This error affects both Chrome and Edge because they share the same Chromium rendering engine and memory management
• 64-bit Chrome handles memory better than 32-bit. Check your version at chrome://settings/help. If it says “32-bit”, download and install the 64-bit version
• If the error only occurs in one specific web app, contact that application’s support team as they may have server-side export options or recommendations for working with large datasets

Related Resources

• How to set up an Out of Office message in Office 365
• Google Support: Fix Chrome crashes and “Aw, Snap!” errors
• GCIT: Fix Chrome STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION Error on Every Page

If you need help resolving browser performance issues or upgrading your hardware, get in touch with our team.