Chrome now running from "Program Files" folder?

[shane]

I had to re-install Google Chrome for various reasons. After the re-install, I noticed that the application is now running from the "Program Files (x86)" folder instead of my AppData. I thought the whole purpose for running Chrome from the AppData folder was to increase the security of how the application runs. I haven't had to re-install the canary version, but that is still running from my AppData folder.

Just curious as to why this was changed.

Thanks!

[PhistucK]

User level installations install in AppData, system level installations (MSI, for example) install in Program Files.

I guess you installed Google Chrome in an unusual way (meaning, not by going to chrome.google.com and just installing it).

☆PhistucK

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[Torne (Richard Coles)]

There are two installers, a user-specific one and a system-wide one.
Nothing has changed; you must've downloaded the system-wide installer
this time.

The point of running Chrome from AppData is so that it can update
itself without requiring administrator privileges for every update (no
UAC popups). If you install using the system-wide installer, it also
installs a system-wide service to update Chrome in the background, so
it's fine.

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[shane]

The first time I installed Chrome I just used the normal download/install link on the page. I noticed it was running from Program Files, so I went to the alternate(offline) Chrome installer page and downloaded the installer for one user account only and re-installed Chrome, but it was still installed into Program Files rather than in AppData. I actually downloaded and un/re-installed it twice to make sure I downloaded the right file.

I wonder if something go messed up on their end and no matter what you download, it will install it into Program Files.

[Mark Larson (Google)]

Actually we did change the download page to install system-level by default (and fall back to user level if that fails or the user says "no" to the UAC prompt). Installing in AppData was never a security measure, it was for convenience to make sure people could install Chrome even without admin rights.

Our data shows that *preferring* a system level (Program Files) install with a fallback to user level improves the install success rate.

--Mark

[shane]

Interesting, thanks for the info Mark.