Frequenly Asked Questions
Google Updater for Mac has been retired because Google software, such as Desktop and Notifier, no longer require its use. If you had it installed, we did some housecleaning and automatically removed the program for you, using GoogleUpdaterGhostInstaller.pkg, in order to free up processing power on your computer.
Oct 14, 2019 Unfortunately, with this solution, it will quickly return if you once again run a Google app on your Mac. Because of this, you need to take different steps to uninstall the app. These steps will prevent Google apps from reinstalling the update again by creating a dummy file with the same name: Selection Go on the Mac toolbar. Choose Utilities.
Introduction - How does Google Updater work?What is Google Updater?Google Updater is the installer for Google products on the Mac. You can use Google Updater to see which Google software you have installed and to see other Google applications you might be interested in. Google Updater helps keep your software up-to-date by installing updates when they become available. And you can use Google Updater to uninstall Google Software.![]() Why is Google Updater installed when I install another Google product?Google Updater makes the software installation process more convenient in several ways. First, it streamlines the software installation process. Also, once Google Updater is installed, you can see which Google software you have already installed. Finally, Google Updater provides you with a central place for discovering and downloading more Google software. New Google applications are just a few clicks away.What is the Usage Statistics feature?If you enable Usage Statistics in Preferences, Google Updater may send non-personal usage statistics to Google. We use this data to help us improve our software.Get StartedWhat are the system requirements for Google Updater?You need a Mac running Mac OS X 10.4 or later.Do I need the password to an administrator account on my computer in order to install Google Updater?No, Google Updater can be installed without an administrator password. However, to install some applications, including Google Desktop, you will need to have an administrator password. (If you're the only user of the computer, you're probably an administrator. Just use your usual login and password.)I use a dial-up Internet connection. How long is installation going to take?Google Updater is designed to download and install programs in the fastest and most efficient way possible; however, if you're using a dial-up connection, it may still take a while to install programs. You can look at the progress bar in the Google Updater window to see how your installation is progressing.![]() Can I use any Google products if I don't have Mac OS X 10.4 or later?Some Google products work with Mac OS X 10.3 or later. Google provides separate installers for these. To see which products are available, go to http://www.google.com/mac.Google Software Update Daemon MacInstallHow do I install programs?To install a Google program with Google Updater:
What if I don't want to install all the programs that Google Updater shows me?That's fine. You can pick and choose whichever Google programs you like. And you don't have to decide all at once. Whenever you want to add or remove a Google program, you can use Google Updater.If I choose not to install a program initially, can I install it later?Yes. Once you have installed Google Updater, you can use it any time to install more software.UpdatesHow will I know when there are updates or new programs available?Google Updater keeps track of the programs you have installed and can alert you when new versions become available. By default, updates are installed automatically. If you don't want to be notified when updates are available, follow these steps:
Can I configure Google Updater to update only some of my software?No. Google Updater is set to update all your installed Google software.Does Google Updater update itself?Google Software Update AgentYes. Google Updater keeps itself up-to-date automatically, in addition to updating the other Google software you've installed.UninstallHow do I uninstall programs?To uninstall a Google program with Google Updater:
Google Software Update InstallerHow do I uninstall Google Updater?To uninstall Google Updater, you first have to uninstall other Google software on your computer. You can't uninstall Google Updater while you have Google software on your computer because we need it there to keep your software up-to-date.
We gave Google's first version of Picasa for Mac a whirl the day before Apple announced iLife '09 with features like Faces and Places for iPhoto. A couple of days later, a Google software updater that we never explicitly agreed to install notified us of an update to Picasa. Annoyed, we started digging to find out why Google took over our Mac.
What Is Google Software Update On Mac Computer
We spoke with a Google representative and posted a question in Picasa's discussion forum about this software updater. As it turns out, when you install Picasa for Mac, an item is installed in ~/Library/LaunchAgents, and a new Google directory is created in ~/Library (other Google Mac products do this, and so do Google apps on Windows and, presumably, Linux). The only directory in /Google is called GoogleSoftwareUpdate, which we have a sneaking suspicion may contain the files that run Google's stealthy software updater. If you delete the /Google directory or the /LaunchAgents item, they are reinstalled the next time Picasa is run—and that's only the half of it.
We asked a Google representative why the company took such a quietly invasive approach to updating its software. After all, much more reasonable mechanisms such as the 'check at startup' trick became all but a universally-recognized standard long ago, but there is also always the option of presenting the feature front and center in the short wizard that appears on Picasa's first run. 'Users are notified when the Software Updater is installed -- this varies from product to product, but it can always be found in the EULA or TOS for a product,' the rep responded. 'A user can always uninstall the updater by uninstalling all applications that the updater supports (we want to make sure you continue to receive updates for all other applications on your computer, even if you've decided to stop using one piece of software).'
Translation: Google is content to bury the notification of installing a background software update process in its EULA, as none of Google's Mac software that we tested present a notification on first run, not to mention an actual option to toggle it off. Even the portion of the EULA that deals with automatic updates is vague about what actually gets installed:
4. AUTOMATIC UPDATES
The Software may communicate with Google servers from time to time to check for available updates to the Software, such as bug fixes, patches, enhanced functions, missing plug-ins and new versions (collectively, 'Updates'). By installing the Software, you agree to automatically request and receive Updates.
Google Software Update Daemon Mac Problem
Truth be told, we hear that Google has been doing this for quite some time with all of its software on Windows. The process for disabling or removing Google's software updater is also reportedly the same, but that doesn't make the company's practices okay.
What Is Google Software Update On Mac Windows 10
The debate over whether automatic updates in general are harmless or invasive is still alive and well, but the fact that Google got its totalitarianism on with One Software Update to Rule Them All puts this instance a little over the top. Google's updater can only be removed by deleting all Google software from a machine—this is not only bad design, but it is wrong. Staying on top of software updates and fixes is great, but not when it involves trampling users' control over what runs on their own computers. Google, you can do much better than this.
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November 2020
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