For those using EtreCheck, you’ve probably seen the mysterious “com.google.keystone.xpcservice.plist” and wondered why it’s installed on your computer.
When you run a quick EtreCheck scan, your report may look something like this:
User Launch Agents:
- [Loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (Google, Inc. – installed 2022-07-08)
- [Loaded] com.google.keystone.xpcservice.plist (Google, Inc. – installed 2022-07-08)
Furthermore, you can locate each file from the following path:
- /Library/LaunchDaemons/google.keystone.agent.plist
- /Library/LaunchDaemons/google.keystone.xpcservice.plist
In this blog post, I’ll explain what that file is, how it got there, and whether or not you should uninstall it from your Mac.
What Is com.google.keystone.xpcservice.plist?
com.google.keystone.xpcservice.plist is a property list file on macOS that is associated with Google products, specifically Google Chrome and Google Earth.
The file is a background process that checks for new software updates from Google.
Is com.google.keystone.xpcservice.plist Safe?
The com.google.keystone.xpcservice.plist file (Google Keystone) is safe and does not infect your Mac with malware.
However, you can remove it from your computer (located in the LaunchAgents folder) if it slows down the machine or you don’t want Google to use it as a means to collect your personal information.
