How to Stop Browsers From Updating Automatically

By Lloyd Ingram Updated April 20, 2026

Quick Tips

For Chrome and Edge, you’ll need to stop their background update services through Windows Services or the Registry.
Firefox has a built-in setting to switch from automatic to manual updates without touching anything outside the browser itself.
Disabling auto-updates means security patches won’t install on their own either, so it’s a good idea to still check for updates manually on a regular schedule if you go this route.
On Mac, browser updates often run through the Mac App Store or the browser’s own updater.

Automatic browser updates are on by default for good reason. They remove security vulnerabilities, fix bugs, and keep your browser compatible with modern websites. But when an update breaks, and you’re forced to reroll it, you can stop the faulty version from getting applied. Here’s how to stop automatic browser updates for the most popular browsers.

Option 1 – How to Stop Auto Update Chrome Browser

Chrome runs using a background Windows service called Google Update that installs new versions silently. Disabling that service is how to stop auto update Chrome browser.

Step 1. Press “Win + R,” type “services.msc,” and press “Enter” to open the Windows Services manager.

Step 2. Scroll down and look for two entries: “Google Updater Service” and “Google Updater Internal Service.” You’ll need to disable both.

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Step 3. Double-click on a service to open its properties. For “Startup type,” change it from “Automatic” to “Disabled,” then click “Stop” to halt it immediately, and click “OK.”

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Step 4. Set the other service to “Disabled” as well.

Step 5. Restart your PC.

Option 2 – Stop Automatic Browser Updates for Edge

Like Chrome, Edge uses a background Windows service to download and install updates without prompting you. Disabling it follows a similar process.

Step 1. Press “Win + R,” type “services.msc,” and press “Enter.”

Step 2. Scroll to “Microsoft Edge Update Service (edgeupdate)” and double-click it.

Step 3. Set the “Startup type” to “Disabled,” click “Stop” to end the running service, then click “OK.”

Step 4. There’s another entry named “Microsoft Edge Update Service (edgeupdatem).” Repeat the process for this one.

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Alternatively, you can block Edge updates via the Registry:

Step 1. Open the Registry Editor, then go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate.

Step 2. Create a new DWORD value named “UpdateDefault” and set it to “0” to block all Edge updates, or “2” to allow updates only when you manually trigger them.

Option 3 – Stop Firefox From Updating Automatically

Firefox has a distinct setting for disabling updates.

Step 1. Open Firefox and click on the three-line icon in the top-right corner, then select “Settings.”

Step 2. In the “General” tab, scroll down to the “Firefox Updates” section.

Step 3. Select “Check for updates but let you choose to install them” if you want to stay aware of new versions without having them applied automatically.

Option 4 – Stop Browsers From Auto-Updating on Mac

On macOS, browser update behavior depends on how the browser was installed. Browsers downloaded directly from their official websites use their own built-in updaters, while App Store versions update through macOS’s centralized update system.

Firefox on Mac: Works the same way as with Windows (see Option 3).

Chrome on Mac: Open Terminal and run the following command to disable the Google Software Updater: defaults write com.google.Keystone.Agent checkInterval 0.

Edge on Mac: Similar to Chrome, open Terminal and run “defaults write com.microsoft.edgeupdate checkInterval 0”.

App Store browsers: If your browser was installed via the Mac App Store, go to “System Settings,” then to “Software Update,” and “Automatic Updates,” and toggle off “Install app updates from the App Store.”