Symptoms & Diagnosis
The Chrome update failed error 0x80040154 typically occurs when the Google Update service is unable to initialize. This prevents the browser from communicating with Google’s update servers.
Users usually encounter this error when visiting the “About Chrome” page. Instead of a successful version check, a message appears stating: “Update check failed to start (error code 0x80040154).”
| Symptom | Possible Cause |
|---|---|
| “Update check failed to start” | Google Update service (gupdate) is disabled. |
| 0x80040154 Error Code | Corrupted registry keys or missing COM components. |
| Stuck at 0% Progress | Firewall or Antivirus blocking the update executable. |
This error is most common on Windows systems where administrative permissions have been restricted or third-party optimization software has disabled background services.
Troubleshooting Guide
To resolve this error, we need to ensure the update services are running correctly and that the browser components are properly registered within the Windows environment.
Method 1: Enable Google Update Services
The most common fix involves restarting the services responsible for background updates. If these are set to “Disabled,” Chrome cannot update.
Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter. Locate “Google Update Service (gupdate)” and “Google Update Service (gupdatem)”. Right-click both, select Properties, and set the Startup type to “Automatic” or “Automatic (Delayed Start).”
Method 2: Use the Command Prompt to Repair
Sometimes the update components need a manual trigger. You can force the update mechanism to re-initialize using the command line with administrative privileges.
cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Update"
GoogleUpdate.exe /RegServer
This command re-registers the Google Update service in the Windows Registry, which often clears the 0x80040154 class not registered error.
Method 3: Reinstall Chrome Using the Standalone Installer
If the internal update mechanism is completely broken, the standard “About Chrome” update will continue to fail. In this case, downloading the standalone installer is the best path forward.
Navigate to the official Google Chrome download page and choose the “Download Chrome” option. Running this installer will overwrite corrupted files and repair the update path without deleting your bookmarks or history.
Prevention
To prevent error 0x80040154 from recurring, ensure that your system optimization tools do not “clean” or disable Google services during startup.
Regularly check your Windows Update status, as outdated system components can sometimes interfere with how Chrome registers its COM objects. Maintaining a stable internet connection during update attempts also reduces the risk of file corruption.
Finally, avoid manually moving the Google Chrome folder from its default installation path in Program Files, as this breaks the registry paths required for the update service to function.