Comments on: 5 Ways To Disable Google Software Reporter Tool (software_reporter_tool.exe)

By: Abel Braaksma

Abel Braaksma — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 19:53:43 +0000

Some nuance here: It actually only scans the folders belonging to, or directly related to the Chrome browser. It doesn’t scan any user files, unless, for instance, you upload or download a file through Chrome. If you look at the generated reports, there’s nothing that can lead back to a person (and no, I don’t work for Google, never have, never will, just wanted to clarify this bit).

That said, it is very invasive and even on my high-end workstation it regularly spins for 20+ minutes and blocks a full processor core at 100% during that time, causing the computer fan to become rather noisy. It seems to be not very effective at what it does, as my antivirus software does much more (keeps whole system clean) but for much less energy.

The fact that it reports by default, without user consent, is very annoying.

Also, the suggestions to add the ChromeCleanupEnabled and ChromeCleanupReportingEnabled to the registry don’t prevent this tool from firing up each time you launch Chrome (even though official Chrome documentation says this should work). Maybe they just mean ‘don’t take action and don’t report, but run anyway’ or something like that. Similarly, the tip to go to Settings > Advanced > Reset And Cleanup do not show the option in the screenshot above anymore (version 90.x). Perhaps newer versions disallow you to disable this behavior?

Either way, such an invasive tool that takes waaaay more processing power than 30 open tabs of Chrome itself combined should *definitely* be allowed to be configured. Preventing access on the folder is one sure-fire way of doing it, or using Windows Policy to disable access to the executable (not mentioned above, but can be done without using Chrome policies).

Through gpedit.msc, do:
* Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Application Control Policies
* Then go to AppLocakcer > Executable Rules
* Right-click > Add New Rule (opens wizard)
* Click “Deny” and in the next step “Publisher”
* In the next step, browse for the file “%localappdata%\google\chrome\User Data\SwReporter\xx.xx.xx” (select the highest version) and double-click “software_reporter_tool.exe”
* The fields are now automatically filled in.
* Move the vertical slider one notch up so that rull scope is File Name.
* Click Next, then Next and give a description for this rule
* Click Create.
* If prompted to create “Default rules” allow the policy editor to create these rules (or you’ll be in a whole lot of trouble).

Force-close any running “software_reporter_tool.exe” (on my system there were 4 of them!) and close Chrome. Restart Chrome. Wait a while and you should find that the tool will not start anymore.

I prefer this solution over changing the directory access settings, as they may result in the installer reporting a failure, plus as soon as Google changes the location of the file, or you uninstall everything and re-install, the problem re-occurs.

This way the rule stays around and is still easily manageable and adjustable if needed.

By: Sammy

Sammy — Sat, 23 Jan 2021 01:12:19 +0000

Doing this doesn’t help because Chrome is updated constantly and with each single new update, a new Software tool is added in a new folder version that has its name. You simply can’t remove this “tool” permanently. This tool is SPYING on you, even the name says it all, its SCANNING your PC and then it REPORTS to Google what you have on your PC. It scans all your files and folders from ALL your drives, C, D, E, doesn’t matter. Just don’t use Google Chrome or any Google products. Use BRAVE Browser instead, much better and Chrome and privacy oriented. It has no “software reporter tool” :))

By: jacemace

jacemace — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 04:12:11 +0000

Use this technique – go to the folder location
C:\Users\(user name)\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\SwReporter
right click the folder – and click properties – go to the security tab – press the advanced button for special permissions and advanced settings – in the advanced setting box press the disable inheritance button – in the pop up box press disable all inheritances – press apply and close the dialogue boxes. Be aware google updates the swreporter to newer versions.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 20 May 2020 15:56:33 +0000

Just delete this useless tool and i deleted the entire folder, it makes the pc very unstable and consumes a lot of cpu, delete it every time the browser is updated!!!

By: groovekonna

groovekonna — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 06:41:53 +0000

In reply to Tom. Thank you!

By: Usman Khurshid

Usman Khurshid — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 10:19:13 +0000

In reply to billy bob.

Please go to %localappdata%\google\chrome\User Data\SwReporter\ and open the folder. The version number changes with each new release of Chrome. Right now I can see my version folder to be: 80.229.200. So my exact folder will be:
C:\Users\usman\AppData\Local\google\chrome\User Data\SwReporter\80.229.200

You can find yours.

By: billy bob

billy bob — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 21:15:24 +0000

your crap doesnt work, I did search for “%localappdata%\google\chrome\User Data\SwReporter\39.195.200.3\”, doesn’t show up anywhere. I did another search just for “software reporter tool” again does not even show up anywhere yet when I close Chrome 20 software reporters show up. Your advice was useless. You should specify which operating system this works for because it does not work in windows 7 dumbass.

By: Zabalero

Zabalero — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 14:44:32 +0000

Why are they scanning my disk!!!???
We want a damn web browser, not an antivirus.
We are already full of those.

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 09:29:25 +0000

Bat file to disable inheritance …

@Echo Off

Echo Disable Software Reporter Tool Inheritance

set “SWRT_folder=%localappdata%\Google\Chrome\User Data\SwReporter”
cd /d “%SWRT_folder%”
set “command_str=dir /a:d /b”
%command_str% > tmpFile.txt
set /p VAR= < tmpFile.txt
del tmpFile.txt
cacls "%SWRT_folder%\%VAR%\software_reporter_tool.exe" /p Everyone:n

By: Chucky

Chucky — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 14:10:03 +0000

“Since the tool is from Google, we can be sure that it is a legitimate executable and will not harm our computer like viruses and malware.”

Oh, FFS. You’re naive aren’t you….