Should I remove Apple Software Update?
What percent of users and experts removed it?
21% remove it79% keep it
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Global Rank #10
United States Rank #8
Reach 30.3782%
(Not enough data to show 30 day installation trends)
Uninstallation trends (last 30 days)
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 550.30 days
1335.52 days >
Average installed length: 701.71 days
Versions
Version | Distribution |
2.6.3.1 |
0.04% |
|
2.6.0.1 |
0.60% |
|
2.5.0.1 |
0.77% |
|
2.4.8.1 |
0.70% |
|
2.3.0.177 |
1.61% |
|
2.2.0.150 |
7.35% |
|
2.1.4.131 |
6.69% |
|
2.1.3.127 |
79.67% |
|
2.1.2.120 |
0.51% |
|
2.1.1.116 |
1.81% |
|
2.1.0.110 |
0.08% |
|
2.0.2.92 |
0.10% |
|
2.0.1.89 |
0.00% |
|
2.0.1.88 |
0.00% |
|
2.0.0.21 |
0.07% |
|
Typically installed together
Apple Software Update
What is Apple Software Update?
With a Windows PC, you can use Apple Software Update for Windows to keep your Apple software up-to-date via the Internet. Apple software includes Safari, iTunes for Windows, Bonjour for Windows, and QuickTime for Windows. In addition to releasing new versions of the system software at regular intervals, Apple also releases a stream of free software updates to enrich your computing experience. Windows automatically checks weekly for software updates provided you have an internet connection. You can choose a different schedule, or check manually if you don’t have a continuous Internet connection. If Software Update finds an item to download, it appears in a list. Click on an item to get a description before downloading it. A Windows version has been available since the introduction of iTunes 7, under the name Apple Software Update. Software Update automatically informs users of new updates. Apple software includes Safari, iTunes for Windows, Bonjour for Windows, and QuickTime for Windows.
About (from Apple)
In addition to releasing new versions of the system software at regular intervals, Apple also releases a stream of free software updates to enrich your computing experience. Mac OS X automatically checks weekly for software updates provided you have an internet connection. You can choose a different schedule, or check... Read more
Overview
- Starts automatically
- Connects to a server over the Internet

Apple Software Update has been found to be bundled with 3rd party software. If you have not purposefully installed this, you should be safe uninstalling it.
Program details
URL: www.apple.com/softwareupdate
Help link: www.apple.com/support
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Apple Software Update\
Uninstaller: MsiExec.exe /I{789A5B64-9DD9-4BA5-915A-F0FC0A1B7BFE}
(The Windows Installer is used for the installation, maintenance, and removal.)
Estimated size: 2.32 MB
Language: English (United States)
Files installed by Apple Software Update
Program executable: | SoftwareUpdate.exe |
Name: | Apple Software Update |
Path: | C:\Program Files\Apple Software Update\SoftwareUpdate.exe |
MD5: | 34ebd4ff6a24d86bb4716d6afcc1a89b |
| Software Update is a software tool by Apple Inc. that installs the latest version of Apple software on computers. A Windows version has been available since the introduction of iTunes 7, under the name Apple Software Update. Software Update... |
Additional files:
-
ScriptingObjectModel.dll - Apple Software Update
-
softwareupdate.exe
-
SoftwareUpdateAdmin.dll
-
SoftwareUpdateFiles.dll
-
iTunesMobileDevice.dll - iTunesMobileDevice
-
ITDetector.ocx - ITDetector Module
-
SetupAdmin.exe - SetupAdmin (Apple Installer (Elevated))
-
QuickTimeInstaller.exe - QuickTime (QuickTime Installer)
-
QuickTimeInstaller-7.6.6.exe
-
iCloudSetup.exe - iCloud (iCloud Installer)
-
iTunes.dll - iTunes
-
iTunes.exe
-
iTunes64Setup.exe - iTunes Installer
-
iTunesAdmin.dll - iTunes Administrative DLL
-
iTunesHelper.dll - iTunesHelper DLL
-
iTunesHelper.exe - iTunesHelper
-
iTunesHelperLocalized.dll - iTunesHelper Resource Library
-
iTunesOutlookAddIn.dll - iTunes Outlook Add-in
-
iTunesSetup.exe
-
SoftwareUpdateFilesLocalized.dll
-
SoftwareUpdateLocalized.dll
-
exeinstallplugin.dll
-
msiinstallplugin.dll
-
lpk.dll
Behaviors exhibited
Autoplay Handler
- iTunes.exe is registered as an AutoPlay event handler named 'iTunesShowSongsOnArrival' with the ProgID of 'iTunes.ShowSongsOnCD' and the action verb 'showsongs.
