Google may change the name of Chrome Enterprise Companion at any time.
Chrome Enterprise Companion is a new administrative binary—separated from GoogleUpdate binary—that is automatically installed with Chrome browsers enrolled into Chrome Enterprise Core or Chrome Enterprise Premium.
An administrative binary refers to an executable file or a program that is used for administrative tasks, specifically related to managing software or systems. Chrome Enterprise Companion is designed to handle administrative functions related to Chrome Enterprise use cases, policies, and reporting.
The GoogleUpdate binary is a program responsible for updating Google software on a user's device. It checks for updates and installs them when available. Previously, both enterprise and consumer functionalities were combined within the GoogleUpdate binary, making it more complex. Chrome Enterprise Companion is being separated from GoogleUpdate to simplify the architecture and allow for more agile development of enterprise-specific features, without affecting the broader consumer base using GoogleUpdate.
What you need
- Install the GoogleUpdate binary to ensure Chrome Enterprise Companion works.
- Ensure that GoogleUpdate has system-wide privileges so you can install Chrome Enterprise Companion.
Important: Do not modify the folder structure, GoogleUpdate binary, or Chrome Enterprise Companion binary.
Chrome Enterprise Companion—Installation details
Considerations
- GoogleUpdate binary must be installed on your Mac and Windows devices.
- There is no policy to control Chrome Enterprise Companion, because it is linked to GoogleUpdate when a browser is enrolled into Chrome Enterprise Core or Chrome Enterprise Premium. GoogleUpdate policies remain unchanged, but more functionality will be added to Chrome Enterprise Companion in the future.
- Chrome Enterprise Companion cannot be installed if Chrome browser is only managed by Group Policy Object (GPO) or by a Unified Endpoint Management (UEM). This might change in the future.
- GoogleUpdate and Chrome Enterprise Companion are not available for Linux.
- Depending on the platform, the size of Chrome Enterprise Companion is 15 MB to 40 MB.
- Because Chrome Enterprise Companion is linked to GoogleUpdate, allowlist these URLs.
Directory structure
This table displays details of the location of Chrome Enterprise Companion on each operating system. This might change in the future.
|
Operating system
|
Directory
|
|---|---|
| Mac | /Library/Application Support/Google/ChromeEnterpriseCompanion/ChromeEnterpriseCompanion.app |
| Windows: 64-bit (x86_64) | C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\ChromeEnterpriseCompanion\enterprise_companion.exe |
| Windows: 64-bit (ARM) | C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\ChromeEnterpriseCompanion\enterprise_companion.exe |
| Windows: 32-bit (x86) | C:\Program Files\Google\ChromeEnterpriseCompanion\enterprise_companion.exe |
Logging
When Chrome Enterprise Companion is running, a log file called enterprise_companion.log is generated in the same folder.
Data processed by Chrome Enterprise Companion
Note: The data collected might change based on the policy state.
|
Data type/Category
|
Description
|
Example
|
|---|---|---|
|
Chrome Enterprise Companion |
Metadata associated with Chrome Enterprise Companion | Application version, Application policies, Device management (DM) token, Chrome Enterprise Companion ID, Application status, Crash reports |
| Chrome browser | Metrics, state, and data relating to Chrome browser version and features used by the browser. |
Browser version, Browser policies |
| Operating system | Metadata associated with the operating system (OS) | OS Version, OS Arch, BIOS Serial Number |