Why you should never turn off automatic updates in Chrome

Google Chrome automatically updates. There is no easy way to turn off automatic updates, but there are several ways you can do it: for example, by stopping the Google update service that manages automatic updates. Here's why you shouldn't do it.

Chrome updates weren't bugged

Google has a good track record with security updates for Chrome. Google Chrome was originally released in 2008. Now, over a decade later, it's hard to cite a single example of a catastrophic update bug that caused problems. (Meanwhile, the Windows 10 operating system has experienced several notable update bugs over the past few years.)

Chrome updates come and go automatically. Google normally updates Chrome with new major versions every six weeks, and smaller updates that fix security holes and other issues happen more often than that. Chrome constantly updates itself automatically and keeps you safe. Most people will hardly ever notice these updates.

These browser updates aren't annoying either. Unlike Windows Update on Windows 10, Chrome doesn't get in the way by forcing you to restart. Chrome automatically updates in the background. If you leave Chrome open for a while, Chrome may ask you to restart your browser when you have the chance, but it won't automatically restart or interrupt you.

Google Chrome once had a data corruption bug on a handful of Macs where people tried to turn off System Integrity Protection, which is an important security feature. It is the worst thing that has ever happened, and nothing like it has ever happened on Windows.

Browser security holes are the real concern

So, is Chrome perfect? Of course not! Like all web browsers, Chrome is full of bugs you need to worry about. But these are not update issues. These are security holes.

Modern browsers are complex and there are regular security vulnerabilities. Google and other browser developers regularly release updates to correct holes found by researchers or to block new zero-day exploits found in nature.

Without these usual security fixes, you will end up using a Google Chrome browser vulnerable to attacks. A malicious website that you open in Chrome could potentially compromise your browser and install malware on your PC, just by opening the website.

Security patches protect you from them, and Chrome installs them regularly. Disabling automatic updates prevents Chrome from installing these security patches, putting you at serious risk.

There is no way to be notified when Chrome updates are available and install them manually. They are automatic updates or nothing.

If you don't want automatic Chrome updates

Okay, let's say you really don't want Chrome's automatic updates anyway. For some reason, you want to manually approve updates, get fewer important updates, or just remove the Google Update Tool from your computer.

If this describes you, we recommend switching to a different browser. Here are some good alternatives that are more flexible than Chrome:

• To manually approve browser updates, you can switch to Mozilla Firefox. Firefox automatically installs updates by default, but you can choose to have Firefox notify you when updates are available so that you can accept them manually. In Firefox, go to menu> Options> General. Under "Allow Firefox to", select "Check for updates but let you choose to install them".
• For new features and less frequent interface updates, you can choose Mozilla Firefox ESR. The extended support version receives major updates every 42 weeks instead of every 6 weeks, but Mozilla keeps it up to date with security updates.
• If you're looking for a Chrome-like browser without using Google's Update Tool, try the new Microsoft Edge. It's based on the same open source Chromium code that is the foundation of Chrome, and it's even available for Mac and Linux. Edge updates automatically like Chrome, but it uses Microsoft's updater rather than Google's. Other browsers are based on Chrome, including the Brave browser. To our knowledge, they all use Chrome-style automatic updates to keep users safe.

Whichever browser you choose, make sure to keep it up to date with the latest security patches. It is dangerous to continue to use an outdated browser full of security holes.