Critical Chrome Bug Blocks Browser Access on Android Tablets

Android tablet users are facing a critical bug in Chrome that completely blocks access to the browser. After updating to version 148.0.7778.178, users see a message stating 'You can open up to 5 windows,' followed by an immediate crash. Many confirm they had no tabs open at the time.

The issue is particularly severe on Samsung devices, including models like Galaxy Tab S9 FE, Tab S6 Lite, and Tab A11+. However, complaints have also come from Lenovo and Xiaomi tablet users. According to the Reddit community, standard fixes—clearing cache, deleting app data, or rebooting—do not work.

Google has officially acknowledged the bug and assigned it P1 status, indicating high priority for a fix. Chrome support representatives have requested additional details from affected users, including Android version, tablet model, and browser build number. The bug is suspected to stem from incorrect multitasking handling, recently introduced for tablets—such as support for separate incognito windows.

As a temporary workaround, users suggest rolling back Chrome to its factory version via Google Play settings. However, this may result in the loss of unsynchronized tabs and local data. Google is actively investigating, and a patch to resolve the bug is expected soon.