How to downgrade Chrome 113 to 112 as Smartbear is suggesting for TestComplete?

I have been trying to figure out how to prevent updates to Chrome and Edge and I have also tried to see if we can download to an older version. While there appears to be options, all of the options require the use of Windows Group Policy Editor settings which appears to only work if your PC is part of a domain. Our test network is setup as a Workgroup and is not on a domain.

If I remember correctly, having Workgroup accounts offer its users greater control over their computers. Whereas Domain account users have different levels of privileges and access rights where control is centralised by a domain controller.

If you are able to install a previous version, disable the following tasks

Hey,

here is more info: https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/7125792?hl=en#zippy=%2Cbefore-you-begin%2Cstep-optional-contact-support%2Cstep-downgrade-chrome

Here is also the python script to automate downgrading Chrome to v112. NOTE: It's only for 64bit OS

import os
import winreg
import requests
import zipfile

def uninstall_chrome():
    # Find the uninstall string for Chrome
    chrome_key = winreg.OpenKey(winreg.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, "SOFTWARE\\Wow6432Node\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Uninstall\\Google Chrome")
    uninstall_string, _ = winreg.QueryValueEx(chrome_key, "UninstallString")
    winreg.CloseKey(chrome_key)
    
    # Run the uninstall string to remove Chrome
    os.system(uninstall_string + " /S")

def install_chrome(version):
    # Download the Chrome installer for the specified version
    url = f"https://dl.google.com/chrome/install/{version}/chrome_installer.exe"
    response = requests.get(url)
    with open("chrome_installer.exe", "wb") as f:
        f.write(response.content)

    # Run the installer with silent mode and wait for the installation to complete
    os.system("chrome_installer.exe /silent /install")
    os.remove("chrome_installer.exe")

def disable_auto_update():
    # Create the registry key to disable auto-updates
    key = winreg.CreateKey(winreg.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, "SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Google\\Update")
    winreg.SetValueEx(key, "AutoUpdateCheckPeriodMinutes", 0, winreg.REG_DWORD, 0)
    winreg.CloseKey(key)

def main():
    # Uninstall the current version of Chrome
    uninstall_chrome()

    # Install Chrome version 112
    install_chrome("112.0.0.0")

    # Disable auto-updates for Chrome
    disable_auto_update()

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

Best regards,

Pawel Mularczyk

SmartBear

Product Manager for Test Complete
 

I doubt many QAs/Testers will be customers of Google Chrome. They are more likely to be end-users, and will come across this error

Suggestion - It might be best to have a link where users can download Chrome v112 from SmartBear website? Providing the end users have appropriate permissions to uninstall/install Chrome! Also, majority may not have Python installed to run the script!