How to Disable Auto OS Updates

[lori5060]

im running Mojave on my macbook. in settings... there is a notification to update. it is for Catalina...which i do not want ever to download as I will not be able to use some of my purchased softwares.
i have turned off auto settings but it is still appearing. how can i make this go away and keep me safe.
mayb there is another area i need to click??

it would be so easy to just click update accidently and then i would be up a creek with Catalina as my OS.

 

[ferrarr]

Upgrades and Updates behave differently. Upgrades will ask for confirmation before installation, if you did select it by accident.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

You cannot disable that particular feature, it will continually tell you about the possible upgrades to your Mac, you're just going to have to be vigilant to ensure that you don't click it.

Disabling automatic updates means that you will not any get updates to Mojave and other Apple apps like iTunes, Safari. So since this has nothing to do with the Catalina upgrade, you should likely enable those functionalities.

You could even set them to automatically install since as Bob pointed out, upgrade is different and requires your specific intentional action.

 

[lori5060]

rats!! tho....i have no problem checking with various apps as to their individual updates.

will the upgrade prompts for upgrade to Catalina ever quit? i understand that once you have upgraded to newer OS you cannot go back. is that so?

 

[Raz0rEdge]

No the prompt will not go away. It will likely change to Big Sur when that is released assuming your machine is compatible.

You can definitely go back, but it isn't straightforward and requires a clean re-install.

 

[MacInWin]

will the upgrade prompts for upgrade to Catalina ever quit?

Yes, when the prompts change to Big Sur.

 

[chscag]

Lori:

Try this: Open the Terminal app. Applications -> Utilities -> terminal.app

When it opens, type the following in the terminal and press enter:

sudo softwareupdate --ignore "macOS Catalina"

That should stop you from getting notifications about upgrading to Catalina.

 

[lori5060]

thnx...chscag.... sure hope that works.....
and i presume as the more recent Upgrades come along ... ill have to do the same for those??

 

[lori5060]

thnx...chscag.... sure hope that works.....
and i presume as the more recent Upgrades come along ... ill have to do the same for those??

Jan 5,21....so far have not done this change but now with Big Sur out... guess ill have to include that also

so would I put a comma after Catalina and then type "Big Sur" or would I have to enter a new line.......sudo software update --ignore "Big Sur"

is there a way to set ignore to "ALL new updates??" instead of having to keeping adding the new OSX as it comes out and prompts for update

 

[chscag]

sudo software update --ignore "Big Sur"

The above is what you would use.

You can if you desire, open System Preferences, Software Update, Advanced, and remove all the checks from the boxes. But that will stop all updates, maybe even ones that you want. If you do this, you would have to look for the updates you need, and then download them from Apple.

 

[lori5060]

yes thanks. but if I chose to ignore Big Sur... would it not upload Catalina as default?


I realize I could stop all UPDATES ... I just may do that. I dont think there would be too many OSX updates for Mojave now, right??

I also keep getting update notifications for apps I have downloaded from App Store which I do not use nor have any more and did not know how to get rid of them.

 

[chscag]

yes thanks. but if I chose to ignore Big Sur... would it not upload Catalina as default?

No, because if you allowed updates, it would install Big Sur not Catalina.

 

[MacInWin]

One thing to consider is that if you stick with Mojave, the updates you get will be mostly security updates, which you definitely want to install.

 

[lori5060]

ok thanks... ill be sticking with Mojave due to app I purchased that will not run on anything higher.
will just have to keep on top of watching for security updates to Mojave!!

just saw this now... so this is update to Mojave and Safari only... correct???

 

[ferrarr]

ust saw this now... so this is update to Mojave and Safari only... correct???

Yes.

 

[lori5060]

Yes.

thanks will do this update today and then turn off updates all together.
then will have to check every now and then updates.

 

[MacInWin]

then will have to check every now and then updates.

Set a reminder on your system for however frequently you want to check for updates.

 

[lori5060]

Set a reminder on your system for however frequently you want to check for updates.

Oh will have to check that out.
can one set reminder in notificatiobs, or did you mean alternate method?

 

[MacInWin]

There is an app on the Mac called "Reminders" where you can set a reminder to repeat at whatever interval you may want. Then you get a notification when the time of the reminder has arrived. I use it to remind me of all sorts of things so I don't have too remember them all.

 

[lori5060]

There is an app on the Mac called "Reminders" where you can set a reminder to repeat at whatever interval you may want. Then you get a notification when the time of the reminder has arrived. I use it to remind me of all sorts of things so I don't have too remember them all.

thanks... i have seen it but never used. i usually put reminders in my calendar. guess it doesn't really matter where you put the reminder as long as you get it at some point!