What you need to know
- Reddit users are reporting a strange error message from Chrome on Android tablets that renders the browser unusable as it won’t open.
- Reports highlight the “You can have up to 5 windows” message that keeps appearing for no reason.
- Google has acknowledged this issue (also in IssueTracker) and is actively seeking more information from affected users.
Google Chrome is experiencing a rather strange issue this week, and it seems to be affecting several Android-based tablets.
Many users have accepted Chrome subreddit to highlight the error presented by the browser (via PiunikaWeb). The original poster, Exploded Space Toast, says that Chrome will no longer open on their Android tablet. Instead, the browser continuously displays the error message “You can have up to 5 windows”. According to information, this issue was revealed in one day Galaxy Tab A11 Plus.
The user went through the usual home fixes: clearing cache and data. They tried rebooting the system to no avail and made sure they were running the latest Android firmware patch. Several answers in this thread report similar problems. The comments highlight issues with Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 Plus, S9 FE, Lenovo Tab M11 and Xiaomi Pad 6.
The publication notes that information about the problems of Chrome on Android tablets appeared in Google IssueTrackeralso.
The reports on Reddit were acknowledged by a member of the Google Chrome team requesting more information. Users collaborated by suggesting the device model, Android OS and more. PiunikaWeb notes that while these problems are (sort of) spread across tablets, the bulk of the reports are for Samsung Galaxy tablets.
There is currently no fix, which renders Chrome unusable on many tablets with a window error message. However, Google is checking the reports for information, it is aware and working to fix it.
Additional information is required
The folks at PiunikaWeb have discovered temporary fix that can be offer some relief to affected users. The post says that “accessing the Google Play Store and uninstalling Chrome updates to restore the factory version” can help the browser work as intended. It is important to note that everything you have saved in the browser will be gone, as this deletes it.
It’s been slow for Android tablets recently, but I/O 2026 gave interesting news. Google announced during its keynote that it is working on optimizing Instagram for Android tablets and large-screen foldables. The company admits that it is in high demand.
Android Central’s Take
This is a strange problem coming from Chrome for tablets. It seems to come out of nowhere for anyone who has lived wrongly. I looked into the thread a bit more and some are wondering if the last patch is to blame, but nothing is confirmed. All we can hope for is that a solution is found soon. Currently, users are probably forced to find alternative browsers until then.
