How to Disable Software update downloads

j_grafton
New Contributor III

Hi,
I am looking for the terminal command to untick the options in the advanced window of the software update window.
I have "Automatically keep my Mac up to date" unticked but how do I untick the "check for updates", "download new updates when available" using a command in terminal?

660cf68a0e834121997e92fd278bb420

4 REPLIES 4

benniecaruso
New Contributor

For unchecking "Check for updates"
/usr/bin/defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist AutomaticCheckEnabled -bool false

For unchecking "Download new updates when available"
/usr/bin/defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist AutomaticDownload -bool false

j_grafton
New Contributor III

Hi,
Thanks for the above.
When I try those commands I get this message:
2020-03-27 14:15:14.695 defaults[13402:57826] Could not write domain /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist; exiting

uafifi
New Contributor II

Hi,

I used this for Mojave

!/bin/sh

/usr/bin/defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist AutomaticallyInstallMacOSUpdates -bool false
/usr/bin/defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist AutomaticCheckEnabled -bool false
/usr/bin/defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist AutomaticDownload -bool false
/usr/bin/defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist CriticalUpdateInstall -bool false
/usr/bin/defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist ConfigDataInstall -bool false
/usr/bin/defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.commerce.plist AutoUpdate -bool false

etarasula
New Contributor II

Hi

 

So if you disable those but have a Software Update policy, how would they interact together?