2 Working Methods To Disable Chrome Auto Update in Windows
Although Chrome updates are necessary, they can create problems for some users. Such as slow Chrome performance, unwelcomed changes (like design changes), or even the introduction of new bugs. I personally keep Chrome updates disabled as it’s not my default browser and I don’t want it eating up resources in the background.
If you also want to turn off Chrome updates, then there are many ways to do it. However, most of these methods are difficult to follow or unreliable. That is why I am going to show two of the most effective methods to disable Chrome auto-update. Let’s get straight to them.
Method 1: Rename Chrome update folder
Chrome depends on a secondary update service to download and install updates. If you prevent this service from starting, then Chrome won’t be able to auto-update itself. To achieve this, you can just change the name of the Chrome update service parent folder to prevent Chrome from accessing it.
Here’s how to do it:
- Go to C:\Program Files\Google OR C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\ (Windows 64bit version).
- Here select the “Update” folder and press the F2 key to rename it. You can add any new name you like, such as “Update1”, “Update Disabled”, or even “I like cookies”.
- Restart the computer to let the changes take effect.
That’s it, now that Chrome will not be able to find the Update folder, it will not be able to auto-update.
Note: If you are unable to rename the folder due to its content open in another program, then close Chrome and restart the PC. After the restart, make sure you follow the above process without opening Chrome.
Method 2: Use the System Configuration window
You can also disable Chrome’s update service completely from the Windows System Configuration window. I personally use this method as it’s rather official, unlike the above hack.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Press the Windows+R keys and type “msconfig” in the Run dialog to open the System Configuration window.
- Here move to the “Services” tab and check the checkbox next to “Hide all Microsoft services”.
- Now uncheck the checkbox next to all the update services by Google. This includes “Google Update Service” and “Google Software Updater”.
- Click on “OK” and restart the PC to let the changes take effect.
Following this process should stop Chrome from updating in the future. If you want to update Chrome later, reset the changes we have made above.
Wrapping up
Disabling Chrome auto-update is a great way to save system resources and also take control of when you want to update Chrome. However, do remember to update Chrome when it’s possible, as updates are crucial for your security and the proper working of the browser. Let us know in the comments if you know any other way to turn off Chrome auto-update.
it is 2018, Windows NT is developed over 25 years and we still need restart after every small change. I don’t get it. There was a time when almost any application requested system restart which was not needed, just lazy programmers included restart. but when Microsoft itself requires restart it means they have some real issues with the architecture. Why computer restart if we can simply restart the responsible service.
I have been trying method two for a long time – but every time my computer restarts (auto restart after an update from the domain network, for example) it updates anyway, and I have to uninstall and re-install an older version. Going to try method one and will comment if that works or not.