Skip to content

TechDirectArchive

Hands-on IT, Cloud, Security, Veeam & DevOps

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise With US
  • Reviews
  • Contact
  • Toggle search form

How to enable or disable automatic software updates on Mac

Posted on 14/11/202010/09/2023 IT Expert By IT Expert No Comments on How to enable or disable automatic software updates on Mac
  1. Home
  2. Mac
  3. How to enable or disable automatic software updates on Mac
enable software updates

Keeping your software up to date is essential in maintaining the security of your Mac. With the Automatic Updates feature, mac can automatically keep the computer up to date with the latest updates, enhancements and can improve stability, performance, and compatibility. And when updates download automatically, it’s faster and more convenient to install them when you’re ready. Follow the steps described below to disable automatic logging out of users. See this guide on how to enable or disable automatic login on macOS: Fix username greyed out for automatic login.

If your primary concern is on data usage or network bandwidth, you can prevent software updates from downloading automatically from Apple, thereby conserving network bandwidth. There are the following ways to have this set on your MacBook.

Method 1: Enable Automatic Updates via the Software Update preferences:

The option is found in the System Preferences window as shown below 
- Click on Software Update 
disable software updates

This will open the software update window as shown below. Wow, there is even an upgrade available to me!
– Click on the Advanced menu as shown below and
– Check the button close to “Automatically keep my Mac up to date”.

automatic updates

And select the all the automatic updates options available.

Mac software updates

Disable Automatic Updates via the Software Update preferences: These steps are similar to the steps needed for enabling “automatic updates”.
– In this step, you will have to uncheck the option “Automatically keep my Mac up to date”.
– You will be prompted to click on the option to “Turn Off automatic Updates” as shown below

Method 2 – Use a Terminal command: System administrators can enter this command in Terminal to prevent automatic downloads.

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate AutomaticDownload -boolean FALSE

Method 3 – Use a configuration profile: The following method can be used to disable automatic updates in Mac as well.

System administrators can prevent automatic downloads by using a configuration profile with the AutomaticDownload key set to False in the com.apple.SoftwareUpdate domain.

I hope you found this blog post helpful. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comment session. I welcome you to follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Rate this post

Thank you for reading this post. Kindly share it with others.

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor
Mac Tags:updates, Windows Updates

Post navigation

Previous Post: Enable or disable automatic login on macOS: Fix username greyed out for automatic login
Next Post: How to setup a cache-only DNS server

Related Posts

  • VLC Media Player pcgh b2article artwork
    How to Set Quicktime or VLC as a default player on macOS Mac
  • Bluetooth
    Cannot open Bluetooth preference pane because it is not available Mac
  • Norton Antivirus Free Download For Mac 1st
    How to fix repeated app-blocking connection alerts from Norton on Mac Mac
  • smart
    Application in bin: You can not open this application Mac
  • office365family
    How to Cancel Office 365 Family Subscription JIRA|Confluence|Apps
  • Norton360
    Download and install Norton 360 Anti-Virus on your Mac device Mac

More Related Articles

VLC Media Player pcgh b2article artwork How to Set Quicktime or VLC as a default player on macOS Mac
Bluetooth Cannot open Bluetooth preference pane because it is not available Mac
Norton Antivirus Free Download For Mac 1st How to fix repeated app-blocking connection alerts from Norton on Mac Mac
smart Application in bin: You can not open this application Mac
office365family How to Cancel Office 365 Family Subscription JIRA|Confluence|Apps
Norton360 Download and install Norton 360 Anti-Virus on your Mac device Mac

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Microsoft MVP

VEEAMLEGEND

vexpert-badge-stars-5

Virtual Background

GoogleNews

Categories

veeaam100

Veeam Vanguard

  • VBR console update
    Veeam Backup Console must be updated to the latest version Backup
  • Manage Log Files via Logrotate
    How To Use Logrotate For Managing Log Files In Ubuntu Linux Linux
  • How to create and delete MySQL database
    How to delete and create MySQL Databases Oracle/MSSQL/MySQL
  • Smartscreen defender blocking application
    Unable to run downloaded Programs due to Defender SmartScreen Windows
  • Screenshot 2020 06 22 at 22.46.00
    How to use a dedicated MsSQL Db for Pleasant Password Oracle/MSSQL/MySQL
  • Migrate from Universal Analytics to GA4 property
    Configure and Migrate from Universal Analytics to GA4 property Automation
  • How to Disable Automatic Opening of Previous files in Notepad on Windows 11
    How to Disable Automatic Opening of Previous Files in Notepad on Windows 11 Windows
  • unabletouninstallonedriveonmac
    Cannot Uninstall the OneDrive App: The item “OneDrive” canot be moved to the Bin because it is open JIRA|Confluence|Apps

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,796 other subscribers
  • RSS - Posts
  • RSS - Comments
  • About
  • Authors
  • Write for us
  • Advertise with us
  • General Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Feedly
  • Telegram
  • Youtube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • mastodon

Tags

Active Directory Azure Bitlocker Microsoft Windows PowerShell WDS Windows 10 Windows 11 Windows Deployment Services Windows Server 2016

Copyright © 2025 TechDirectArchive

Loading Comments...

You must be logged in to post a comment.