Browser not launching

Browser Support Desktop Support
1

the browser doesn’t work every time i try to launch it only launching for a split second before immediately shutting down

only way i know how to fix it:
renaming the file

expected results after renaming:
the browser works like usual but the logo changes and it only works for a day or 2 before having to rename it again

2

Please edit your Original Post (“OP”) above - or - Repost your issue, in order to reflect the template and guidelines, and Brave Support may be more than happy to assist you.

Guidelines - Before posting, please:

  1. Search the forum to see if anyone else has already posted or resolved the same issue you’re having.
  2. Ensure that you’re posting in the appropriate category — please use the appropriate category when posting to ensure that whoever assist you has a clear idea of what product or platform you are using.
  3. Fill out the template that appears in your editor when posting as it contains all the boiler-plate information surrounding your issue. It will help the Support team members and other Community members to efficiently assess and resolve your issue. NOTE: “Uncategorized” posts do not have a template, so please ensure you’re posting to the right category as mentioned above.
  4. Tag your post appropriately – use tags to help track and organize threads on this forum.
  5. Observe and adhere to the code of conduct

Example of a good report:

How to stop the settings cog wheel icon from disappearing in Brave?

Among your Brave Community search results, you would find, examples:

Restart:

Test Brave Browser Beta:

The following section of info is about, Where the Brave Browser installation usually is - the system level install:

Brave Browser installation location on Windows OS

Application “brave.exe”

64 architecture

C:\Program Files\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\Application\brave.exe

The initial Brave Browser Profile is, by default, named “Profile 1” (unless you change that name → brave://settings/getStarted).

The folder that contains the initial Brave Browser Profile, is the Default folder (a name that you must not change):

C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\

That path may also be written:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\

If you create 1 additional Profile (aka “Profile 2”), it will be stored in folder Profile 1:

C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Profile 1\

If you create a 2nd additional Profile (aka “Profile 3”), it will be stored in folder Profile 2:

C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Profile 2\

IMPORTANT - Replacing Profile folders

When replacing Brave Browser Profile folders:

Folder named Default (including its contents) can only replace its likeness: the folder named Default.

Folder named Profile 1 (including its contents) can only replace its likeness: the folder named Profile 1.

Folder named Profile 2 (including its contents) can only replace its likeness: the folder named Profile 2.

IMPORTANT - Brave Browser Preferences

Some Brave Browser Preferences are stored in the Preferences file:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Preferences

The contents of that Preferences file, are not exactly the contents of, brave://prefs-internals/.

Some Brave Browser Preferences are stored in the Local State file:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Local State

Bookmarks and Bookmarks.bak files:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Bookmarks
%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Bookmarks.bak

Cache (folder):

%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Cache\

Cookies (file):

%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Cookies

History (file - usually lots of data):

%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\History

Crash Reports:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\CrashReports\

But . . . be aware of a custom installation - the user level install:

June 2023, anon57438784 wrote:

“Custom installation folder - #4 by anon57438784”

Brave uses the OMAHA updater . . .

Brave uses the OMAHA updater, which is open source alternative to what Chrome uses, and probably what Edge uses as well.

OMAHA update can only update in two locations, Program files when you install with admin rights and %localuserdata% when you install without admin rights, but the User Data never changes, it always goes to where it goes.

Brave by not having a custom installer, they have the way to use Policies and all that which is good for enterprise, unlike other Browsers.

So, in that case, what you have to move is the User Data.

Brave in their Github page already offers a zipped version of the Browser which doesn’t have the updater, which means you can place it anywhere you want, and then you can create a BAT file [batch file?] or Shortcut and use whatever directory you want for the User Data.

You can use --user-data-dir="User Data" and the folder will be placed wherever the Brave.exe you are starting is.

If you want to keep the ‘updater’ but move the files, then you should use Junctions or Symbolic Links, which is exactly what Windows users all over Windows, so using them will not cause issues.

The best way to use it is by installing Brave without admin rights, so everything Application, Updater and User Data will be placed in the same folder, in %localappdata%\BraveSoftware

Then you use move it somewhere else and create the junction or symbolic link to it in the same place so Updater and everything works as expected.

It is the way Chromium works, this has to be something Chromium offers easier without using the --user-data-dir=.

One test, is, without Brave Browser (“BB”) running, set aside (for example, move to the Desktop:) the “User Data” folder:

C:\Users[UserName]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data

Start up Brave Browser. A new, fresh “User Data” folder (including contents, sub-folders, a new default user Profile) will be created.

But the test question, is, Will BB then launch?

If BB will launch, then the problem is somewhere in the old “User Data” folder.

If BB will not launch, then the problem is the original installation.

If BB Beta will launch, then the problem is the original installation.

How do I manually submit crash reports?

https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/articles/22281484910221-How-do-I-manually-submit-crash-reports

After you click the “Send Now” button, return to brave://crashes and gather up the Crash ID numbers. Post the numbers, here, in a new reply.