How To Disable Automatic Updates In Google Chrome

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One benefit of Chrome is how frequently it updates automatically to ensure the users’ online security through a program called Omaha. While these updates are useful, some users might want to disable them.

If you’re interested in learning how to disable automatic updates in Chrome, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll show you several ways to turn off updates using all of the major tech devices.

Disabling Automatic Updates in Chrome on Mac

You can use a few different methods to disable 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:

1. 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.
   
2. Choose “Library” from the drop-down menu.
   
3. Scroll down and open “Google.”
   
4. Select the “GoogleSoftwareUpdate” folder.
   
5. Choose “File” from the top menu.
   
6. 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 be able to rename the folder.
   
7. Select “Return” on your keyboard.
8. Restart your Mac device by selecting the apple icon at the top-left corner and choosing “Restart.”
   

After your Mac restarts, the automatic updates for your Chrome should be disabled. Here’s how you can test this:

1. Open your browser and type “chrome://settings/help” in the address bar.
   
2. 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 we will discuss.
   

Disabling by Changing the Auto Update URL

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

1. Open “Finder.” It’s the blue-and-white icon featuring a smiley face at the bottom of your screen.
   
2. Choose “Applications” in the menu on your left.
   
3. Find “Google Chrome.app” and right-click it. 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.
   
4. A drop-down list will appear. Select “Show Package Contents.”
   
5. Locate “Info.plist” and open it in an XML code editor. You can open it in your default code editor by double-clicking the file. You can also right-click the file, press “Open with,” and choose the editor.
   
6. Double-click “KSUpdateURL” and change it to whatever you want.
   
7. Press “File” at the top and choose “Save.”
   

Automatic Chrome updates should now be disabled. Follow these steps to check whether this method worked for you:

1. Launch Chrome and go to chrome://settings/help.
   
2. If you see an error message informing you updates aren’t possible, you’ve successfully disabled them. If, however, Chrome downloads the latest updates, the method obviously didn’t work. This doesn’t mean other methods won’t work, so feel free to try them.
   

Disabling by Modifying the Update Interval

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

1. Launch Finder (the blue-and-white icon at the bottom).
   
2. Select “Go” and then choose “Go to Folder.”
   
3. Type “~/Library/Preferences” and press enter.
   
4. Find the “com.google.Keystone.Agent.plist” file and open it with an XML editor.
   
5. Change the keystring from 1800 to 0 and save and close the file.
   
6. Press the magnifying glass icon at the top-right corner.
   
7. Start typing “Terminal” and open it.
   
8. Type this command in the Terminal: “defaults write.com.google.Keystone.Agent checkInterval 0”.
   

Follow the steps below to check whether automatic Chrome updates are now disabled:

1. Open Chrome and visit chrome://settings/help.
   
2. If you see an error message, the method worked, and the automatic updates are disabled. If Chrome downloaded the updates, you’ll know 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 Disabling Update Services

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 update services:

1. Launch the Start menu (press the Windows logo at the bottom-left corner).
   
2. Type “Run” in the search bar and open the app.
   
3. Enter “msconfig” in the text box and press “OK” to launch the Windows System Configuration window.
   
4. Go to the “Services” tab.
   
5. Mark the checkbox next to “Hide all Microsoft services.”
   
6. Locate “Google Update Service (gupdate)” and “Google Update Service (gupdatem)” and uncheck both boxes.
   
7. Press “Apply” and then choose “OK.”
   
8. Restart your computer.

After restarting your computer, you can check whether the updates have been disabled by following these steps:

1. Open the Chrome browser and enter “chrome://settings/help” in the address bar.
   
2. If you see a message saying an error occurred while checking for updates, it means you’ve disabled the updates successfully. If the browser starts checking for updates, move on to try the next 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:

1. Launch File Explorer. It’s the folder icon at the bottom of your screen.
   
2. Access the C: drive folder and go to “Program Files.” If you have the 64-bit version, open “Program Files (x86)” instead.
   
