Windows 7 Brave Crashes when navigating to many sites

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Windows 7 (I know, I know) when opening many sites Brave crashes.

e.g, Youtube and many others.

Recently updated NordVPN, so uninstalled, rebooted and problem persists.

Recreate by navigating to Youtube.com

Version 1.47.186 Chromium: 109.0.5414.119 (Official Build) (64-bit)

2

@aintnothin unfortunately there is not a lot we can do here. Given that you’re on Win 7 and running an extremely outdated/unsupported version of the browser, bugs and functionality issues are to be expected. The best you can do is try some of the boilerplate troubleshooting steps to try and resolve the issue:

  • Try clearing browser cache/data
  • Disable/uninstall any extensions you have in the browser and see if the issue persists
  • Try creating a new browser profile and see if the new profile also has the same issue
  • Un/reinstall the browser (note that you’ll have to reinstall using the download on our github page here: https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/releases/tag/v1.47.186)
3

It is fixable. Same thing happened last year.
Fixed here:

and here:

Fanboyz described the fixes:

Seems to be the Brave Ad Block Updater component.
Would appreciate it if the same workaround could be applied again, if it’s not too much effort.
The problem is it’s that it’s not even just a matter of not using Youtube.com, it completely crashes out on ANY website that embeds a video (and crashes before you even know it’s there).

4

@BobT36 to be blunt, you realize Windows 7 is no longer supported and neither is the old version of Brave you’re using. If you don’t go in to prevent it from updating components, you’ll receive the new updates that get pushed out to adblock filters. Because you aren’t using current versions, those updates will not always be compatible. And if you did disable updates, it’s also likely you’d lose protections as places like YouTube increase detection.

Sometimes the people at Brave are nice enough to volunteer their time to clean things up, but it’s not at all necessary. Much the same way you say it’s fixable because they did extra effort last year, we could say it’s fixable if you just update to the most recent versions of your OS and browser. But are you willing to do that?

What you’re doing is asking them to go through extensive work to adapt to things and provide support for things that are no longer supported. You notice the conundrum here, right?

5

I know.
Easier said than done.

And of course not having the latest adblock filters and receiving ads is inevitable, if can’t update.
I just would like it to not completely crash and render the browser unusable for most of the internet, cheers.

Didn’t realise the component updates could be disabled. How is that done? (For if it’s ever working again).

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I know was a way from registry editor but forget exactly what to do. Beyond that would be quote below from instructions given to stop Brave from updating. If memory serves correctly, it also prevents components from updating as well.>

To stop Brave from auto updating, but it’s not a simple way provided in the browser. One example is to use Group Policy. I also believe you can go to C:\Program Files (x86)\BraveSoftware\Update and delete/rename the BraveUpdate image it contains

@Mattches you able to confirm that or provide better instructions?

7

Amplifying a bit on the reply from @Mattches - but trying to stay within the limits of this being a discussion about Brave: with your current hardware and operating system, do you have another browser installed that performs as you would like? I suspect not, which is why I’m posting this comment / suggestion. I suggest: the problem(s) you’re experiencing aren’t attributable to Brave.

There are limits to what old hardware running an old operating system with old applications can do. I know — because I’m running old hardware. There may be good reasons (not just money you don’t want to spend) to continue to use old hardware with an old operating system — off-line. With an old operating system and old applications, on-line activity is unwise — and up-to-date websites make it increasingly difficult. Your experience confirms this.

Consider dual-booting your old hardware with a current version of linux as an alternative-and-up-to-date operating system; also up-to-date applications … like a current version of Brave. The only expenditure: your time. This is the wrong forum in which to discuss details. I’m not going to make specific suggestions. I will add: if your old hardware’s RAM capacity isn’t topped off, adding RAM can be a cost-efficient route to improved performance. But additional RAM (if there’s room for it) won’t solve problems related to an old operating system running old applications on-line.

