01Using System Preferences

  • Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'System Preferences'.
  • In the System Preferences window, click on 'Software Update'.
  • Click on the 'Advanced' button at the bottom right corner.
  • Uncheck the box that says 'Check for updates'
  • Close the System Preferences window.
  • From now on, your Mac will not automatically check for updates or download them.

02Using Terminal

  • Open 'Terminal' from the Applications folder or by searching in Spotlight.
  • Type the following command and press Enter: sudo softwareupdate --schedule off
  • Enter your administrator password when prompted.
  • Terminal will display a message saying 'Automatic check for updates is OFF'.
  • Automatic updates will be disabled on your Mac.

03Resetting Automatic Updates

  • If you ever want to re-enable automatic updates, follow the same steps as above, but instead of unchecking the 'Check for updates' box, check it again.
  • In Terminal, type the following command and press Enter: sudo softwareupdate --schedule on
  • Enter your administrator password when prompted.
  • Automatic updates will be enabled again.

Conclusion

Disabling automatic updates on your Mac can give you more control over when and how updates are installed. Whether you prefer to manually update your system or simply want to avoid interruptions, the methods described in this article allow you to customize the update process according to your preferences.

MethodsDetails
1Disable automatic updates through System Preferences
2Disable automatic updates using Terminal
3Resetting automatic updates
Mac
automatic updates
disable updates