Disable automatic installation of macOS updates
- macOS onlyThis script improves your privacy on macOS
- Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
- Impact: High
System Functionality / Data 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.
- Administrative (sudo) access requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
- 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
This script stops macOS from automatically installing updates.
This script improves privacy by reducing unwanted data collection and ensuring updates don't change settings or data without your approval.
The Center for Internet Security (CIS) advises against automatic updates in scenarios where changes require thorough testing and approval processes to avoid operational disruptions 1 2 3 4.
This script configures following to stop macOS from installing updates automatically:
-
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.commerce!AutoUpdateRestartRequired
: This preference stops the system from automatically installing macOS updates 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. By doing this, updates will only be installed when you decide, giving you a chance to check them first 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. This setting applies to OS X Yosemite through macOS High Sierra 7 9. -
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.commerce!AutomaticallyInstallMacOSUpdates
: Changing this setting stops macOS from installing updates automatically 3 5 9 10, giving you control over when to update. If restricts the Install macOS Updates option and prevents the user from changing the option 10. While this setting enhances privacy, it's generally not advised by NIST due to potential security risks 9. This setting applies to macOS Mojave and newer versions 9.
- 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.
- 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 trackingDecreased Security
Some security features will be disabled or limitedThis script can be reversed, this action allows you to can restore the system security.
Sources
- CIS Apple macOS 10.12 L1 v1.1.0. 1.5 Enable OS X update installs. Tenable®. (2024).
Original: https://www.tenable.com/audits/items/CIS_Apple_macOS_10.12_v1.1.0_Level_1.audit:e02dfdd6bec9556a3ce537f60b91b549
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321165149/https://www.tenable.com/audits/items/CIS_Apple_macOS_10.12_v1.1.0_Level_1.audit:e02dfdd6bec9556a3ce537f60b91b549 - CIS Apple macOS 10.13 Benchmark v1.1.0. paper.bobylive.com. (2024).
Original: https://paper.bobylive.com/Security/CIS/CIS_Apple_macOS_10_13_Benchmark_v1_1_0---PDF.pdf
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321165851/https://paper.bobylive.com/Security/CIS/CIS_Apple_macOS_10_13_Benchmark_v1_1_0---PDF.pdf - 1.4 Ensure Install of macOS Updates Is Enabled. Tenable®. www.tenable.com. (2024).
Original: https://www.tenable.com/audits/items/CIS_Apple_macOS_13.0_Ventura_v1.0.0_L1.audit:fe03c59a39c7c949507ff20d07f89993
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321170400/https://www.tenable.com/audits/items/CIS_Apple_macOS_13.0_Ventura_v1.0.0_L1.audit:fe03c59a39c7c949507ff20d07f89993 - CIS Apple macOS 10.14 Benchmark v1.4.0. paper.bobylive.com. (2024).
Original: https://paper.bobylive.com/Security/CIS/CIS_Apple_macOS_10_14_Benchmark_v1_4_0_PDF.pdf
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321170036/https://paper.bobylive.com/Security/CIS/CIS_Apple_macOS_10_14_Benchmark_v1_4_0_PDF.pdf - macOS provisioning script. UK National Cyber Security Centre. www.ncsc.gov.uk. (2024).
Original: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/files/macos_provisioning_script.sh_.txt
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321164917/https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/files/macos_provisioning_script.sh_.txt - macOS Updates — MacAdmins Community Documentation documentation. macadminsdoc.readthedocs.io. (2024).
Original: https://macadminsdoc.readthedocs.io/en/master/Profiles-and-Settings/OS-X-Updates.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321165118/https://macadminsdoc.readthedocs.io/en/master/Profiles-and-Settings/OS-X-Updates.html - Managing automatic App Store and OS X update installation on Yosemite. Der Flounder. derflounder.wordpress.com. (2024).
Original: https://derflounder.wordpress.com/2014/12/29/managing-automatic-app-store-and-os-x-update-installation-on-yosemite
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321165304/https://derflounder.wordpress.com/2014/12/29/managing-automatic-app-store-and-os-x-update-installation-on-yosemite/ - App Store Preferences To Set In On Server 5.4 for macOS High Sierra – krypted. krypted.com. (2024).
Original: https://krypted.com/mac-os-x/app-store-preferences-set-server-5-4-macos-high-sierra
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321170034/https://krypted.com/mac-os-x/app-store-preferences-set-server-5-4-macos-high-sierra/ - Enabling automatic macOS software updates for OS X Yosemite through macOS Mojave. Der Flounder. derflounder.wordpress.com. (2024).
Original: https://derflounder.wordpress.com/2018/12/28/enabling-automatic-macos-software-updates-for-os-x-yosemite-through-macos-mojave
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321170251/https://derflounder.wordpress.com/2018/12/28/enabling-automatic-macos-software-updates-for-os-x-yosemite-through-macos-mojave/ - SoftwareUpdate. Apple Developer Documentation. developer.apple.com. (2024).
Original: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/devicemanagement/softwareupdate
Archived: https://archive.ph/2024.03.21-180353/https://developer.apple.com/documentation/devicemanagement/softwareupdate - CCE-91129-7. CCE-macos_monterey.xls. Sheet 1 - NIST Computer Security Resource Center. csrc.nist.gov. (2024).
Original: https://csrc.nist.gov/CSRC/media/Projects/national-vulnerability-database/documents/CCE/CCE-macos_monterey.xls
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321165931/https://csrc.nist.gov/CSRC/media/Projects/national-vulnerability-database/documents/CCE/CCE-macos_monterey.xls
Apply Now
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Help
How to apply or restore "Disable automatic installation of macOS updates" using script
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: Web Browser
- Difficulty: Medium
- ≈ 5 instructions
- 1
Download
Download the script file by clicking on thebutton above.
Use button above to restore changes. - 2
Keep the file
If warned by your browser, keep the file. - 3
Open
Open the downloaded file. - 4
Exit
Once it's done, press any key to exit the window. - 5
Restart
Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.
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Help
How to apply or restore "Disable automatic installation of macOS updates" using privacy.sexy
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: privacy.sexy
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 4 instructions
- 2
Choose script
- Search for the script name: Disable automatic installation of macOS updates
- Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
- 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.
- Apply
- Revert
# For OS X Yosemite through macOS High Sierra (>= 10.10 && < 10.14)
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.commerce 'AutoUpdateRestartRequired' -bool false
# For Mojave and newer (>= 10.14)
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate 'AutomaticallyInstallMacOSUpdates' -bool false
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Help
How to apply or restore "Disable automatic installation of macOS updates" using commands
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Terminal app
- Difficulty: undefined
- ≈ 3 instructions
- 1
Open terminal
Open Terminal app. - 2
Copy code
Copy the code: - 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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Same Goal
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About the Creators
These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:
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
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- Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
- Millions of end-users tested across different environments
History
We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other 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.