{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-stop-macos-downloading-updates-automatically","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-stop-macos-downloading-updates-automatically","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"updates-installers","title":"macOS updates and installers"},"question":"How do I stop my Mac downloading macOS updates automatically?","alt_questions":["turn off automatic updates mac","stop update downloads mac","software update automatic settings","macos downloads update without asking","disable auto download updates mac","automatic updates options macos"],"short_answer":"In System Settings → General → Software Update, click the info button next to Automatic updates and turn off Download new updates when available.","answer_markdown":"Open **System Settings → General → Software Update** and click the info button next to **Automatic updates**. Turn off **Download new updates when available** (and the install options if you prefer to install by hand).\n\nYour Mac then only downloads an update when you choose to install it, so a large download can't arrive while you're short of space. Keep installing security updates regularly, though — turning off the automatic download just puts you in charge of the timing.","answer_html":"

Open System Settings → General → Software Update and click the info button next to Automatic updates. Turn off Download new updates when available (and the install options if you prefer to install by hand).

\n

Your Mac then only downloads an update when you choose to install it, so a large download can't arrive while you're short of space. Keep installing security updates regularly, though — turning off the automatic download just puts you in charge of the timing.

","answer_text":"Open System Settings → General → Software Update and click the info button next to Automatic updates. Turn off Download new updates when available (and the install options if you prefer to install by hand).\n\nYour Mac then only downloads an update when you choose to install it, so a large download can't arrive while you're short of space. Keep installing security updates regularly, though — turning off the automatic download just puts you in charge of the timing.","tags":["software update","settings","downloads"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.where-do-macos-updates-download-to","question":"Where do macOS updates download to, and can I delete them?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/where-do-macos-updates-download-to"},{"id":"mac-storage-basics.why-did-a-macos-update-fail-for-lack-of-space","question":"What should I do when a macOS update says there isn't enough free space?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/why-did-a-macos-update-fail-for-lack-of-space"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I stop my Mac downloading macOS updates automatically? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"In System Settings → General → Software Update, click the info button next to Automatic updates and turn off Download new updates when available.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"How do I stop my Mac downloading macOS updates automatically?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-stop-macos-downloading-updates-automatically"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-stop-macos-downloading-updates-automatically","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I stop my Mac downloading macOS updates automatically?","alternateName":["turn off automatic updates mac","stop update downloads mac","software update automatic settings","macos downloads update without asking","disable auto download updates mac","automatic updates options macos"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Open System Settings → General → Software Update and click the info button next to Automatic updates. Turn off Download new updates when available (and the install options if you prefer to install by hand).\n\nYour Mac then only downloads an update when you choose to install it, so a large download can't arrive while you're short of space. Keep installing security updates regularly, though — turning off the automatic download just puts you in charge of the timing.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-stop-macos-downloading-updates-automatically"}}]},"fragment":"
\n
\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Mac storage basics · macOS updates and installers

\n

How do I stop my Mac downloading macOS updates automatically?

\n

Short answer: In System Settings → General → Software Update, click the info button next to Automatic updates and turn off Download new updates when available.

\n

Open System Settings → General → Software Update and click the info button next to Automatic updates. Turn off Download new updates when available (and the install options if you prefer to install by hand).

\n

Your Mac then only downloads an update when you choose to install it, so a large download can't arrive while you're short of space. Keep installing security updates regularly, though — turning off the automatic download just puts you in charge of the timing.

\n\n

Last reviewed

\n\n

Related questions

\n

Also available as Markdown and JSON.

\n
"}