Google LLC Running in Background on Mac

This happened to me too. It added itself without any action on my part, and without any Google crud open, to my knowledge. How can I determine what added it, so that I can remove it with prejudice?

Update:

Ran `sfltool dumpbtm`

#3:
                 UUID: E3C582DB-F60F-43FA-9A38-2325000511D8
                 Name: GoogleUpdater
       Developer Name: Google LLC
      Team Identifier: EQHXZ8M8AV
                 Type: legacy agent (0x10008)
          Disposition: [enabled, disallowed, visible, notified] (9)
           Identifier: com.google.GoogleUpdater.wake
                  URL: file:///Users/<snip>/Library/LaunchAgents/com.google.GoogleUpdater.wake.plist
      Executable Path: /Users/<snip>/Library/Application Support/Google/GoogleUpdater/Current/GoogleUpdater.app/Contents/MacOS/GoogleUpdater
           Generation: 2
    Parent Identifier: Google LLC

Update 2:

Contents of `com.google.GoogleUpdater.wake.plist` show it's Google Chrome related:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
	<key>AbandonProcessGroup</key>
	<true/>
	<key>Label</key>
	<string>com.google.GoogleUpdater.wake</string>
	<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
	<string>Aqua</string>
	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
	<array>
		<string>/Users/<snip>/Library/Application Support/Google/GoogleUpdater/Current/GoogleUpdater.app/Contents/MacOS/GoogleUpdater</string>
		<string>--wake-all</string>
		<string>--enable-logging</string>
		<string>--vmodule=*/components/update_client/*=2,*/chrome/updater/*=2</string>
	</array>
	<key>StartInterval</key>
	<integer>3600</integer>
</dict>
</plist>

Still not sure how it got installed when I've got Google background services disabled.

If you delete the files, Google will just replace them and automatically enable them, not unlike malware. I've removed read/write permissions to the files. Untested in the long run, but should render them inoperable and unreplaceable:

chmod 000 ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.google.*

I found this answer on the chrome support site. I'm still not 100% sure this is the legit answer, because the answer isn't' from Google themselves, but it's on their forum.

The OP pasted the same image of the two background items ("Google Updated" and "Google LLC") in their question.

===============

The "Google LLC" login item on MacOS is a feature that allows certain Google software or services to automatically start when you log in to your Mac. This can include items related to Google Drive, Google Chrome, or other Google applications. These login items are set to launch at startup to provide seamless integration with Google services and improve the user experience. Here are answers to your questions:

1. What is Google LLC login item? The Google LLC login item is essentially a mechanism that enables Google-related services or applications to start when you log in to your Mac. It's a convenience feature that allows for quicker access to Google services and applications.
2. What is it doing? The specific actions of the Google LLC login item may vary depending on the Google services or applications you have installed. For example, if you have Google Drive installed, the login item might be related to syncing files to your Google Drive account. In the case of Google Chrome, it could be for updating the browser or maintaining browser-related settings.
3. How is it functionally different from Google Updater? Google LLC login items and Google Updater serve different purposes. Google LLC login items are related to the behavior of Google services or applications upon logging in to your Mac. They ensure that specific Google-related functionality is readily available. Google Updater, on the other hand, is primarily responsible for keeping Google software up to date. It checks for updates and installs them, ensuring that you're using the latest version of Google software.
4. Why is it able to install itself in my login items without any authentication or opt-in action on my part? Google software often adds these login items as part of its installation process to enhance user experience and convenience. However, the exact behavior can vary depending on the software or the installation method. Sometimes, Google software might automatically add these items to startup without requiring explicit user consent. This is typically done to ensure that users have a seamless experience, but it can be adjusted in your Mac's settings.

You can review and modify your login items in your Mac's settings. To do this, go to "System Preferences" > "Users & Groups" > your user account > "Login Items." From there, you can manage which items are allowed to start at login, including those related to Google services.

https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/243035925/what-is-the-google-llc-login-item-on-macos-and-what-is-it-doing?hl=en

stingysting wrote:

I was just using my mac, and I noticed that a login item/background item automatically added itself to the list. What is Google LLC? Is this something I should be worried about?

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/751e719e-8e15-4d62-a656-f1db72735285

I would not worry about it no.

This where google stores your account data for whatever "Google Services" you use...

It show it is off, what is the issue then?

You can remove it, to suit your needs:

ref: Change Login Items settings on Mac - Apple Support

if in doubt—refer to the developers website; Support/Help/FAQ/known issues/compatibility /updates/uninstall:

Contact a third party vendor

Contact a third-party vendor - Apple Support

AuggieDog wrote:

When you say we installed "google", are you referring to google chrome?

You cannot install Google Chrome on a Mac without installing Google. The purpose of macOS's "Google LLC" Notification is to inform you that you decided to modify your Mac in that manner, perhaps a long time ago.

