Disable Automatic Updates for Google Chrome on Windows

Your Comprehensive Guide to Disabling Automatic Updates for Google Chrome on Windows

By default, Google Chrome is set to update itself automatically on non-managed Windows devices. While automatic updates help maintain browser security, the accompanying background process can slow system startup. Additionally, some users prefer total control over their updating schedule. This guide provides you with step-by-step instructions on how to disable Google Chrome’s automatic updates and why managing these updates might suit your needs.

Important Note: It’s generally advisable to keep your browser updated to protect against security vulnerabilities. This guide is directed towards advanced users comfortable with making such adjustments.

Why Disable Automatic Updates?

There are several reasons a user might consider disabling Google Chrome updates:

Performance concerns: Automatic updates may lead to slower boot times, which can be frustrating.
Preference for manual control: Some users may wish to manage when updates occur to ensure a smooth browsing experience.
Compatibility issues: Occasionally, updates can result in changes that disrupt functionality with certain extensions or services.

Checking for Google Updater Processes

A quick inspection using Windows Task Manager may reveal multiple instances of Google Updater running on your system. Here’s how you can quickly check:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc simultaneously right after booting.
Navigate to the Details tab in the Task Manager.
Scroll down until you spot processes that begin with the letter “u”.
Look for any instances of updater.exe.

How to Update Google Chrome Manually

To maintain a secure browsing experience, manually updating Google Chrome is crucial after disabling its automatic updates. The most efficient method is to utilize winget.

Follow these steps to perform manual updates:

Open the Start menu.
Type cmd and select Command Prompt from the results.
Input the command winget list chrome and hit Enter to execute.
Review the list of installed Chrome versions returned by winget.
To initiate an update, type winget upgrade ID, replacing ID with the corresponding ID from the list (e.g., Google.Chrome.EXE).
Repeat for any other Chrome installations you wish to update.

Settings for Managed Devices

If you’re a system administrator, you can control Chrome’s automatic update behavior using the official Google Update policy template. Note: Even when automatic updates are disabled, Chrome continues to check for updates, although it does not download or install them.

Download the administrative template file from the official Google support page.
Extract the archive on your local system.
Copy google.admx and GoogleUpdate.admx from the extracted archive to the C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions directory.
Access the en-US folder (or your preferred language folder) and copy google.adml and GoogleUpdate.adml to the same Policy Definitions folder.
Open the Start menu.
Type gpedit.msc and select Edit group policy to launch the Group Policy Editor.
Navigate to Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Template > Google > Google Update > Applications > Google Chrome.
Double-click on Update policy override.
In the window that appears, enable the policy and select the Disable updates option under Options.
Restart your computer.

Verify the setting by launching Chrome and navigating to Menu > Help > About Google Chrome.

Disabling Updates via Windows Services

Google installs several services on your Windows machine that are configured to run automatically. You can disable these services to prevent updates:

Open the Start menu.
Type services.msc and press Enter to access the Services manager.
Scroll down to locate entries beginning with “Google”.
For each GoogleUpdater service, proceed as follows:
1. Double-click the service.
2. Click on Stop to halt the service.
3. Set the Startup type to Disabled.
4. Select OK to return to the main window.

Setting the services to disabled ensures they won’t start during Windows boot or afterward.

Stopping Google Chrome Updates with Task Scheduler

Windows Task Scheduler may also contain one or more tasks related to Google Updater set to run periodically. Here’s how to disable them:

Open the Start menu.
Search for Task Scheduler and select the result.
Expand the Task Scheduler and Task Scheduler Library.
Look for any folders that may contain Google-related tasks.
Expand GoogleSystem or GoogleUser folders if they exist.
Select the subfolder GoogleUpdater to reveal update tasks.
Right-click on the task and choose Disable.
Repeat for any additional GoogleUpdater tasks.

Final Thoughts

Following these steps will effectively disable automatic updates within Google Chrome on your Windows device. Regularly perform manual updates to safeguard against security issues. Remember, staying updated is key for maintaining an optimal browsing experience.

How do you handle updates in Google Chrome? Share your experience or thoughts in the comments below!

Additional Insights

1. Can I safely disable automatic updates for Google Chrome?

While you can disable automatic updates, it’s crucial to regularly check and manually update Chrome to protect against vulnerabilities and exploit risks.

2. Will other applications be affected by disabling Google Chrome updates?

No, disabling Chrome updates will only affect the browser itself, leaving other applications’ update settings unchanged.

3. How can I ensure I’m using the latest version after disabling updates?

To verify your Chrome version, periodically navigate to Menu > Help > About Google Chrome to check against the latest available release.

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