PSA: Automatic Update Enables Itself with MacOS Sequoia 15.4 & iOS 18.4
This is important and relevant to most Mac, iPhone, and iPad users: Installing the latest updates for MacOS Sequoia 15.4 for Mac, iOS 18.4 for iPhone, and iPadOS 18.4 for iPad, will forcibly enable automatic software update for system updates on your device.
Some people may already have these auto-update features enabled on their devices and not mind this change (nor would they notice a difference), whereas there are many other people who intentionally disable automatic update and do not wish to have the auto-update feature forced upon their devices.
With Automatic Updates enabled, this means your Mac, iPhone, or iPad, will automatically download and install system software updates onto your device(s) as they become available, without your approval or prompting.
Automatic Updates can be problematic for many reasons. For one, not everyone has the bandwidth available to automatically download huge software updates. Additionally, not everyone wants to install the latest software updates when they become available, many users prefer to wait a little while to see if there are any critical bugs or issues discovered before putting the latest system software on their device (and this is a reasonable caution, though it’s not common, Apple has dumped out some bad software updates in the past that had to be pulled due to various issues). And of course, many Mac, iPhone, and iPad users, just simply prefer to manually update and manage their devices on their own, without the computer or device doing it for them.
But your personal computing behaviors and your opinion is irrelevant, as Big Cupertino knows what is best for you, your iPhone, your Mac, and your iPad. Apple has decided that you will have automatic updates enabled on your devices, and your installation of iOS 18.4, MacOS Sequoia 15.4, or iPadOS 18.4 was apparently used as an agreement to that setting change. If you don’t like that, you can change it back and disable automatic system software updates.
How to Disable Automatic Update on Mac
We have covered this before but now we’ll cover it again since Microsoft err Apple is foisting this change upon its users:
- From the Apple menu go to “System Settings”, then go to “General”
- Go to “Software Update”
- Click on the tiny (i) button next to “Automatic Updates”
- Toggle the switches for all automatic options you wish to disable
How to Disable Automatic Updates on iPhone & iPad
- Open the “Settings” app then go to “General” and to “Software Update”
- Tap on “Automatic Updates” and toggle the settings OFF for Automatically Install and Automatically Download
Similarly, these updates will also re-enable Apple Intelligence automatically on compatible devices, even if you already turned this feature off at some point in time.
This type of forced system settings changes might be unfamiliar with lifelong Apple users (though in fairness Apple has done this before with iOS), since Apple used to really respect the user and their preferences, but things change, and now Apple knows what is best for you and your devices. You will have automatic software updates and you will like your automatic system software updates! But if you don’t, thankfully we can still turn these settings off… for now.
What do you think of major changes to the system software update behavior of your Mac, iPhone, and iPad like this? Do you mind automatic software updates, or do you dislike them? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.
I think Tim K should get well acquainted with a pike.
Do NOT let your computer auto-update, and ALWAYS backup before installing. I’ve had updates result in a bricked device, at least temporarily until I could reformat and reinstall a backup. So only update by choice, at a time when you know you have time to spare to sort it out if anything goes wrong.
The article is incorrect, during the last steps of the upgrade there is a choise “Continue” or “Only download automatically”. When you select “Only download automatically” the auto update feature will not be anabled.
Checked and verified with iOS/iPadOS 18.4 and macOS 15.4
Defaults aren’t an option anymore, so running things like sudo some default, only works for mac app store updates and some other checks, a profile has to be generated and installed, and with an option to also restore it. While what I made for myself helps me in my LAN setup for our services/etc so I can easily deploy it without worrying about certain stuff, and using it in crontab -e so I can let it run if needed once in a while when it hits conditions from another script, .. i made a bash shell script for 15.4 instances that I have that need those defaults run, and then a profile made that it installs. others are free to use that to their liking or make a pkg out of it or whatever, I just made it for myself and shared it. seems to work.
https://github.com/mrfdev/1MB/tree/master/Resources/macOS
The best way to keep settings as you want them is to use a configuration profile with:
“AutomaticallyInstallMacOSUpdates
If false, restricts the “Install macOS Updates” option and prevents the user from changing the option.”
“AutomaticDownload
If false, deselects the “Download new updates when available from the App Store” option and prevents the user from changing the option.”
From developer.apple.com/documentation/devicemanagement/softwareupdate
Configuration profiles can be created with Apple Configurator, iMazing Profile Editor or ProfileCreator.
I always back up my devices and restart before an update in case it’s a problematic update. And I still want that ability, so will be turning all that OFF when I update. Thanks for the heads-up.
The danger is in the automatic introduction of bugs.
See 15.4 Wallpaper bug? on MacRumors, wherein I found that my wallpaper was all white wherein I had previously used a custom color background. Apparently a large number of Mac owners were similarly caught out by something reported in at least one Release Candidate.
Exactly. Auto-updates can cause introduction of bugs, or incompatibility with software you must use that is not yet updated for the new version.
Auto-updating is very Microsoft. It is NOT what I want from Apple.
Thanks for this information. I don’t like my devices updating themselves behind my back, and will continue to update them manually. Especially true for MacOS where I wait several releases before installing updates.
Automatic update has been an infuriating “feature” of Windows since, when, Windows 8? If the device is connected to a slow WiFi source, it can disable the computer for a ridiculously long time. At least Microsoft graciously allows us to designate some “metered connections” and won’t update when connected to them.
Apple doing this stinks, plain and simple. Whether for simple convenience, or because I don’t need, want, or have time to learn all the whiz-bang new “features” of each new MacOS or iPadOS iteration, I only install updates if they are absolutely necessary, and some reliable third party like OSXDaily tells me so.
One more stupid thing to remember after each update, going forward. Thanks for the warning.
Thank you for sharing this information. I have been using Apple products since the Apple IIc computer in the mid-1980s. During most of this time I have been a vocal Apple supporter. However, I have become increasingly disillusioned with many Apple decisions over the past decade, which I won’t go into here for sake of brevity.
What underlies all of them is Apple’s supreme arrogance that they always know what is best for users, and that we should accept their decisions like sheep. This is just the latest example. Are they trying to force me to move to Linux?
Bravo for this article.
I have software that I use in my work. The publisher is out of business, so I cannot update it to be compatible with newer OS. I am still using OS 10.13.6 . At this point in time, because of physical issues, I am not able to learn a new software to take the place of what I use on a weekly basis.
An automatic OS update would effectively disable part of my work, the work I do to feed my family. That’s not fair.
OpenCore patch them, you can run the latest OS
April 1st is not the best day to send either the update or the message about it. But thanks for the heads up. Auto update off.
The main reason I don’t want auto updating is because they prevent me from using the computer while they are in progress, and sometimes this occurs at the worst possible time.
Apple seems to be losing its way. After the 16e-waste was announced I sold about 1/3 of my considerable shares of AAPL. I’ve been considering selling more and this is pushing me to go through with it. I’m not seeing innovation. This is enshittification.
There are many out there who are NOT “Daddy” Warbucks like you. I like my 16e, great upgrade from my previous SE! Although Apple Intelligence turned off it does freeze and do strange things like a rebellious child even with Intelligence turned off! I Do not trust AI, Do not think it ready for prime time, and do NOT want to train infant Apple intelligence.
All I ever wanted is to be able to dictate txt without apple cursing out my friend. “Mowed lawn NOT eq Blow ME!”
This is a very important PSA – thank you!
Thank you for noting this! I caught it on my Mac, but not on my iPhone.
Fixing that now, thanks to your P.S.A. :-)