How to Block or Delete Google Update Files in Windows

Find and remove googleupdate.exe files on Windows 10

What to Know

  • Search for googleupdate to find and delete all Google Update files. In Task Manager, click Startup > Google Update Core > Disable.
  • In Task Scheduler, right-click any Google Update task and select Delete. In the Windows Registry Editor, enter the following:
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Run\. Then, right-click Google Update and select Delete.

This article explains how to disable Google updates and delete the googleupdate.exe file on Windows.

How to Block or Remove Google Update Files

To remove Google Update files from your Windows computer:

Make a backup of the Windows system registry before removing files in case you want to restore the files later.

  1. Use the search feature in the Windows taskbar to locate and delete all instances of the Google Update files by searching for googleupdate.

    You may be prompted to stop certain Windows services when attempting to delete update files.

    Use the search feature in the Windows taskbar to locate and delete all instances of the Google Update files by searching for googleupdate.
  2. Open Task Manager and select the Startup tab.

    Open Task Manager and select the Startup tab.
  3. Choose Google Update Core, then select Disable.

    Select Google Update Core, then select Disable.
  4. Open Windows Task Scheduler and select Task Scheduler Library in the left pane.

    Search for task scheduler in the Windows search box to locate and open Task Scheduler.

    Task Scheduler Library
  5. Right-click any Google Update tasks you see, then select Delete.

    The delete command
  6. Press Windows key+R on the keyboard to open the Run window, then enter regedit and select OK to open Windows Registry Editor.

    Press Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run window, then enter regedit and select OK to open Windows Registry Editor.
  7. Enter the following subkey in the text field at the top, then press Enter:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\

    Enter the following subkey in the text field at the top, then press Enter:
  8. Right-click Google Update in the right pane and select Delete.

    Right-click Google Update in the right pane and select Delete.
  9. Select Yes to confirm the deletion.

    Select Yes to confirm the deletion.
  10. Close Registry Editor and reboot the computer.

Common Locations of Google Update Files

The steps above may not remove all Google Update files on your computer. Check the following directories for remaining files:

  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Update
  • C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Google\Update\
Delete Google Update files in the Update folder within the Google installation directory.

Googleupdate.exe files are usually located in a folder named Update within the Google application's installation directory. You may also see files named GoogleUpdateHelper, GoogleUpdateBroker, GoogleUpdateCore, and GoogleUpdateOnDemand, all of which can be deleted.

Use a portable version of Google Chrome to avoid installing services and other automated Google Update files.

What Are Google Update Files?

Google Update files allow apps to communicate with Google Play Services to install new updates automatically when an update becomes available. These files may attempt to access the internet without requesting permission, which can slow down your connection and interfere with other downloads.

While there's no single way to rid the system of Google Update files without deleting the parent application, a permission-based firewall program like ZoneAlarm can be used to block updates temporarily from Google on Windows.

Sometimes this behavior may persist even after the parent application is uninstalled. In this case, you must manually delete the Google Update files.

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