Chrome profile deletes itself when I close the tabs, only happens on school account.

Understanding and Resolving Chrome Profile Issues with School Google Accounts on Windows 11

Introduction

Many students and professionals rely heavily on Google Chrome profiles to organize their browsing, access stored bookmarks, and synchronize data across devices. However, encountering issues where a Chrome profile connected to a school Google account disappears unexpectedly can be frustrating, especially when it affects your workflow at the start of a new term. This article explores a common scenario—where a Chrome profile linked to a school account deletes itself upon closing tabs—and provides guidance on potential causes and solutions.

Scenario Overview

Imagine a student using a Chrome profile linked to their school Google account on a Windows 11 laptop. They successfully connect their account, enabling synchronization of bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history across devices such as smartphones and tablets. Over time, everything functions smoothly—until one day, after closing and reopening Chrome, the profile seems to vanish. This recurring pattern has persisted for months, disrupting access to essential school resources and requiring repeated re-setup.

Key Observations

The Google account remains active and accessible on other devices like phones and tablets.
The issue is isolated to a specific Windows 11 PC.
Standard troubleshooting steps—such as updating Chrome and Windows, clearing cookies, and restoring default settings—have not resolved the problem.
The user is cautious about altering Windows system settings to avoid unintended consequences.

Potential Causes

Several factors could contribute to the self-deletion or disappearance of a Chrome profile associated with a school account:

Profile Corruption or Misconfiguration:
Corrupted profile data can lead to Chrome misidentifying or failing to load the profile correctly upon startup.
Account or Device Policies:
School-managed accounts often have specific policies or restrictions that could interfere with profile synchronization—particularly if policies enforce data clearance or restrict persistent storage.
Chrome User Data Directory Issues:
Problems with the local user data directory may cause profiles to reset or delete themselves when Chrome closes.
Windows or Chrome Version Compatibility Issues:
Although less common, compatibility issues between the Windows 11 system and the current browser version could contribute to profile instability.
Third-Party Software Interference:
Security software or system cleaners might inadvertently remove profile data or prevent proper profile loading.