Disable "Google Update Service" services

Overview

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script disables the "Google Update Service" services. These services are identified as gupdate and gupdatem 1 2 3. They are responsible for keeping Google software up to date by initiating updates 4. They are linked to the GoogleUpdate.exe executable located in the %PROGRAMFILES%\Google\Update directory 5 6 7.

The services operate based on a client/service model, where the client requests services to conduct updates 1. Despite both services being named "Google Update Service" 3 8 9, they are associated with different aspects of updating. The gupdate service is linked to regular update check 2 5 7, while gupdatem is connected to medium level service updates 2 5 6.

According to Google's documentation, these services play a crucial role in maintaining the software's security and functionality 3. These services will uninstall themselves if no Google software is utilizing them 3.

However, there are privacy and security concerns associated with these services. They continuously run in the background, sending data back to Google 10 11, and they log Event Logs 12 13 14 15 16, which reveals information about the system's state. There have also been vulnerabilities found in these services in the past, adding an additional layer of risk 17.

Disabling these services do not affect manual updates as these services are started for manual updates automatically 4.

Often administrators choose to delete these services to prevent auto-updates 9, a practice that is acknowledged by the Google team 9. By disabling these services, this script aims to give users more control over their system and mitigate potential privacy and security risks, albeit at the cost of not receiving automatic software updates from Google.

Overview of default service statuses

Google Update Service (gupdate) (tested on version Chrome 123.0.6312.106):

OS Version	Status	Start type
Windows 10 (≥ 21H1)	🔴 Stopped	Automatic
Windows 11 (≥ 22H2)	🔴 Stopped	Automatic

Google Update Service (gupdatem) (tested on version Chrome 123.0.6312.106):

OS Version	Status	Start type
Windows 10 (≥ 21H1)	🔴 Stopped	Manual
Windows 11 (≥ 22H2)	🔴 Stopped	Manual

This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Safe for General Use

This script is recommended for all users. It helps to improve privacy without affecting stability.

Implementation Details

• Language: batch

• Required Privileges: Administrator rights

• Compatibility: Windows only

• Reversibility: Can be undone using provided revert script

Explore Categories

Disable Google background automatic updates

This action belongs to Disable Google background automatic updates category. This category includes scripts to manage the automatic updates of various Google products in background. These products include Google Chrome, Google Earth, along with other applications. This category aims to give users control over the automatic update processes running in the background,... Read more on category page ▶

Configure programs

This action belongs to Configure programs category. This category configures Windows using 111 scripts. These scripts are organized in 22 categories. The category includes 5 subscripts and 9 subcategories that include more scripts and categories. Read more on category page ▶

Apply now

Choose one of three ways to apply:

1. Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
2. Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.
3. Manually by copying: Advanced flexibility.

Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily.

Open privacy.sexy

You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using the application.

privacy.sexy instructions

1. Open or download the desktop application
2. Search for the script name: Disable "Google Update Service" services.
3. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download

Irreversible Changes

This script is irreversible, meaning there is no straightforward method to restore changes once applied. Exercise caution before running, restoring it may not be possible.

1. Download the script file by clicking on the button below:

   Download script

2. Run the script file by clicking on it.

Download revert script

This file restores your system to its original state, before this script is applied.

Download restore script

Alternative 3. Copy

This is for advanced users. Consider automatically applying or downloading the script for simpler way.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.

