How To Disable Automatic Updates in Google Chrome

Lee Stanton September 30, 2023

Device Links

Android
iPhone
Mac
Windows
Device Missing?

One benefit of Chrome is how frequently it updates to ensure the users’ online security. While these updates are helpful, some users might want to disable them.

How To Disable Automatic Updates in Google Chrome

If you’re interested in learning how to turn off automatic updates in Chrome, you’ve come to the right place. This article shows several ways to turn off Chrome updates using all major tech devices.

Disabling Automatic Updates in Chrome on Mac

You can use several methods to turn off updates on a Mac.

Disabling by Renaming the Update Folder

The first way to disable automatic Chrome updates on your Mac is to rename the update folder. Here’s what you need to do:

Press “Go” in the top menu. If you don’t see this option, click anywhere on your desktop, or select “Finder,” and the button should appear.
Choose “Library” from the drop-down menu.
Scroll down and open “Google.”
Select the “GoogleSoftwareUpdate” folder.
Choose “File” from the top menu.
Press “Get info,” select the folder’s name, and rename it. We suggest using “No updates” or something similar. Remember that you may need to select the “lock” icon at the bottom-left corner and enter your password to rename the folder.
Select “Return” on your keyboard.
Restart your Mac by selecting the “Apple” icon at the top-left corner and then “Restart.” Don’t let it save the current status.
To test the results and ensure that Chrome updates are disabled, open your browser and type “chrome://settings/help.” in the address bar. You can also click the “vertical ellipsis” (three vertical dots) in Chrome and then select “Help -> About Google Chrome.”
The browser will try to download updates automatically. If you see an error message saying the browser can’t download them, you’ve successfully disabled automatic updates. However, if you see that Chrome has downloaded updates, try one of the other methods below.

Disabling by Changing the Auto Update URL

Another way to turn off automatic Chrome updates on a Mac device is to change the auto-update URL. Follow the steps below to do it:

Open “Finder.”
Choose “Applications” in the menu on your left.
Right-click “Google Chrome.app.” If you’re using a trackpad or a Magic Mouse, double-click the icon using two fingers or press the “Control” button while clicking the icon.
A drop-down list will appear. Select “Show Package Contents.”
Locate and open “Info.plist” in an XML code editor. You can use the default code editor by double-clicking the file. You can also right-click the file, select “Open with,” and choose the editor.
Double-click “KSUpdateURL” and change it to whatever you want.
Select “File” at the top and choose “Save.”
To test the results and ensure that Chrome updates are disabled, launch “Chrome” and go to “chrome://settings/help.” You can also click the “vertical ellipsis” (three vertical dots) in Chrome and then select “Help -> About Google Chrome.”
If you see an error message informing you updates aren’t possible, you’ve successfully disabled them. If Chrome downloads the latest updates, this method doesn’t work for you, so feel free to try another option.

Disabling by Modifying the Update Interval

Mac users can disable automatic Chrome updates by modifying the update interval. Here’s how to do it:

Launch “Finder” (the blue-and-white icon at the bottom).
Select “Go” and then choose “Go to Folder.”
Type “~/Library/Preferences” and press “Enter.”
Find and open “com.google.Keystone.Agent.plist” with an XML editor.
Change the key string from “1800” to “0” and save and close the file.
Press the “magnifying glass” icon at the top-right corner.
Start typing “Terminal” and open it.
Type this command in the Terminal: “defaults write com.google.Keystone.Agent checkInterval 0.”
To confirm that Google Chrome Updates have been disabled, open “Chrome” and visit “chrome://settings/help.” You can also click the “vertical ellipsis” (three vertical dots) in Chrome and then select “Help -> About Google Chrome.”
If you see an error message, the method worked, and the automatic updates are disabled. If Chrome downloaded the updates, this method was not successful.

Disabling Automatic Updates in Chrome on a Windows PC

Windows users can use four different methods to disable automatic Chrome updates. Pick one of the methods below and follow along.

Disabling Auto Updates by Turning Update Services Off

The first method for disabling automatic Chrome updates on Windows involves disabling update services. Before we discuss the steps, remember to save any open work because you’ll need to restart your computer in the last step.

Here’s what you need to do to disable Google Chrome update services:

Click the “Windows” logo (Start menu) at the bottom-left corner.
Type “Run” in the search bar and open the app.
Enter “msconfig” in the text box and select “OK” or press “Enter” to launch the Windows System Configuration window.
Go to the “Services” tab.
Mark the checkbox next to “Hide all Microsoft services.”
Locate and uncheck “Google Update Service (gupdate)” and “Google Update Service (gupdatem).”
Select “Apply” and then choose “OK.”
Restart your computer.
To check that you have successfully disabled Chrome updates, launch the “Chrome” browser and type “chrome://settings/help“ in the address bar. You can also click the “vertical ellipsis” (three vertical dots) in Chrome and then select “Help -> About Google Chrome.”
If you see a message saying an error occurred while checking for updates, you’ve disabled the updates successfully. If the browser starts checking for updates, try another method.

