How to Disable Software Reporter Tool in Chrome and Should You Turn It Off

Google Chrome comes bundled with a data collection, and reporting tool called the Software Reporter. It runs simultaneously with the Chrome browser on a Windows computer. Occasionally, it may demand a lot of CPU resources and significantly slow down your computer.

Some users have complained of having four running Reporter tools. So in this guide, we will give you our expert suggestions on dealing with this tool.

How Does Software Reporter Tool Work in Google Chrome

Google Chrome’s Software Reporter Tool runs in the background scanning the device for malware that may interrupt or damage the proper operation of the Chrome browser. When it encounters malware, it initiates a process to eliminate it.

It performs these scans periodically and compares programs detected with a known list of malware to determine what is safe or isn’t. You may also manually run Software Reporter Application from the path below:

%localappdata%\Google\Chrome\User Data\SwReporter

Should Your Disable Software Reporter Tool

The Software Reporter Tool is a legitimate part of Google Chrome, and the best practice is to leave it enabled. If you remove it, you may expect the following:

• You will stop getting notifications of malware while using Chrome.
• The tool will no longer be able to scan or remove Malware.

With that said, the choice is yours. Some users may insist on disabling it because it causes high CPU usage, it may cause conflicts with other applications they need to run, or they are concerned about privacy. While we discourage uninstalling tools that secure your computer, the steps below may help you remove the Software Reporter Tool.

1. Disable Software Reporter Tool From the Registry

The Windows 11 Registry Editor is a database of configured settings of applications installed on the computer. You can tweak Chrome policy keys from the editor, including the settings for the Software Reporter Tool. Here is how to do it:

Step 1: Press Windows + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog.

Step 2: Type regedit and hit Enter.

Step 3: Navigate to the path below:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome

Step 4: Right-click on a space in the right pane, select New, and DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Step 5: Name the value ‘ChromeCleanupEnabled’.

Step 6: Double-click on the newly created value and change the value to ‘0’, then click OK.

2. Disable Software Reporter Tool Using Files Explorer

The File Explorer allows you to tweak specific properties relating to the files. You could use it to enter Advanced file settings for the Software Reporter Tool file with the steps below.

Step 1: Press Windows + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog.

Step 2: Type the following address and hit Enter:

%localappdata%\Google\Chrome\User Data 

Step 3: Right-click on the SwReporter file and select Properties.

Step 4: Click the Security tab and select Advanced.

Step 6: Click the Disable inheritance button.

Step 7: Select ‘Remove all inherited permissions from this object’ option.

Step 8: Click Apply in the Advanced Security Settings Window and OK in the other open Property Windows.

3. Disable Software Reporter Tool By Deleting the EXE File

Exe files are executables that contain a set of instructions for the operating system. The Software Reporter Tool has an exe file containing all information about how it operates. Once this file is deleted, it can no longer be triggered by Google Chrome.

Step 1: Press Windows + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog.

Step 2: Type the following address and hit Enter:

%localappdata%\Google\Chrome\User Data\SwReporter 

Step 3: Double-click the available folder; usually, it is named with some figures as shown below:

Step 4: Look for the ‘software_reporter_tool’ and delete it.

4. Disable Software Reporter Tool From Chrome Settings

The tool runs in the background. So, when you disable all background operations for Chrome, Software Reporter Tool will no longer run. Here is how to do it:

Step 1: Click the three vertical dots menu at the top right corner of Google Chrome and select Settings.

Step 2: Select System on the left sidebar, and on the right, turn off the toggle next to ‘Continue running background apps when Chrome is closed.’

Using Google Chrome Without the Software Reporter Tool

If you have followed the steps in this guide, you should successfully have disabled or deleted the monitoring tool. While we do not recommend web surfing without adequate system monitoring and protection, some circumstances may necessitate these measures. If you disable the tool, you must still use any of the best Windows antivirus to guarantee your online safety.

Also, scan your computer for viruses since some malware may mimic genuine programs like the Reporter Tool and lead to high CPU usage.