---
title: "dl.google.com: what it is and what breaks if you block it · Kilobat"
url: "https://kilobat.app/hosts/dl-google-com"
description: "dl.google.com is where Chrome and other Google apps download their updates. Why it uses so much data, and what breaks if you block it."
---

Apps and helpers

# dl.google.com

`dl.google.com` is Google's download host. Google's Chrome Enterprise help says that devices get Chrome Browser updates from `dl.google.com` and `www.google.com/dl`.

Run by Google · Checked: 1 November 2026

## Short answer

Google's download host, where Chrome gets its updates.

Block with care

Blocking it stops Chrome and other Google apps from updating, including security fixes.

Matches

`dl.google.com`

A name with `*.` covers every name under it: `*.push.apple.com` matches `1-courier.push.apple.com`.

## What it serves

Google's help for managing Chrome updates on a Mac names `dl.google.com/*` and `www.google.com/dl/*` for a firewall's URL settings. That is where Chrome updates come from.

The Chromium updater's documentation shows installers under `dl.google.com/edgedl/chrome/install/`.

On a Mac, Chrome updates through [`GoogleUpdater`](https://kilobat.app/processes/googleupdater).

## Processes that use it

- [GoogleUpdater](https://kilobat.app/processes/googleupdater): Google's updater for Chrome and other Google apps on the Mac. It checks for updates about every few hours and downloads new versions.

## What breaks if you block it

Block with care

Blocking it stops Chrome and other Google apps from updating, including security fixes.

What breaks if you block it

- Chrome updates can't download, so security fixes wait.
- Other Google downloads from this host fail too.

With Kilobat Pro and the network filter, you can block a host for every app or for one app: in Connections, select a connection and choose Block. Apple’s own services are never blocked by Kilobat’s [Protection](https://kilobat.app/docs/blocking#protection) lists.

## Notes

With Kilobat Pro and the network filter, GoogleUpdater pauses on metered networks instead, and Chrome keeps working.

## Sources

- [Chrome Enterprise Help: Manage Chrome updates (Mac)](https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/7591084)
- [Chromium Docs: Chromium Updater functional specification](https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/main/docs/updater/functional_spec.md)

Checked on 1 November 2026.

## Related

- [Stop updates from using hotspot data](https://kilobat.app/guides/recipes/stop-updates-on-hotspot)