Disabling by Renaming the Update Folder

Another method for disabling automatic updates in Chrome is renaming the update folder. Follow the steps below to do it:

Launch “File Explorer.” It’s the folder icon at the bottom of your screen.
Access “C:\Program Files (x86).” Google installs the 64-bit version on 64-bit systems, but the update folder resides in the 32-bit folder.
Open the “Google” folder.
Find and right-click the “Update” folder.
Choose “Rename” and enter a new name for the folder. We recommend using “No Updates” or something similar. If it fails, continue to the next step.
If you cannot rename the folder due to a process using a file within it, it is most likely caused by the crash handler processes, or you have Chrome running. Press “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” to launch the “Task Manager.”
Right-click on any “Google Chrome” processes in the “Apps” and “Background processes” sections at the top, then select “End Task.” You may not see anything if you or the PC didn’t launch Chrome.
Scroll and right-click on “Google Crash Handler (32-bit),” then select “End Task.”
To confirm that Chrome updates are disabled, launch “Chrome” and go to “chrome://settings/help.”
If the above method works, you’ll see an error message informing you that the browser can’t find updates. If the browser continues to download updates, you’ll need to try another method.

Disabling by Editing the Registry

Windows users can disable automatic Chrome updates by editing the registry. However, this option has less of a chance of working. If you want to try this method because all other options failed, follow these steps:

Press the “Windows” key at the bottom-left corner to open the “Start menu.”
Type “Run” in the search bar and launch the app.
Type “regedit” in the text box and click “OK” or press “Enter” to open the Registry Editor. You may be asked to allow the Registry Editor to change your system. Remember that editing files using the editor can permanently damage your system, so proceed cautiously.
Open the “HKEY_LOCAL_Machine” folder.
Go to “SOFTWARE,” then right-click the “Policies” folder.
Hover over “New” and choose “Key.”
Right-click the key and rename it to “Google.”
Once you’ve created the new folder, right-click the “Google” folder you just created.
Hover over “New” and select “Key.”
Right-click the new key and name it “Update.”
Go to the “Update” folder and right-click anywhere.
Select “New” and choose “DWORD (32-bit) value.”
Name the DWORD “Updatedefault” without quotes.
Double-click “Updatedefault” to access the “Edit” window.
Verify or enter “0” in the “Value data” box and click “OK.” This command tells Chrome not to download updates.
Restart your PC.
To see if Chrome updates were disabled successfully, open your “Chrome” browser and go to “chrome://settings/help.” An exclamation point and an error message mean the browser can’t find updates. Otherwise, try another method.

Disabling by Using Windows Services Manager

The last method for disabling automatic Chrome updates on Windows involves using Windows Services Manager. Follow the steps below to try this method:

Launch the “Start menu,” type “Run,” and open the app.
Type “services.msc” in the text box and select “OK” or press “Enter.”
Scroll down and right-click “Google Update Service (gupdate)” and choose “Properties.”
Ensure “Disabled” is selected under “Startup type.”
Right-click the next entry, “Google Update Service (gupdatem).” Choose “Properties.”
Ensure “Disabled” is selected under “Startup type.”
To verify that you successfully blocked automatic Chrome updates, restart “Windows.”
Launch “Chrome,” then visit “chrome://settings/help.” If you see an error message saying updates aren’t possible, you’ve disabled automatic Chrome updates.

Disabling Automatic Updates for Chrome on an iPhone

The good news is that disabling automatic Chrome updates on iPhones is possible. The bad news is that the only way to do it is to disable updates for every installed app. You can do this, but remember that this can affect your device’s performance and security.

Here’s how to disable automatic updates on your iPhone:

Go to “Settings.”
Tap “App Store.”
Turn off “App Updates” using the slider. Once you switch the toggle, no apps update automatically. You can manually update each app by going to the “App Store,” checking for pending updates, and tapping “Update” next to the apps you want to update.

Disabling Automatic Updates in Chrome on an Android Device

Many Android users enjoy Chrome on their devices. If you don’t want the browser to update automatically, you can turn it off in a few clicks. However, remember that Android devices don’t allow you to disable automatic updates for individual apps. You can only disable automatic updates for all installed apps on Android. If you decide to do this, you must know the potential risks. Over time, your device’s performance and security could be jeopardized.

Follow these steps to turn off automatic Chrome updates on your Android device:

Launch the “Play Store.”
Select your “profile picture” at the top-right corner.
Go to “Settings.”
Choose “Network preferences.”
Tap “Auto-update apps.”
Select “Don’t auto-update apps.”

Disable Chrome Updates FAQs

Is disabling automatic Chrome updates risky?

Disabling automatic Chrome updates is definitely risky. Many updates include security patches that keep your device safe. Turning off automatic updates could expose your device and jeopardize its safety on the internet. Remember that even if you disable automatic Chrome updates, Google may still push certain ones, which can’t be prevented.

To Disable or Not to Disable Chrome Updates

Many people find automatic Chrome updates annoying and decide to disable them. While you can disable automatic Chrome updates, knowing the risks is essential. Choosing not to update your Chrome browser puts you at risk of cyberattacks and jeopardizes your entire network’s security.