How to Fix Chrome OS Task Manager Error 72
If you have a laptop or tablet with Chrome OS, you can postpone the installation of the latest Chrome OS update. While this update is notable for the fact that Android Pie is being used on multiple Chrome OS devices , some users who have installed this update – Chrome OS version 72 – have reported performance issues . So far, Google’s Pixelbook and Pixel Slate, Samsung’s Chromebook Plus V2, and HP’s Chromebook X2 are affected, but the full list of devices could be much longer.
Google says it is aware of this issue and is working to fix it, but there is no information yet on when a patch can be released to address this issue. Luckily, while you wait, there are a few steps you can take to speed up your device again.
Unreliable memory
Apparently, the culprit for these slowdown reports is the Chrome OS Task Manager. New Android Pie features added with Chrome OS 72 update include a new tool in Chrome OS’s Task Manager that tells you how much RAM an app or background process is consuming. Ironically, it is this feature that causes the system to freeze due to unusually high CPU usage – somewhere between 50 and 100 percent, according to bug reports.
The simplest solution is not to install the Chrome OS 72 update and stick to version 71. However, many users have already installed Chrome OS version 72, whether they initiated the update themselves or their devices updated automatically. If that’s you, just don’t use the task manager at all and you should be fine.
As 9to5Google points out , some users using Android Pie on their Pixelbook or Chromebook may want (or should) use Task Manager. In this case, you need to disable the RAM usage reporting feature in the task manager:
- Press Search + ESC to open the Chrome OS Task Manager.
- Right-click on the Task column heading and uncheck Memory Size. This will delete the Memory Size column and disable the feature.
Hopefully you can re-enable this when Google finally releases an official fix.
What to do if this does not solve the problem
Since Google is still investigating this bug, the solutions we’ve reviewed may not completely fix the problem. If you’ve tried these fixes and still experience system slowdowns or other errors after updating Chrome OS 72, be sure to file a bug report with Google.
To do this, on a device with Chrome OS, press “Alt + Shift + i” to open the error report form. Provide as much information as possible – such as your device model, OS version, and any screenshots or system logs you may have – and include a link to this bug report . Hopefully with enough information, the Google dev team will be able to fix the issue as soon as possible.