How to Remove Annoying GoogleUpdate.exe Background Process After Installing Google Chrome in Windows?

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11.10.2009
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We all know about "Google Chrome" web browser released by Google. It's very fast and very light on resources. But lots of Chrome users are facing an annoying problem.
If you have installed Chrome, you might have noticed that a new process "GoogleUpdate.exe" (with the description or name as Google Installer) runs continuously in background. You can check it using Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc):
GoogleUpdate_Background_Process.jpg

Even if you End Task of this process using Task Manager, it automatically comes back after a few minutes or when you launch Chrome next time.
What is GoogleUpdate.exe Process and What does it Do?
Actually this standalone EXE file is used by Google Chrome web browser to check for new version updates. If it finds any update available, it downloads and installs it. But it's very annoying because it never asks before downloading or installing the updates and runs in background for all the time.
How to Disable or Remove GoogleUpdate.exe Process?
If you are also among all those people who want to disable or remove this annoying GoogleUpdate.exe file, then follow this tutorial and you'll get rid of this exe file forever. This tutorial will prevent or restrict GoogleUpdate.exe process from running in your system. This process will also disable automatic update feature of Google Chrome:
The most easiest way is disallow "GoogleUpdate.exe" service to access Internet using your Firewall program. You can create a new rule in your Firewall settings to block this EXE file. Once you block GoogleUpdate.exe process from connecting to Internet, it'll be unable to download and install new updates and will never update Google Chrome to newer versions.
1. Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box, type services.msc and press Enter. It'll open Service Manager.
2. Now scroll down and look for Google Update Service (gupdate) and Google Update Service (gupdatem).
3. Double-click on both services one by one and it'll open properties window. Click on Stop button to immediately stop the services.
Now set "Startup type" to "Disabled" from the drop-down box for both services and apply changes.
That's it. Now GoogleUpdate.exe process will stop running in background and you'll no longer notice it in Task Manager.
If you don't use any firewall or don't want to use the 1st and 2nd methods, then you can use following steps to permanently remove the "GoogleUpdate.exe" file from your system but remember that after removing the file you'll no longer be able to update the Chrome web browser using its built-in auto-update function. You'll need to manually download and install the new version.
STEP 1:
First disable "GoogleUpdate.exe" from system startup. Type msconfig in RUN dialog box and press Enter. It'll open "System Configuration" window. Now go to "Startup" tab and uncheck "GoogleUpdate" from the list.
Disabling_Google_Update_Startup_Ent.jpg

Apply the changes and restart your system.
NOTE: In newer Windows versions such as Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10, Microsoft moved the Startup section from msconfig program to Task Manager.
PS: You can also use Registry Editor or any other 3rd party utility such as CCleaner to remove startup entry. Windows Defender can also do the job.
STEP 2:
Now we'll need to remove the scheduled task created for GoogleUpdate.exe from our system. Open "Scheduled Tasks" or "Task Scheduler" from Control Panel or Programs menu. You can also launch it by using "taskschd.msc" command in RUN dialog box or by opening "%windir%\Tasks" folder.
Now look for the "GoogleUpdateTaskUser" task and delete it.
Windows XP:
Deleting_Google_Update_Task.jpg

Windows Vista and later:
Deleting_Google_Update_Task_in_Vist.jpg

You can also disable the task instead of deleting it.
Disabling_Google_Update_Task.jpg

STEP 3:
Now the last step! We'll need to remove the "GoogleUpdate.exe" file permanently so that it doesn't add its entry again in startup.
Go to following folder (Copy and paste the folder path in RUN dialog box and press Enter):
Windows XP:
%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Update
Windows Vista and later:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Google\Update
In the above mentioned folder, you'll find the "GoogleUpdate.exe" file. Just delete the file.
PS: If you can't find "GoogleUpdate.exe" file in above mentioned folders, try to look the file in following folders:
32-bit (x86) Windows editions:
C:\Program Files\Google\Update\
64-bit (x64) Windows editions:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Update\
If you find any difficulties in deleting the file, make sure GoogleUpdate.exe is not running in background, if it's running then End Task of it using Task Manager and then try to delete it again. You can also use Unlocker to delete the file.
That's it. Now you'll no longer see "GoogleUpdate.exe" file in background process list.
BONUS TIPS:
You can also download and install the Offline installer of Google Chrome which doesn't include the "GoogleUpdate.exe" file:
BONUS TIP:
Opera
users can also manually create portable version of Opera web browser. This way, Opera will be installed in a single folder and then you can copy that folder to your USB drive and use it as a portable app. It'll also store your Opera user profile, cache, cookies, browsing history and all settings.
Portable_Version_Opera_Browser_Mail.png


Official Link to Download Google Chrome Standalone Offline Installer
Or you can use the Portable version of Google Chrome which doesn't need to be installed:
Download Portable Version of Google Chrome for USB Drives, No Need to Install
 
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