Chrome updates itself in the background, which is great for solo users but can be a headache on managed networks where IT wants to control rollout timing. Here’s how to disable Chrome auto-update if you really need to.
Before you start: Editing the Windows Registry can cause serious problems if done incorrectly. Follow these steps exactly, and only change the value specified. If you are not comfortable editing the registry, use Group Policy templates instead.
How to Turn Off Auto-Update on Windows
- Download the Google Update ADM/ADMX policy templates from Google’s Chrome Enterprise policy list and apply them through Group Policy, or
- Open the Registry Editor and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Update.
- Create a string value named AutoUpdateCheckPeriodMinutes and set it to 0.
How to Turn Off Auto-Update on Mac
- Use a managed configuration profile with Google’s UpdateDefault policy key set to 0, as described in Google’s Chrome browser update policy guide.
Quick Tips
- Turning off auto-update means you stop getting security fixes automatically. Most home users should leave updates on.
- If you manage several computers, check Chrome versions regularly through your device management console instead of disabling updates outright.
Now you have full control over when Chrome updates, just remember that comes with the responsibility of updating it yourself.