3. Go to the “Google” folder.
   
4. Find the “Update” folder and right-click it.
   
5. Choose “Rename” and enter a new name for the folder. We recommend using “No Updates” or something similar.
   

Once you complete these steps, it’s time to check whether this method worked. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Launch Chrome and go to chrome://settings/help.
   
2. If the method worked, you’d see an error message informing you 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. If you want to use this method, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu by pressing the Windows icon at the bottom-left corner.
   
2. Start typing “Run” in the search bar and launch the app.
   
3. Type “regedit” in the text box and click “OK” to open the Registry Editor. You may be asked to allow the Registry Editor to make changes to your system. Keep in mind that editing files using the editor can result in permanent damage to your system, so ensure to proceed with caution.
   
4. Access the “HKEY_LOCAL_Machine” folder.
   
5. Go to “SOFTWARE,” and then right-click the “Policies” folder.
   
6. Hover over “New” and choose “Key.”
   
7. Right-click the key and rename it to “Google.”
   

Once you’ve created the new folder, here’s what you should do:

1. Right-click the “Google” folder you just created.
   
2. Hover over “New” and select “Key.”
   
3. Right-click the new key and name it “Update.”
   
4. Go to the “Update” folder and right-click anywhere.
   
5. Select “New” and choose “DWORD (32-bit) value.”
   
6. Name the DWORD “Updatedefault.”
   
7. Double-click “Updatedefault” to access the Edit window.
   
8. Enter “0” below “Value data” and press “OK.” This command tells Chrome not to download updates.
   

If you want to double-check if this method works, open your Chrome browser, and go to chrome://settings/help. An exclamation point and an error message telling you the browser can’t find updates are good signs. This means you’ve disabled the updates.

Disabling by Using Windows Services Manager

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

1. Launch the Start menu, start typing “Run,” and open the app.
   
2. Enter “services.msc” in the text box and select “OK.”
   
3. Scroll down and locate “Google Update Service (gupdate)” and “Google Update Service (gupdatem).”
   
4. Double-click “Google Update Service (gupdate)” and ensure “Disabled” is selected under “Startup type.” Repeat this step for “Google Update Service (gupdatem).”
   
5. Restart your Windows.

Once the system is up and running, check if the method worked. Launch Chrome and visit chrome://settings/help. If you see an error message saying updates aren’t possible, congratulations. 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 keep in mind that this can affect your device’s performance and security.

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

1. Open your menu and go to Settings.
   
2. Tap “App Store.”
   
3. Switch the toggle button next to “App Updates.” Once you switch the toggle, none of your apps will 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 disable it 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. If you decide to do this, you must be aware of the potential risks. Over time, your device’s performance and security could be jeopardized.

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

1. Launch your menu and go to the Play Store.
   
2. Select your profile picture or initials at the top-right corner.
   
3. Go to “Settings.”
   
4. Choose “Network preferences.”
   
5. Tap “Auto-update apps.”
   
6. Select “Don’t auto-update apps.”
   

Once you do this, you’ll need to update your apps manually. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Play Store.
   
2. Tap your profile picture or initials.
   
3. Choose “Manage apps & device.”
   
4. Select “Updates available.”
   
5. Scroll through the available updates and choose which apps to update.
   

FAQ

Is disabling automatic Chrome updates risky?

Disabling automatic Chrome updates could be 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. Keep in mind that even if you disable automatic Chrome updates, Google may still push certain updates, which can’t be prevented.

To Disable or Not to Disable

Many people find automatic Chrome updates annoying and decide to disable them. While Chrome allows you to choose whether you want to update it automatically or manually, it’s important to be aware of the risks. Choosing not to update your Chrome browser puts you at risk of cyberattacks and jeopardizes your entire network’s security.

Which method for disabling automatic updates worked for you? Do you know of any other method? Tell us in the comments section below.