There is nothing new about Google's self-updating system modifications; Google has been doing that for years. Judging by the amount of recent interest in the subject, the notification is only now causing people to become aware of that fact.

Being a bit pedantic there but for the user profile directory I actually meant: -

/Users/[user profile name]/Library/LaunchAgents

And it absolutely does exist on MacOs, I'm looking at it right now.. (Sonoma 14.5). You won't see that directory using Finder because it's hidden but if you open terminal and navigate to it using: -

cd /Users/[user profile name]/Library/LaunchAgents

You'll see the directory exists and it's probably chock full of nasty Google .plist files just waiting to be deleted.

To be clear, the full list of directories to check are: -

• /Library/LaunchDaemons
• /LibraryLaunchAgents
• /Users/[User Profile Name]/Library/LaunchAgents

juanpitillo wrote:

How does one install/uninstall Google? I do not have any google apps but got the Google LLC notification (and background login item) as well.

You can see a list of software you installed with the System Information app: System Information User Guide for Mac - Apple Support.

Choose Software > Installations

One or more of Googles's many products or services will appear in that list, along with its installation date, which may have been a long time ago. macOS is only recently making its users aware of that fact; knowledge that seems to be causing people a great deal of anger.

Only you can know what you installed and the reason for installing it.

Yeah, it just sneaked itself in as a LaunchDaemon and LaunchAgent here also and allowed itself running in the background, without my specific consent!

I only noticed it recently when I was researching why my MBP was continuously waking from sleep.

I just removed Google Drive and suggest you do it also, if you installed it :) If you want to use it, just visit the website.

Apparently no way to do this, once you install any Google software to your May.

You could try to manually delete the LaunchDaemons Google installs, but I suspect it would just put them back there:

Go to the main /Library/LaunchDaemons folder (not the one in your User folder, but the one in the root folder of your Macintosh HD) and delete any file which has Google in its name :)

Alternatively, just uninstall Chrome and use a browser which is not spying on you. I use Brave Browser and you it even gets rid of the annoying ads on Youtube.

I just want to know if this is allowing Google to track me in ways I may not want or doing something else vaguely nefarious.

Google is specifically designed to do that, and they are very good at what they do. Installing Google turns your Mac into a full time information-harvesting and -uploading "bot", rendering most of a Mac's advantages moot.

- unfortunately, I have to have Chrome for one particular application that won't work on Firefox or Safari, but I won't use it for anything else.

Understood. If you like Chrome, consider using Brave instead. Unlike Chrome, Brave does not impose the demands on a Mac that Google requires. Brave works well on Macs. Google works well for... Google. They don't care about your Mac.

Far too many people suggest removing Chrome will be enough to remove this entry or it's your own fault for installing Chrome in the first place without giving any practical advice on how to remove it.

So, let's get it removed.

Firstly uninstall any Google apps you have installed like Chrome and restart.

Then delete any file with google in it's name from these locations: -

~/Library/LaunchDaemons

~/Library/LaunchAgents

~/[user profile]/Library/LaunchAgents

Note the 'Library' folder in your profile will be hidden, just use terminal and delete them manually.

Restart and 'Google LLC' won't show up in the 'Allow in the background' list.

Enjoy

Apparently my earlier replies were unclear. You needed to input your password when you installed Google. When you did that, you agreed to Google's Terms and Conditions. Presumably, you were comfortable with them at the time. If you have had a change of heart, the solution is to uninstall Google.

for reference: https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/243035925/what-is-the-google-llc-login-item-on-macos-and-what-is-it-doing?hl=en

and this one as well: https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/453027/how-can-i-stop-getting-google-updater-added-items-that-can-run-in-the-backgrou

This is a hard to read thread full of scare-mongering. Some applications run updates and different daemons in the background to allow for faster start-up - Google Drive for example is going to run stuff in the background to sync folders you have requested it to. Apple just requires additional layer of transparency from application developers about this.

Except it simply isn't true. Google created a parent company named "Alphabet" and Google is now a subsidiary of Alphabet and Google is an umbrella company for other Google internet-related businesses such as YouTube and Android.

Long story short, YouTube is not owned by Meta or Facebook.

Also, nobody installs "Google" on their Mac anymore than a Windows user installs "Apple" on their PC when they install iTunes. It's pretty clear this "Google LLC" login item is from Google Chrome specifically.

John Holcomb2 wrote:

I have Chrome on my computer because I run into websites that won't work with Safari. Not many, but sometimes.

If Safari does not work with those sites, try Brave: https://brave.com

Brave is similar to Chrome without having to install Google. It's just a browser. It does not modify a Mac, will not throw that notification (because it doesn't do what Google does) and unlike Google it doesn't exist to package and sell you as a product — it has other ways of making money.

There are other Chromium-based browsers too.

Google has violated the privilege I provided it. Time to shut them down.

That time passed a very long time ago. It seems macOS is just now helping people become aware of it.