4 Scheduled Tasks
- iTunes.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{EF49CAD1-C684-46DB-B6E3-3DD4566DEB1F}' (runs on registration).
- SoftwareUpdate.exe is scheduled as a task named 'AppleSoftwareUpdate' (runs weekly on Tuesdays at 07:53).
- iTunesHelper.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{C5B82BCA-CBC2-4325-9ADF-26AA4C9C40D6}' (runs on registration).
- iTunes64Setup.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{5D486696-2271-4C1B-BEAD-4B221E002236}'.
Scheduled Task (Boot/Login)
- SoftwareUpdate.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named AppleSoftwareUpdate.
Startup File (All Users Run)
- iTunesHelper.exe is loaded in the all users (HKLM) registry as a startup file name 'iTunesHelper' which loads as "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe".
3 Windows Firewall Allowed Programs
- iTunes.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\itunes\iTunes.exe'.
- SoftwareUpdate.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\Apple Software Update\SoftwareUpdate.exe'.
- iTunesHelper.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\PROGRAM FILES\ITUNES\ITUNESHELPER.EXE'.
Network connections
- iTunes.exe connects to 17.154.66.69 (port 443).
- iTunes.exe connects to 17.173.66.48 (port 443).
Resource utilization averages
Show technical details
SoftwareUpdate.exe |
Memory: | 8.58 MB | |
Total CPU: | 0.0081179871% | |
Kernel CPU: | 0.00552406% | |
User CPU: | 0.00259392% | |
CPU cycles/sec: | 1,051,645 | |
I/O reads/min: | 4.05 KB | |
I/O writes/min: | 1.99 KB | |
iTunes.exe |
Memory: | 142.03 MB | |
Total CPU: | 0.0024858505% | |
Kernel CPU: | 0.00129581% | |
User CPU: | 0.00119004% | |
CPU cycles/sec: | 25,095,601 | |
Switches/sec: | 305 | |
I/O reads/min: | 431.41 KB | |
I/O writes/min: | 394.96 KB | |
iTunes64Setup.exe |
Memory: | 3.91 MB | |
Total CPU: | 0.0001237865% | |
Kernel CPU: | 0.00001026% | |
User CPU: | 0.00011353% | |
How do I remove Apple Software Update?
You can uninstall Apple Software Update from your computer by using the Add/Remove Program feature in the Window's Control Panel.
- On the Start menu (for Windows 8, right-click the screen's bottom-left corner), click Control Panel, and then, under Programs, do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall a Program.
- Windows XP: Click Add or Remove Programs.
- When you find the program Apple Software Update, click it, and then do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall.
- Windows XP: Click the Remove or Change/Remove tab (to the right of the program).
- Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove Apple Software Update.
OS VERSIONS
Win 7 (SP1) 51%
Win 8.1 0%
|
|
HOW IT STARTS
Automatically starts? Yes
(Found in the run registry)
|
|
USER ACTIONS
 |
Uninstall it 21%
Keep it 79%
|
|
Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows 7 |
53.76% |
|
Windows 10 |
35.64% |
|
Windows Vista |
6.36% |
|
Windows XP |
4.23% |
|
Windows Server 2003 |
0.02% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
Windows 7 Home Premium |
31.53% |
|
Windows 10 Home |
10.57% |
|
Windows 8.1 |
9.97% |
|
Windows 7 Ultimate |
9.86% |
|
Windows 7 Professional |
9.83% |
|
Windows Vista Home Premiu... |
5.04% |
|
Geography
54.24% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
United States |
54.24% |
United Kingdom |
5.45% |
Germany |
4.99% |
Canada |
3.85% |
France |
3.42% |
Italy |
3.38% |
Australia |
2.25% |
Netherlands |
1.62% |
Brazil |
1.37% |
Spain |
1.04% |
Belgium |
0.95% |
Sweden |
0.91% |
Japan |
0.74% |
India |
0.73% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Hewlett-Packard |
28.73% |
|
Dell |
22.10% |
|
Acer |
15.34% |
|
ASUS |
10.53% |
|
Toshiba |
7.84% |
|
Lenovo |
4.41% |
|
GIGABYTE |
4.19% |
|
Samsung |
3.76% |
|
Intel |
1.20% |
|
Apple |
0.64% |
|
American Megatrends |
0.64% |
|
MSI |
0.61% |
|
Common models |
HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook ... |
7.40% |
|
HP Pavilion g6 Notebook P... |
5.70% |
|
HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook ... |
5.25% |
|
ASUS All Series |
4.17% |
|
HP Pavilion g7 Notebook P... |
2.91% |
|
HP 2000 Notebook PC |
2.51% |
|
About Apple
Apple designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer programs, and personal computers.
Publisher URL: www.apple.com