HELP: Step-by-step guide

1. Click on Start menu

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

2. Type cmd

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

3. Right click on Command Prompt select Run as administrator

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

4. Click on Yes to run Command Prompt

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

---

Windows 11

Windows 10

2. Copy the following code:

Code to apply changes

:: Disable service(s): `gupdate`
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$serviceName = 'gupdate'; Write-Host "^""Disabling service: `"^""$serviceName`"^""."^""; <# -- 1. Skip if service does not exist #>; $service = Get-Service -Name $serviceName -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue; if(!$service) { Write-Host "^""Service `"^""$serviceName`"^"" could not be not found, no need to disable it."^""; Exit 0; }; <# -- 2. Stop if running #>; if ($service.Status -eq [System.ServiceProcess.ServiceControllerStatus]::Running) { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is running, stopping it."^""; try { Stop-Service -Name "^""$serviceName"^"" -Force -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host "^""Stopped `"^""$serviceName`"^"" successfully."^""; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Could not stop `"^""$serviceName`"^"", it will be stopped after reboot: $_"^""; }; } else { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is not running, no need to stop."^""; }; <# -- 3. Skip if already disabled #>; $startupType = $service.StartType <# Does not work before .NET 4.6.1 #>; if (!$startupType) { $startupType = (Get-WmiObject -Query "^""Select StartMode From Win32_Service Where Name='$serviceName'"^"" -ErrorAction Ignore).StartMode; if(!$startupType) { $startupType = (Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Service -Property StartMode -Filter "^""Name='$serviceName'"^"" -ErrorAction Ignore).StartMode; }; }; if ($startupType -eq 'Disabled') { Write-Host "^""$serviceName is already disabled, no further action is needed"^""; Exit 0; }; <# -- 4. Disable service #>; try { Set-Service -Name "^""$serviceName"^"" -StartupType Disabled -Confirm:$false -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host "^""Disabled `"^""$serviceName`"^"" successfully."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Could not disable `"^""$serviceName`"^"": $_"^""; }"
:: Disable service(s): `gupdatem`
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$serviceName = 'gupdatem'; Write-Host "^""Disabling service: `"^""$serviceName`"^""."^""; <# -- 1. Skip if service does not exist #>; $service = Get-Service -Name $serviceName -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue; if(!$service) { Write-Host "^""Service `"^""$serviceName`"^"" could not be not found, no need to disable it."^""; Exit 0; }; <# -- 2. Stop if running #>; if ($service.Status -eq [System.ServiceProcess.ServiceControllerStatus]::Running) { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is running, stopping it."^""; try { Stop-Service -Name "^""$serviceName"^"" -Force -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host "^""Stopped `"^""$serviceName`"^"" successfully."^""; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Could not stop `"^""$serviceName`"^"", it will be stopped after reboot: $_"^""; }; } else { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is not running, no need to stop."^""; }; <# -- 3. Skip if already disabled #>; $startupType = $service.StartType <# Does not work before .NET 4.6.1 #>; if (!$startupType) { $startupType = (Get-WmiObject -Query "^""Select StartMode From Win32_Service Where Name='$serviceName'"^"" -ErrorAction Ignore).StartMode; if(!$startupType) { $startupType = (Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Service -Property StartMode -Filter "^""Name='$serviceName'"^"" -ErrorAction Ignore).StartMode; }; }; if ($startupType -eq 'Disabled') { Write-Host "^""$serviceName is already disabled, no further action is needed"^""; Exit 0; }; <# -- 4. Disable service #>; try { Set-Service -Name "^""$serviceName"^"" -StartupType Disabled -Confirm:$false -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host "^""Disabled `"^""$serviceName`"^"" successfully."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Could not disable `"^""$serviceName`"^"": $_"^""; }"

3. Right click on command prompt to paste it.
4. Press Enter to apply remaining code.

Copy restore code

Copy and run the following code to restore changes:

