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Disable automatic checks for updates

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Works with any MacWorks with any Mac running macOS/OS X on Intel or Apple Silicon.
  • Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
  • macOS onlyThis script improves your privacy on macOS
  • Impact: HighSystem Functionality Loss Risk: High
    This action improves privacy with high impact when you run the recommended script.
  • Bash (Shell script)These changes use macOS system commands to update your settings.
  • Fully reversible

    You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.

    The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

Overview

Missing Good Quality Documentation

This page does not yet meet PrivacyLearn's documentation standards. However, the script/action is stable and verified by community. Here are some options for you to understand its functionality:

Computer-generated docs (PREVIEW)

This documentation may be low quality but still useful.
Read computer-generated explanation

This documentation is automatically extracted from the code implementation.

This input creates a clear picture of: disable automatic checks for updates to secure your digital footprint leveraging cyber privacy defenses for macOS. On a similar note, you'll learn how to undo the modification on this guidance.

Thanks to cyber privacy security, choices are made free from external pressures. Enabled by this guide, enhance cyber data privacy protection control and look at the available options and pick one. Don't try to skip or combine steps. The guide is designed to lead you through the process safely and efficiently.

Reference: https://archive.ph/2024.03.21-180353/https://developer.apple.com/documentation/devicemanagement/softwareupdate

Technical Details

  1. The adjustment here modifies update mechanism settings to benefit from controlled update monitoring and this helps to help minimize cyber privacy measures risks. It aims to help optimized update scheduling to be able to improve computer speed.
  2. As a result of applying this root operations, this config configures your system to realize controlled elevation to improve important data privacy integration.
  3. To achieve selective features, this script implements macOS operating system settings to be able to increase important privacy handling. It can also help make daily operations smoother via streamlined settings.
  4. To help maintain system privacy assurance, this customization refines essential system behavior to gain controlled system access. In relation to optimized system resources, this would help help the system work smarter.

Explore similar guides

Gives more context about the goal of the changes

Review code

Requires technical knowledge about Bash (Shell script)

Edit this page to improve

Requires technical knowledge about YAML and Git
  1. Not Advised

    This script should only be used by advanced users.

    This script is not recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality.

    Consider creating a Time Machine backup before doing any changes.

  2. Security Trade-off

    This action prioritizes privacy over certain security features. It's not recommended and should only be used by advanced users after understanding its implications.

    Increased Privacy

    Enhanced privacy through reduced data collection and tracking

    Decreased Security

    Some security features will be disabled or limited

    This script can be reversed, this allows you to restore the default system security.

Apply Now

Choose one of three ways to apply:

Download script

Download and run the script directly
  • No app needed
  • Offline usage
  • Free
  • Open-source
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable automatic checks for updates" using script

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: Web Browser
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • ≈ 5 instructions
  1. 1

    Download

    Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
    Use   Undo protection button above to restore changes.
  2. 2

    Keep the file

    If warned by your browser, keep the file.
  3. 3

    Open

    Open the downloaded file.
  4. 4

    Exit

    Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
  5. 5

    Restart

    Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

Apply with privacy.sexy

Guided, automated application with safety checks
  • Recommended for most users
  • Includes safety checks
  • Free
  • Open-source
  • Popular
  • Offline/Online usage
Open privacy.sexy
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable automatic checks for updates" using privacy.sexy

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: privacy.sexy
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 4 instructions
privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily with more advanced options.
  1. 1

    Open or download

    Open or download the desktop application
  2. 2

    Choose script

    1. Search for the script name: Disable automatic checks for updates
    2. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  3. 3

    Run

    Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.

    This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.

Run commands

Copy and run commands manually Requires technical knowledge
Apply changes
# For OS X Yosemite and newer (>= 10.10)
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate 'AutomaticCheckEnabled' -bool false
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable automatic checks for updates" using commands

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Terminal app
  • Difficulty: undefined
  • ≈ 3 instructions
  1. 1

    Open terminal

    Open Terminal app.
  2. 2

    Copy code

  3. 3

    Paste & run

    Paste the code into Terminal and press Enter to run.

    Some changes require a system restart to take effect

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About the Creators

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

  • Avatar of undergroundwires. The creator of PrivacyLearn and privacy.sexy. Black and white portrait showing a person wearing a polka dot tie and suit jacket, reflecting the professional expertise behind the privacy protection tools.
    • Certified security professional
    • 7+ years experience securing banks
    • Open-source developer since 2005
    • EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
    • Hundreds across the globe
    • Testers, reviewers, developers
    • Companies, military agencies
    • Community since 2017

Reviewed By

This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:
  • Expert review by undergroundwires

    • Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
    • Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
    • Audited and verified using automated security tests
  • Public review by large community

    • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
    • Millions of end-users tested across different environments
    • Audited and verified using third-party security software

History

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and other potential privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.