This weird bug can totally derail Chrome, Edge, and Brave – crashing tabs, slowing things to a crawl, or just making browsers go bonkers. Super rude.
But hey, don’t freak out! Even though STATUS_ILLEGAL_INSTRUCTION sounds like some impossibly technical nonsense, there are a few simple tricks that can usually squash this error pretty fast. Let’s start!
Why Does STATUS_ILLEGAL_INSTRUCTION Error Even Happen?
First, what causes browsers to spit out this illegal instruction junk in the first place?
Basically, it’s the browser trying to run sketchy invalid code that makes it freak out and crash. Could be caused by:
- Buggy browser extensions injecting glitchy code
- Outdated browser version with unpatched bugs
- Corrupted browser files that have gone bad
- Some other software clash making conflicts
- Malware infections deliberately messing with things
Troubleshoot STATUS_ILLEGAL_INSTRUCTION Error on Brave, Chrome & Edge Browser
Like I said, could be lots of things! Time to start troubleshooting and telling the browser error to get lost.
Method #1- Try Restarting Your Browser
First up on the easy fixes list – a simple restart. Just force quit out of the browser completely (Ctrl + Q on Windows or Cmd + Q on Mac).
Then relaunch it fresh which often clears out any nasty memory glitches causing crashes. Fingers crossed!
Method #2- Disable New Browser Extensions
If the error started after you installed some new extensions, they’re probably the offenders.
- Open settings and disable or uninstall any recently added extensions or addons.
- Restart again after tweaking them and see if it stops the crashes.
Too many wonky extensions absolutely wreck browsers, so gotta troubleshoot ’em first.
Method #3- Update That Browser!
Make sure your browser is fully updated – outdated browser versions are bug magnets!
- Click the menu > Help > About to check for updates.
- Install any available new versions.
Updates fix bugs, security holes, and other quirks that can throw STATUS_ILLEGAL_INSTRUCTION errors.
Method #4- Reset Browser Settings
If updates don’t work, try resetting all browser settings back to factory default.
- In Chrome/Edge, go to Settings > Advanced > Reset settings.
- In Brave, it’s Settings > Additional Settings > Reset settings.
Start fresh without any gremlins in your custom settings gunkin’ things up.
Method #5- Scan for Malware
Malware is straight up evil – it loves crashing browsers for fun. Run a full scan with updated antivirus software.
Shady extensions, infected downloads, and pirated software are common malware traps. Clean it all out!
No more infections means no more browser-trashing STATUS_ILLEGAL_INSTRUCTION crashes. Peace at last!
Method #6- Reinstall Browser
If you’re still seeing issues after trying everything, time for the nuclear option – completely reinstall a fresh browser.
- On Windows, uninstall it from Programs & Features.
- On Mac, drag the browser from Applications to Trash.
Then grab a clean new browser copy from the official site and say bye to the error.
