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There’s a good chance you’re reading this on the Google Chrome browser, as it currently holds more than two-thirds of the global browser market share. Almost two decades after its launch, it has become the perfect browser for the modern web: fast operation, clean interface and packed with smart features.

Some of those features can be used and modified to make Chrome run faster than in its default state, and you may not have encountered some of these settings before. Even saving a few seconds here and there can quickly add up over days and weeks and make a real difference to what you get done, so here are some top tips. [And, if you’re wondering what to do with the time you’ve saved, it never hurts to do a quick security checkup while you’re messing with Google settings.]

Activate parallel download

Enable parallel downloading in Chrome and it will try to download files in multiple chunks. It’s like having six cars using six lanes of a highway, instead of having them in front of each other: you should get all six cars to the finish line faster.

To enable the feature, type “chrome://flags” in the Chrome address bar and press Get into. Look for “parallel” in the box at the top to find the Parallel download function, then set it to Activated using the dropdown menu on the right.

Please note that while Chrome can request multiple sections of a file at once, rather than the usual sequential method, the web server you are connecting to may not allow this. However, when parallel downloads are allowed, they can make a real difference.

Load websites before clicking on them

Chrome can enable a feature called pre-rendering, which essentially loads websites before following links to them. It is based on a standard “speculation rules,” which looks for clues about what you will do next.

For example, if you start typing the address of a website in Chrome’s address bar that you’ve visited frequently in the past, that page may load in advance before you press Get into. Rulers can also look at where the mouse cursor stays on the page.

The browser won’t always get it right, but when it does, it can significantly speed up your browsing. Type “chrome://flags” in the address bar, press Get intoand search for “pre-rendered” in the search box; then you can configure Pre-rendered to Activated.

Turn hardware acceleration on (or off)

Head to Chrome settings by clicking the three dots in a browser tab (top right) and then choosing Settings. If you then click Systemyou will see a toggle switch labeled Use graphics acceleration when available.

This offloads some of the browser’s rendering work to your computer’s graphics chip or card and can speed up page loading if you have decent graphics settings. Failure to do so can occasionally cause page loading delays and failures.

So it’s worth turning this feature on if it’s not already on, or if it’s already on and you’re seeing occasional issues with page loading, it’s worth turning it off. Keep an eye on Chrome’s performance and see if it makes a difference.

Enable built-in memory saving

Google Chrome can quickly begin to consume a lot of memory on your computer, especially as more and more tabs begin to open for a particular session. The built-in memory saving feature aims to try to limit this problem.

Basically, it disables tabs that haven’t been used for a while: the tab will still be there on the screen, but Chrome won’t actively monitor or update it (so if you’re a live blog, for example, you won’t see new posts appear).

As soon as you return to the tab, it will reload and become active again. Click the three dots in the top right corner of any Chrome tab and then choose Settings > Performance to find the Memory saving Toggle switch, with three control levels available.

Remove unnecessary extensions

Browser extensions can provide really useful additional features in Chrome, but installing too many of these add-ons can negatively impact performance. These little applets need to be loaded with Chrome and monitor what you’re doing online.

Removing extensions that you no longer use or think you can do without can restore some of the original speed Chrome had when you first installed it, and it’s also good from a security perspective: it means fewer ways for bad actors to access you and your data.

You can run a Chrome extension audit by clicking the three dots in a Chrome tab (top right) and then choosing Extensions > Manage extensions. For any plugins you are not actively using, click Eliminate and then confirm the action.

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