WhySlow
What is GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent on Mac?
Keeps Chrome and other Google apps up to date.
Why is GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent using so much CPU?
Brief activity while checking for or installing updates.
Should you quit GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent?
Maybe. GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent isn't part of macOS, but an app you use may need it. If you don't recognize what it's doing, quit the app it belongs to rather than the process itself.
Is GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent a virus?
Not by itself. GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent comes from software you or your company installed. If you don't recognize the app it belongs to, look it up before quitting it, and remove apps you no longer use.
How to check GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent on your Mac
Open Activity Monitor (Applications › Utilities), choose the CPU tab and type GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent in the search field. The % CPU column shows how busy it is: 100% means one full processor core. The Memory tab shows how much memory it uses. Activity Monitor shows numbers but doesn't say what they mean; WhySlow explains GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent in plain English and only flags it when it is really slowing your Mac down.
What to do if GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent stays busy
- Quit or update the app that GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent belongs to. Updates often fix runaway helpers.
- If you don’t use that app anymore, uninstall it so GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent stops running in the background.
- Check System Settings › General › Login Items for helpers you don’t need at startup.
How WhySlow helps with GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent
- Shows how much CPU and memory GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent is using right now, in plain English.
- Tells you when GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent is the real cause of a slow Mac, and when it isn't.
Free to explain. $7 once for one-click fixes.