Not only will it not update automatically, it tells me relaunch to update and then when that doesn't work it tells me to reinstall Chrome. I have gone through the reinstall process 3x and now I just mostly ignore it, but I am concerned that Apple no longer supports Chrome. I am not going to use Safari despite the push. What can I do?
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 13.4
If I understand you correctly, you're trying to get the Chrome app to update automatically, but this is failing.
Have you installed any anti-virus, clean-up or optimizing apps on your Mac? If so, uninstall them before proceeding. Also, disable any VPN software you might be using.
Then start by doing this:
• Install any updates that are available for your OS. If you're running Ventura, the current release is 11.6.3.
• Next, restart the Mac in Safe mode.Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support
• While remaining in Safe mode, uninstall the Chrome app. Uninstall Google Chrome - Computer - support.google.com
• Empty the Trash, reboot the computer into Safe mode again and reinstall Chrome with a fresh download.
If the above doesn't appear to work, then this:
Please run an EtreCheck evaluation of your Mac and post the generated report back here in a reply. The report will not include any personal info. It simply details specifics about hardware performance and installed software that might be in conflict with the OS.
Please navigate to EtreCheck.com and download the free version. Be sure to Allow Full Disk Access when you install the app. Once you’ve run the app and created your report please post it with your reply to this message.
Please note that you must upload the full report. To see how, please click > How to use Add Text when posting… EtreCheck Report.
We’ll use your EtreCheck report to look for the things that may be causing your problem and advise how to correct them.
I'm sure what you say about Google is accurate, but so many millions of people use it without this issue. Apple doesn't play well with others and wants us to use Safari. Either there is a work around or there isn't. I'm not a techie but I can follow specific directions to fix this for my own use. That is what I am looking for here. Thanks!
Experienced the same issue on a Macbook I had not used for some months.
What happened is that at some point in late 2023/early 2024 Google changed the Application name, from "Chrome" to "Google Chrome".
Because the automatic update fails, when you manually drag the new application you are unknowingly left with both application versions. Therefore when you click the shortcut in your dock for "Chrome", the old, existing one keeps opening, which is out of date.
To fix this, simply delete "Chrome" and add "Google Chrome" to your dock. Now you have the right version only which should be able to update fine by itself moving forward and you won't keep seeing the "out of date" warning.
The problem isn't that Apple doesn't support Chrome. The problem is that Google has a poorly written application that hogs system resources and isn't working as it should.
What can you do? Try the Brave browser. It's like Chrome without the Google. (Thanks, BDAqua.)
Uninstalling and reinstalling in Safe Mode works! It has been weeks and I have not gotten the Google cannot update message again. Thank you very much!
How did you get Safe Mode to work? I can't even get that to work! Ready to trash this machine!
Just wrote the fix in this thread (very simple, due to Application renaming that occurred). Should solve it.
Google Chrome Cannot Update MacBook Pro M2
