Background Items Added "Google Updater" Prompt

This is what I had to do just now. MacOS 13.1

1. I uninstalled Chrome (Move to Trash from Applications)
2. Then I went to System Preferences -> General -> Login Items, and I turned off Google Updater (not sure if this step is required, but I did it anyways)
3. Then I went to this location: /Users/your_user_name/Library/LaunchAgents
4. Deleted the items that I do not want want to run in the background. In this case they were: "com.google.keystone.agent.plist" & "com.google.keystone.xpcservice.plist"
5. Restarted my system

Done. If you go to System Preferences -> General -> Login Items now, you will not see Google Updater there, so no more notifications. Your mind is at peace.

You are welcome.

wrngNfreeman wrote:

1. This is what I had to do just now. MacOS 13.1

I uninstalled Chrome (Move to Trash from Applications)

2. Then I went to System Preferences -> General -> Login Items, and I turned off Google Updater (not sure if this step is required, but I did it anyways)

Then I went to this location: /Users/your_user_name1. /Library/LaunchAgents

2. Deleted the items that I do not want want to run in the background. In this case they were: "com.google.keystone.agent.plist" & "com.google.keystone.xpcservice.plist"

3. Restarted my system

Done. If you go to System Preferences -> General -> Login Items now, you will not see Google Updater there, so no more notifications. Your mind is at peace.

You are welcome.

Thank you!

Just to clarify, the above post is absolutely correct. Every app is different. Different apps may have different uninstallation procedures. But if you want to dig in delete those launch agents or daemons, you should also delete the application itself.

If you really need the apps, then hopefully they will fix the bug and you can reinstall in the future.

Long Discussion here: Perpetual "Background Items Added" - Apple Community

Presumably, this feature is intended to inform the user of background items that can affect the operation of your Mac. In the case of Google, it's nothing new since once you install Google on a Mac it will constantly update itself in its mission to constantly scour your Mac for personal information it sells to others. Google has always done that; the only difference is that you are informed every time Google pushes an update to your Mac. The only solution is to uninstall Google.

What you install on a Mac is up to you, and in an ideal world users make an informed choice. Apple does not tell us what to install or not install, but if you choose to contaminate your Mac with things like Google, CleanMyMac, Macs Fan Control and similar junk don't be surprised if it doesn't last very long.

1 - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254383307?page=1

2 - Then notice the infamous " CleanMyMac " aka BrickMyMac is the Notification Centre

Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS,  is an invitation for disaster and comprise the Operating System

Certain Applications maybe available on the Apple Apps Store - this only means the Developer is prepared to pay Apple a portion on each sale. What the Application may do to the computer is up to the User to check this out before purchase

Any of the below should be removed as per Developers Instructions 

This will include CleanMyMac

Read some of the posting and arrive at your own conclusions.

Specific to CMM, MacKeeper and Dr Cleaner Pro Plus 

Some Contributors suggest restarting in Recovery Mode and choosing to Reinstall the Operating System over  the existing installation after the BrickMyMac has been Un-Installed via the Developers Instructions

This may or may not replace elements of the Entire Operating System including the Home Folder ( User Account )  and replace any corrupted or removed elements of the Operating System and make thing right.

Then there are Other Contributors ( like myself ) would suggest  from this link Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon.

Thereafter to start from scratch and install all Required Application directly from the Apple Apps Store or Directly from the Developer.

If going this route - I suggest Not using Startup Assist to migrate things back as this will probably Re-Introduce the existing  issue that existed when the TM Backup was made 

I just uninstalled Chrome, but I didn't do it correctly so I still have the notifications.

Try using etresoft's excellent EtreCheck app. If you need help doing that read Old Toad equally excellent User Tip, here: How to use the Add Text Feature When Posting Large Amounts of Text, i.e. an Etrecheck Report - Apple Community. It contains a download link and detailed instructions.

Having said that I do not know how useful EtreCheck will be in identifying all the Google components that may be responsible for the nagging Notifications, but others might be able to help.

artan259 wrote:

I don't even have any google products installed on my machine. Not sure where it is coming from.

It is not beyond the realm of possibility that Notification could be intentionally deceptive, and you would certainly want to know if that's the case.

EtreCheck may help get to the bottom of it: How to use the Add Text Feature When Posting Large Amounts of Text, i.e. an Etrecheck Report - Apple Community contains instructions and a download link.

Apple wrote:

You can manage this in Login Items Settings.

Just because you “can” manage this in Login Items Settings doesn’t mean you should.

It may take a couple of years before all 3rd party developers figure out how to live with Apple’s new “management” feature. Until then, your only option will be to uninstall or update any software that doesn’t behave properly.

But now you are in a catch-22. I expect Google should be able to handle this. And indeed, I haven’t seen anyone else report this problem with Google. I think Google has already fixed yet. But you’ve disabled the Google auto updater, so Google can’t update itself. Your only remaining option, if you want to be free of these notifications, is to do the job yourself. You will need to manually uninstall Google, and do so properly. Then, if you want to reinstall Google, it will probably work correctly. But the key part is that you’ll have to do this all properly. If you do it wrong, then the pop-ups may never end. Yet you have forbidden Google from doing it. Now you’ll have to figure it out in your own.

What follows in not intended to a flippant remark - really 🤞

There are some things we Users do have control over .

One of which is, the Third Party Software we install and use on the machine.

Some of which will make the Apple Experience better and some will .. . BrickMyMac.

Nudge .. nudge , in the best interests of the computer

I am on Ventura 13.2 now. The location is still the same. I don't want to assume anything, but in case you do not see the "Library" folder, under /Users/your_user_name/, then you can press Cmd+Shift+(dot) to unhide files and folders.

I hope this helps.

For me it was in `/Library/LaunchAgents`. I had to use `sudo` in the console to remove it:

```

/$ ls -l /Library/LaunchAgents

/$ sudo rm /Library/LaunchAgents/com.google.keystone.agent.plist

Password:

/$

```

The password is your computer password.

Thanks for the info. However, I am running OS Ventura 16.2 and the location is different. Can you tell me where I can find the Google files that are running in the background thank you.

Dumb question here, but what is (dot)?

Honeywill_London wrote:

Dumb question here, but what is (dot)?

⌘ ⇧ .

That key chord toggles Finder visibility of macOS's hidden files.

I don't even have any google products installed on my machine. Not sure where it is coming from.