What is Google Chrome Elevation Service (elevation_service.exe) and what does it do?

While searching for something on our computer we’ve stumbled onto elevation_service.exe in the Chrome application folder in Program Files (x86) and after some digging, we learned that it is a service installed by Google Chrome and needed for Chrome Recovery component to repair Google Update when chrome doesn’t update. Read more about what Elevation Service is, why Chrome installed it on your computer and what is the purpose of it or what does it do behind the scenes, below.

elevation_service.exe in Chrome folder

If you open Services console (services.msc) on Windows, you’ll notice Google Chrome Elevation Service, for which, both service status and startup type set to Stopped and Manual respectively by default.

Google Chrome Elevation Service

Google Chome Elevation Service (elevation_service.exe)

  • Elevation_service.exe is a standalone executable, installed by the Chrome browser on user’s computer, you’ll find it in this location C:Program Files (x86)GoogleChromeApplication
  •  As various components get installed when you install Chrome (check chrome://components page see what are they), Recovery component is one of them and is registered on Windows for Chrome builds only. Chrome Recovery Component repairs Google Update process when Chrome doesn’t update. An elevation service is needed to repair Chrome installation in such case where the service will be used.

“Currently the elevation service is only installed for Google Chrome builds. The Primary use case at the moment for the service has to do with the Chrome recovery component. The recovery component is registered only for Google Chrome builds. It repairs Chrome Updater (Google Update) when the algorithm detects that Chrome is not being updated. Since Chrome could be installed per-system or per-user, an elevation service is needed to repair code in the per-system install case.”  Chrome/elevation_service page reads.

Disable Google Chrome Elevation Service

You can disable Chrome Elevation Service if you want, follow the steps below.

1. Open run dialog and type services.msc

2. Find Google Chrome Elevation Service, double-click on it to bring up the Properties dialog

3. Under Startup Type, choose ‘Disabled’, and click ‘OK’.

Note: Neither Google or nor we recommend doing that.

And before ending this article we’re letting you there is a Vivaldi Elevation Service for Vivaldi browser.

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Venkat Eswarlu

Venkat is an independent technology journalist and the founder of Techdows. He has been covering web browsers, Windows, and software news since 2009. His exclusive scoops on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge features have been cited by Forbes, TechCrunch, Wired, CNET, and other major publications.

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