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Thanks! If it’s back working again I’ll try this.

I think everyone using an older version completely understands it won’t be fully “supported”, especially with ad block etc.
But I think everyone doing so would take no or outdated ad-block over no browser (due to it suddenly crashing), anyday. At least the former still allows it to be usable for browsing.

After the components were tweaked last time, it’s been working fine since, up to now.
If that’s done again I’ll happily disable the component updates and run with an outdated version until I can get a new PC / OS, as it will work, at least. (I have a LOT more to install than just the browser, it takes months!)

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Thank you for this.

I certainly do not expect browser updates but from other comments it appears the ad blocker could have auto updated, even on this old version, and thus could be the culprit?

I will follow up with the steps you outlined below.

I do dual boot on a separate SSD to W10, just grew very attached to the W7 UI and am change resistant and still use it.

Thanks again,
Steve

10

Hello again,

I removed the only extension I had, Brave Search, and the problem has not re-occurred.

Thank you again

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Did someone fix something? It’s been working fine the last couple of days.

@Saoiray So now it’s back working, I just re-name the BraveUpdate file and that should stop components updating in future, yeah?
I’d rather have ads then no browsing, since it will just happen again one day.

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@BobT36 yeah, it should. You could also try the below to stop auto update from running. Do keep in mind if you go to brave://components to ever check on things, it could potentially trigger an update.

If you want other option, I know there’s stuff. The problem is I never saved reference to places people talked about it and I am not positive of the choices myself. But I can quote some from ChatGPT, such as below:

CHATGPT ANSWER BELOW - Can’t promise accuracy in what it’s saying…

:toolbox: How to Stop Brave from Auto-Updating on Windows (including Windows 7)

:white_check_mark: Method 1: Disable Brave’s Update Tasks in Task Scheduler

Brave uses Windows Task Scheduler to run its updater in the background. Disabling these tasks will stop Brave from auto-updating, including updating individual components like Widevine and Safe Browsing.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + R, type taskschd.msc, and press Enter.

  2. In the left panel, go to:

    Task Scheduler Library > BraveSoftware > Update

  3. In the right panel, disable these two tasks (if they exist):

    • BraveSoftwareUpdateTaskMachineCore
    • BraveSoftwareUpdateTaskMachineUA

  4. Right-click each task > click Disable.

:white_check_mark: Method 2: Disable Brave’s Update Services

Brave installs background services that can still run independently of the task scheduler. Disabling them further ensures updates are blocked.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.

  2. Find the following services:

    • Brave Update Service (brave)
    • Brave Update Service (bravem)

  3. Right-click each one > Properties

  4. Set Startup type to Disabled

  5. Click Stop if the service is currently running

:white_check_mark: Method 3: Use the Windows Registry to Block Brave Updates

This method works best when combined with the previous two. It tells Brave not to perform update checks or allow the user to trigger them.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

  2. Navigate to:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\

  3. If it doesn’t exist, create a new key:

    BraveSoftware

  4. Inside BraveSoftware, create another key:

    Update

  5. Inside the Update key, create two new DWORD (32-bit) Values:

    • AutoUpdateCheckPeriodMinutes — set the value to 0
    • DisableAutoUpdateChecksCheckboxValue — set the value to 1

Optional (on 64-bit systems):

Also create the same key and values under:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\BraveSoftware\Update

:test_tube: Optional: Rename Brave’s Update Folder

This method can break the update system by preventing access to the updater files, but it’s not always reliable long-term.

  1. Navigate to the folder:

    C:\Program Files (x86)\BraveSoftware\

  2. Rename the Update folder to something like Update_disabled

  3. You may need administrator permission to do this.

:white_check_mark: Final Notes

  • Using all three main methods together (Task Scheduler, Services, and Registry) provides the most reliable block against updates.
  • If Brave is reinstalled or repaired, these settings may be reset, so it’s a good idea to back them up.
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