GoogleUpdater
GoogleUpdater is a macOS background launch agent used by Google software to wake update tasks and help keep installed Google apps current.
What is GoogleUpdater?
GoogleUpdater is a background startup item on macOS that is created by Google software to run update-related tasks after you sign in. It is associated with keeping supported Google apps, such as Chrome and other Google-installed software, current with newer versions and security fixes. Users usually do not open or interact with this item directly because it works behind the scenes through LaunchAgent scheduling. You may notice it in Login Items, background activity prompts, or when reviewing files in ~/Library/LaunchAgents. Its role is administrative rather than user-facing: it helps trigger update checks and related maintenance for Google software installed on the Mac.
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Safety overview
Status: Mostly safe
A LaunchAgent named com.google.GoogleUpdater.wake is consistent with Google's updater function on macOS, where GoogleUpdater is used to keep Chrome and related Google software updated. Because it runs in the background, it can wake periodically after login and may send basic update-check information to Google. It is generally expected if you use Google apps, but you should confirm the plist belongs to Google software and not an unrelated file with a similar name if the item shows unusual behavior, repeated prompts, or points to a missing executable.
Recommendation: Keep this item if you use Google software and want automatic updates to continue working in the background. If you no longer use Google apps, disabling it may stop background update checks and can reduce extra login activity. If it causes repeated notifications or errors, check the linked Google apps and reinstall or update them before removing the startup item.
File path
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.google.GoogleUpdater.wake.plist
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