Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: Cannot auto-update Google Chrome anymore (error: 12) - OS X 10.8.2

Google Chrome update issue on OS X 10.8.2

Quick Answer: Try resetting Chrome's settings or reinstalling the browser.

Google Chrome users on OS X 10.8.2 are experiencing an issue where auto-updating is no longer possible, resulting in an error message 'Update server not available (error: 12)'. This problem affects users who have tried the official solution and other community-provided fixes without success.

The frustration of being unable to update Chrome automatically can be challenging for users. Fortunately, this guide provides a step-by-step approach to resolve the issue.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • A corrupted or outdated version of the Chrome browser on OS X 10.8.2 can cause the 'Update server not available' error. This can happen due to various reasons such as incorrect installation, incomplete updates, or software conflicts.
  • Another possible reason is a network connectivity issue that prevents Chrome from accessing the update server.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Disable and Re-enable Google Chrome

  1. Step 1: Close all instances of Google Chrome on your Mac. This will ensure that no background processes are interfering with the update process.
  2. Step 2: Open a new Terminal window and type the following command to disable any current extensions: `defaults write com.google.Chrome Extensions -array-disable`. Press Enter to apply the change.
  3. Step 3: Type the following command to re-enable all extensions: `defaults read com.google.Chrome Extensions` and press Enter. This will restore any previously installed extensions.

Clear Chrome Cache and Cookies

  1. Step 1: Open a new Terminal window and type the following command to clear the Chrome cache: `rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/Google/Chrome`. Press Enter to confirm the deletion of the cache.
  2. Step 2: Type the following command to clear Chrome cookies and other data stored in the user directory: `rm -rf ~/Library/Application\Support/Google/Cookies`. Press Enter to apply the changes.

🎯 Final Words

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 'Update server not available' error on OS X 10.8.2 and enable auto-updating for Google Chrome again.

Did this fix your problem?

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