Revert code

:: Restore service(s) to default state: `gupdate`
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$serviceName = 'gupdate'; $defaultStartupMode = 'Automatic'; $ignoreMissingOnRevert =  $false; Write-Host "^""Reverting service `"^""$serviceName`"^"" start to `"^""$defaultStartupMode`"^""."^""; <# -- 1. Skip if service does not exist #>; $service = Get-Service -Name $serviceName -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue; if (!$service) { if ($ignoreMissingOnRevert) { Write-Output "^""Skipping: The service `"^""$serviceName`"^"" is not found. No action required."^""; Exit 0; }; Write-Warning "^""Failed to revert changes to the service `"^""$serviceName`"^"". The service is not found."^""; Exit 1; }; <# -- 2. Enable or skip if already enabled #>; $startupType = $service.StartType <# Does not work before .NET 4.6.1 #>; if (!$startupType) { $startupType = (Get-WmiObject -Query "^""Select StartMode From Win32_Service Where Name='$serviceName'"^"" -ErrorAction Ignore).StartMode; if (!$startupType) { $startupType = (Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Service -Property StartMode -Filter "^""Name='$serviceName'"^"" -ErrorAction Ignore).StartMode; }; }; if ($startupType -eq "^""$defaultStartupMode"^"") { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" has already expected startup mode: `"^""$defaultStartupMode`"^"". No action required."^""; } else { try { Set-Service -Name "^""$serviceName"^"" -StartupType "^""$defaultStartupMode"^"" -Confirm:$false -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host "^""Reverted `"^""$serviceName`"^"" with `"^""$defaultStartupMode`"^"" start, this may require restarting your computer."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to enable `"^""$serviceName`"^"": $_"^""; Exit 1; }; }; <# -- 4. Start if not running (must be enabled first) #>; if ($defaultStartupMode -eq 'Automatic' -or $defaultStartupMode -eq 'Boot' -or $defaultStartupMode -eq 'System') { if ($service.Status -ne [System.ServiceProcess.ServiceControllerStatus]::Running) { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is not running, starting it."^""; try { Start-Service $serviceName -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host "^""Started `"^""$serviceName`"^"" successfully."^""; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to start `"^""$serviceName`"^"", requires restart, it will be started after reboot.`r`n$_"^""; }; } else { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is already running, no need to start."^""; }; }"
:: Restore service(s) to default state: `gupdatem`
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$serviceName = 'gupdatem'; $defaultStartupMode = 'Manual'; $ignoreMissingOnRevert =  $false; Write-Host "^""Reverting service `"^""$serviceName`"^"" start to `"^""$defaultStartupMode`"^""."^""; <# -- 1. Skip if service does not exist #>; $service = Get-Service -Name $serviceName -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue; if (!$service) { if ($ignoreMissingOnRevert) { Write-Output "^""Skipping: The service `"^""$serviceName`"^"" is not found. No action required."^""; Exit 0; }; Write-Warning "^""Failed to revert changes to the service `"^""$serviceName`"^"". The service is not found."^""; Exit 1; }; <# -- 2. Enable or skip if already enabled #>; $startupType = $service.StartType <# Does not work before .NET 4.6.1 #>; if (!$startupType) { $startupType = (Get-WmiObject -Query "^""Select StartMode From Win32_Service Where Name='$serviceName'"^"" -ErrorAction Ignore).StartMode; if (!$startupType) { $startupType = (Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Service -Property StartMode -Filter "^""Name='$serviceName'"^"" -ErrorAction Ignore).StartMode; }; }; if ($startupType -eq "^""$defaultStartupMode"^"") { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" has already expected startup mode: `"^""$defaultStartupMode`"^"". No action required."^""; } else { try { Set-Service -Name "^""$serviceName"^"" -StartupType "^""$defaultStartupMode"^"" -Confirm:$false -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host "^""Reverted `"^""$serviceName`"^"" with `"^""$defaultStartupMode`"^"" start, this may require restarting your computer."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to enable `"^""$serviceName`"^"": $_"^""; Exit 1; }; }; <# -- 4. Start if not running (must be enabled first) #>; if ($defaultStartupMode -eq 'Automatic' -or $defaultStartupMode -eq 'Boot' -or $defaultStartupMode -eq 'System') { if ($service.Status -ne [System.ServiceProcess.ServiceControllerStatus]::Running) { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is not running, starting it."^""; try { Start-Service $serviceName -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host "^""Started `"^""$serviceName`"^"" successfully."^""; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to start `"^""$serviceName`"^"", requires restart, it will be started after reboot.`r`n$_"^""; }; } else { Write-Host "^""`"^""$serviceName`"^"" is already running, no need to start."^""; }; }"

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