ungoogled-chromium.exe

What is ungoogled-chromium.exe?

ungoogled-chromium.exe is the executable for the Ungoogled-Chromium browser, a privacy-focused fork of Chromium that removes Google integration and telemetry. It preserves Chromium’s performance and extensions while offering more control over data sharing.

Ungoogled-Chromium uses the same multi-process model as Chromium: a Browser Process, Renderer Processes per tab, GPU Process, Extension Processes, and Utility Processes, but without Google services or telemetry traffic.

Types of Ungoogled-Chromium Processes

• Browser Process: Main window UI and user interactions (1+ instances)
• Renderer Process: Each tab/iframe runs in its own process
• GPU Process: Hardware acceleration and rendering tasks
• Extension Process: Each extension in its own process
• Plugin Process: PDF viewer or other plugins if enabled
• Utility Process: Background services and network tasks

Is ungoogled-chromium.exe Safe?

Yes, ungoogled-chromium.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from the Ungoogled-Chromium project and downloaded from official sources (ungoogled-chromium.org or the project's official distribution channels).

Is ungoogled-chromium.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real ungoogled-chromium.exe is NOT a virus. Malware sometimes disguises itself with similar names to trick users.

How to Tell if ungoogled-chromium.exe is Legitimate or Malware

1. File Location:: Must be in C:\Program Files\ungoogled-chromium\Application\chrome.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\ungoogled-chromium\Application\chrome.exe. Any chrome.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
2. Digital Signature:: Right-click the file in Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a signer like "The Ungoogled Chromium Project".
3. Resource Usage:: Normal usage is 3-25% CPU per tab, 120-600 MB total memory. Extremely high usage when the browser is closed is suspicious.
4. Behavior:: Ungoogled-Chromium should only run when you launch the browser. Multiple persistent processes when you aren’t using it may indicate malware.

Why Is ungoogled-chromium.exe Running on My PC?

ungoogled-chromium.exe starts when you open the browser or when it’s configured to run in the background. It may also run during automatic updates or extension activity.

Reasons it's running:

• Active Browser Use: You have ungoogled-chromium open; each tab spawns its own renderer process for stability.
• Background Extensions: Extensions or web apps may stay active to monitor notifications or perform tasks in the background.
• Startup Launch: The browser is configured to start automatically when Windows starts or on login.
• Background Sync and Updates: Ungoogled-Chromium may perform background checks, updates, or sync settings via the user profile.
• Developer Tools or Automated Tasks: Development builds or automated scripts can trigger extra processes for debugging or testing.

Can I Disable or Remove ungoogled-chromium.exe?

Yes, you can disable ungoogled-chromium.exe. It's safe to close or disable startup/background execution, and you can uninstall the browser if you prefer another option.

How to Stop ungoogled-chromium.exe

• End Individual Tabs: Use Ungoogled-Chromium Task Manager (Shift+Esc) to end specific tabs or extensions.
• Close Browser: Close all windows or use Ctrl+Shift+W to close a window quickly.
• End All Processes: Open Windows Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), locate chrome.exe-like processes, and End Task.
• Prevent Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable Ungoogled-Chromium.
• Stop Background Apps: In Ungoogled-Chromium settings, disable Continue running background apps when Ungoogled-Chromium is closed.

How to Uninstall Ungoogled-Chromium

• ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → Ungoogled-Chromium → Uninstall
• ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → Ungoogled-Chromium → Uninstall
• ✔ Consider alternative browsers: Mozilla Firefox, Brave, Vivaldi

Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage with Ungoogled-Chromium

If ungoogled-chromium.exe is consuming excessive resources:

Common Causes & Solutions

• Too Many Tabs Open: Each tab can use significant memory. Close unused tabs or use tab suspension extensions.
• Resource-Heavy Extensions: Disable unnecessary extensions in chrome://extensions and remove suspicious ones.
• JavaScript-Heavy Websites: Web apps like video platforms or productivity suites can spike usage. Close or reload problematic tabs.
• Malicious Extensions: Some extensions may contain malware. Remove dubious extensions immediately.
• Outdated Build: Check for updates and install the latest Ungoogled-Chromium release.
• Hardware Acceleration Issues: Try disabling: Settings → System → Use hardware acceleration when available

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