---
title: "GoogleUpdater, Keystone and GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent on Mac · Kilobat Guides"
url: "https://kilobat.app/guides/what-is-googleupdater.html"
description: "GoogleUpdater and the older Keystone agent update Chrome and other Google apps on a Mac. Learn why they connect and how to control updates."
---

macOS processes

# What is GoogleUpdater on Mac?

`GoogleUpdater` updates Chrome and other Google apps in the background. Older installs use the Keystone agent, `GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent`.

Process: `GoogleUpdater` · Process: `GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent` · Applies to: Google Chrome and other Google apps on all current macOS versions. Seen on macOS 27.2. · Checked: 29 October 2026

## Where you see it

- `GoogleUpdater` is in the list in Activity Monitor › Network, in `nettop` or in Kilobat.
- A firewall or network monitor asks if `GoogleUpdater` can connect.
- Files named `com.google.GoogleUpdater` or `com.google.keystone` are in `/Library/LaunchAgents` or `/Library/LaunchDaemons`.

## What it is

Google's help says that Chrome installs updates in the background. The Chromium updater manual describes the updater app and its install folders.

A per-user install is in `~/Library/Application Support/Google/GoogleUpdater`. A system install is in `/Library/Application Support/Google/GoogleUpdater`.

## Why it uses the network

- **Update checks.** It asks Google's servers for new versions of the apps that it manages.
- **Update downloads.** It downloads new versions of Chrome and other Google apps.

## Is it normal?

Yes, if you have Google apps. Chrome updates are large downloads.

The Chromium manual says that the updater removes itself when no app needs it any more.

## See how much it uses

1. Open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities. Click Network.
2. Type `GoogleUpdater` in the search field. The Sent Bytes and Rcvd Bytes columns show what it moved.
3. In Terminal, watch only this process. Press d to show the change per second, and q to quit.

   ```
   nettop -p GoogleUpdater -P
   ```
4. Do the same for `GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent`. In `nettop`, its name is cut to 15 characters.

## Reduce or pause it safely

1. Keep Chrome up to date. Updates fix security problems.
2. To update now, on your usual network, open Chrome. Choose Chrome > About Google Chrome, then click Relaunch.
3. If you remove all Google apps, the updater removes itself after some hours. The Chromium manual describes this.

## With Kilobat

1. Open the Kilobat app list and search for `GoogleUpdater`. Its row shows the live rate and the bytes it moved.
2. In Terminal, see the same live list. Press / and type the name to search.

   ```
   kilobat status --watch
   ```
3. Show its traffic over one day. Names match `kilobat report --summary`.

   ```
   kilobat bandwidth GoogleUpdater day
   ```
4. Through MCP, an AI agent gets the same history with `get_app_bandwidth` and the name `GoogleUpdater`.
5. With Pro and the network filter, Kilobat pauses this updater on metered networks. The app keeps working. See [Stop updates from using hotspot data](https://kilobat.app/guides/recipes/stop-updates-on-hotspot.html).

   ```
   kilobat updaters
   ```
6. The live view is free. History in the app needs Pro. Kilobat records history only while the app runs.

## Questions

**Can I stop GoogleUpdater on a hotspot only?**

macOS has no setting for this. Kilobat Pro with the network filter pauses it on metered networks. Chrome keeps working.

## Sources

- [Google Chrome Help: Update Google Chrome](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95414)
- [Chromium Docs: Chromium Updater user manual](https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/main/docs/updater/user_manual.md)
- nettop(1), man page installed with macOS 27.2
- [Kilobat docs: Pausing updaters on metered networks](https://kilobat.app/docs.html#updaters)

Sources checked on 29 October 2026. Man pages are the ones installed with macOS; open one with `man <name>` in Terminal.

## Related guides

- [Stop updates from using hotspot data](https://kilobat.app/guides/recipes/stop-updates-on-hotspot.html): On a metered network, Kilobat can pause the helpers that download updates.
- [What is Microsoft AutoUpdate on Mac?](https://kilobat.app/guides/what-is-microsoft-autoupdate.html): Microsoft AutoUpdate (MAU) keeps Office, Teams and other Microsoft apps up to date.
- [What is Autoupdate (Sparkle) on Mac?](https://kilobat.app/guides/what-is-sparkle-autoupdate.html): Autoupdate is part of Sparkle, an open source update framework that many Mac apps use.
- [Mac uses Personal Hotspot data in the background](https://kilobat.app/guides/hotspot-background-data.html): A Mac on a phone hotspot can use a lot of data with no action from you.