✅ Fix Chrome Preferences Error on macOS (SIP-safe method)

Step-by-step:

1. Quit Chrome Completely

Make sure it’s not running in the background:

killall "Google Chrome"

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2. Back Up and Delete Chrome Data Folder

Run:

mv ~/Library/Application\ Support/Google/Chrome ~/Desktop/Chrome_Backup

This moves your current (possibly corrupt) Chrome profile to your Desktop.

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3. Delete Chrome Caches (Safe to Remove)

rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/Google/Chrome

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4. Relaunch Chrome

Now open Chrome again from Spotlight or Applications. This will start it with a fresh user profile.

✅ The “Preferences cannot be read” error should be gone now.

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❓What if I want my old bookmarks and passwords back?

You can restore just the important files from your backup:

cd ~/Desktop/Chrome_Backup/Default

Copy only these files (one at a time if needed) into the new ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default: • Bookmarks (bookmarks) • Login Data (saved passwords) • History (browsing history) • Cookies (logins) • Extensions (in subfolder)

Use:

cp Bookmarks ~/Library/Application\ Support/Google/Chrome/Default/

…but don’t restore Preferences, as that’s what’s causing the error.

-Vishesh_Yadav