What is Google Chrome Helper on Mac?
By Junaid, maker of Taskglass · Last reviewed
Background helpers that do work for Chrome, such as networking, audio and other services.
Google Chrome Helper processes do work for Chrome outside the main browser process, such as networking, audio, storage and other utility services; the Alerts helper shows Chrome's notifications. Splitting work into helpers makes Chrome more stable and secure. Chrome's Task Manager (Window > Task Manager) lists what each one is.
- Category
- Third-party
- Made by
- Safe to quit:
- With care
Shown in Activity Monitor as Google Chrome Helper, Google Chrome Helper (Alerts)
Why is Google Chrome Helper using so much CPU or memory?
- Downloads, uploads or streaming
- Extensions doing background work
- Sites playing audio or using many network connections
What to do
- 1Open Chrome's Task Manager (Window > Task Manager) to identify it
- 2Pause downloads or close streaming tabs
- 3Disable extensions you don't need
- 4Quit and reopen Chrome
Safe to quit? With care.
Chrome usually restarts the helper, but the feature it served may glitch briefly.
Related processes
- Google ChromeGoogle's web browser. Its tabs and extensions run in separate 'Google Chrome Helper' processes.
- Google Chrome Helper (Renderer)Runs web pages and extensions for Chrome; usually one per site or extension.
- Google Chrome Helper (GPU)Chrome's graphics process: draws pages and plays video using your Mac's graphics chip.
Part of the Taskglass Process Library