How to Fix Google Earth PRO Error 1618?

Some Windows users are encountering the 1618 error (Another installation is already in progress. Complete that installation before proceeding with this install) when trying to install Google Earth Pro. This problem is confirmed to occur on Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10.

As it turns out, there are several different culprits that might contribute to the apparition of this error code. Here’s a shortlist of potential culprits:

Method 1: Finishing the Congruent Installation

In most cases, the error code 1618 with Google Earth PRO will occur due to a conflicting congruent installation that is also handled by your Windows computer as you’re trying to install Google Earth.

So this error code is meant to signal that another installation is already in progress. And even though this is not always the source of the problem, you should definitely start your troubleshooting quest by making sure that your PC is not busy installing another software are you’re getting this error.

One of the ways you can do this is to take a look at your taskbar. If you have any installation/uninstallation jobs that are currently pending, either complete or close them before trying to resume the operation of installing Google Earth Pro.

If there aren’t any installation jobs that are evident, you can also open up the Task Manager and close the MSIEXEC (Windows Installer) process manually.

Here’s a quick guide on force-closing the MSIEXEC process using Task Manager in order to fix the 1618 error code with Google Earth PRO:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Escape to open up Task Manager.
2. Once you’re inside Task Manager, click on the Processes tab, then scroll down through the list of active processes and locate MSIEXEC.
3. Once you manage to locate the Windows Installer process, right-click on it and click on End Task from the newly appeared context menu.

   

4. After the msiexec.exe process is successfully closed, return to the installation window of Google Earth PRO and see if you can complete the process without seeing the same 1618 error.

In case the same error is still occurring and preventing you from installing Google Earth PRO, move down to the next method below.

Method 2: Restart your Computer

If closing the Windows Installer process didn’t work for you and you still encountered the same 1618 error, the next thing you should do is reboot your computer in order to clear any temporary data that’s currently conflicting with the installation of Google Earth PRO.

Several affected users have confirmed that they managed to get rid of the error and complete the installation of the software after rebooting their computer.

If you haven’t done this yet, do so and attempt to install Google Earth Pro immediately after the next startup is complete.

If the same 1618 error is still occurring, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 3: Running with Admin Access

If you’re encountering the 1618 error code on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 or you made some adjustments on your User Account Control settings, it’s also possible that you’re seeing this issue due to some kind of permission issue. As it turns out, UAC (User Account Control) settings can force the installer to run regularly (not with admin access).

In case this scenario is applicable, you should be able to fix the problem simply by forcing the Google Earth PRO installer to run with admin access.

To do this, simply right-click on the Google Earth Pro installer and click on Run as Administrator from the newly appeared context menu.

After you opened the installer with admin access, follow through with the installation prompts and see if you can complete the operation without encountering the same error code.

In case the same problem is still occurring, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 4: Running in Compatibility Mode

In case you’re trying to install an older version of Google Earth PRO, you’re most likely running into some kind of incompatibility issue. This is a fairly common problem on Windows 10, but one that can be resolved quite easily.

Several affected users that found themselves in this situation have managed to fix the problem by utilizing the Compatibility mode with Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

If you find yourself in a similar scenario, you can fix the problem by forcing the game installation executable to run in Compatibility Mode.

Here’s a quick guide on enforcing this potential workaround to make the installer compatible with your Windows version and get around the 1618 error:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the location where you’re currently storing the installer of Google Earth PRO (most likely is stored inside the Downloads folder).
2. Once you arrive at the correct location, right-click on the Google Earth installer and click on Properties from the context menu.

   

3. Once you’re inside the Properties screen of the game’s installer, click on the Compatibility tab from the horizontal menu at the top.
4. Inside the Compatibility tab, go to the Compatibility Mode section and check the box associated with Run this program in compatibility for, then choose Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 (if available) from the drop-down menu that just appeared.

   

5. Click on Apply to save the changes, then double-click on the Google Earth PRO installer once again and see if you’re able to complete the installation without encountering the same error code.

In case you still end up encountering the 1618 error, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 5: Running of Registry Clean

According to some affected users, this problem can also occur due to a Registry inconsistency that ie affecting the installation of new software. This is typically reported to occur in instances where you’ve had Google Earth PRO installed in the past and the new installation is currently conflicting with some old registry files.

Fortunately, you can fix the problem by using a 3rd party tool to perform a Registry cleanup and get rid of any leftover keys and values that are no longer being actively used.

Of course, there are a lot of 3rd party suites that you can use to get the job done, so feel free to use whichever software you feel more comfortable with.

But if you’re looking for step-by-step instructions, follow the instructions below to perform a registry cleanup using CCleaner:

1. Open your default browser and visit the official download page of CCleaner.
2. Once you’re inside the page, the download should commence automatically, so just wait for a couple of seconds.

   

3. After the CCleaner installer is successfully downloaded, double-click on it and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation of CCleaner.

   

4. Once the installation is complete, open the application and click on the Registry tab.
5. Inside the Registry tab, leave the default settings selected and click on Scan for issues.
   

   

6. Wait until the scan is complete, then select every problem that was identified and click on Fix selected issues.
   
7.  After the operation is finally complete, restart your computer and see if the problem is fixed once the next startup is complete.

If you still end up seeing the 1618 error when trying to install Google Earth PRO on your computer, move down to the final potential fix below.

Method 6: Performing a Repair Install

If none of the potential fixes above have worked for you, you should seriously start to consider that you are actually dealing with some type of underlying system file corruption that is preventing the Windows installer (msiexec) from taking care of the installation – This is even more likely if you have more or less the same issues when trying to install other software.

If this scenario is applicable, your only hope at fixing the issue is to reset every relevant Windows component with one of these 2 procedures:

• Clean install – This is the easiest procedure out of the 2 since you can perform this operation directly from the GUI menu of your WIndows installation without inserting a compatible installation media. However, the major downside is that unless you back up your data in advance, you can expect total data loss on your OS partition.
• Repair install (in-place repair) – This procedure is more tedious and will require you to insert or plug in a compatible Windows installation media. But the main advantage of this method is that it will only reset your OS files. This means that your personal files including apps, games, media, documents, and user preferences will remain intact.