How to enable/disable Automatic Downloads

In iTunes Edit > Preferences > Store, make sure there are no tick in the Automatic Downloads section. If downloads are already queued up you may need to delete the contents of the Downloads folder in your media folder.

For an iOS device use Settings > Store and turn off Automatic Downloads.

tt2

Hi! What about automatic iOS update downloads? iOS 6.0.1 and 6.1 have downloaded without my intervention occupying space in my iPhone. People say that it's normal or impossible automatically without consent but It did happen twice in my device! I just want to decide whether I want to download updates or not. Any help?

I'm not aware of a setting that controls updates though I'm sure there should be a prompt before the download. Perhaps one was accidentally accepted if it popped up while performing other tasks.

tt2

Well...I'm completely sure that I did not accept manually the iOS download (OTA). Sure! Believe me! Besides, It happened twice! I'm getting crazy... If you think that this situation is not possible at all, perhaps the last time I connected the device to iTunes, I configured that in some way that I don't know... Could it be possible?

I don't really doubt you, it's just the only explanation I can think of. I know I've dismissed dialog boxes without reading them properly before now and I still can't find an option that says automatically update.

tt2

Hi, both my wife's and my iphone have encountered the same situation over the weekend. The IOS 6.1 update was automatically downloaded to our phones OTA overnight. I spoke with Apple this AM and they said the only way to remove the download (not installed) on the device is to do a reset and select "Erase All Content and Setting" on the device.

Oh well. I wonder what triggers that then? I'd backup before going anywhere near an update or erase.

tt2

Hi! Did Apple tell you why iOS was downloaded automatically?

No, they said it shouldn't and not sure how and why it happened. My concern is if it will happy again when the next IOS update comes out as the current update download takes up almost 1gig storage space. I am debating as to whether I should to go ahead to install the 6.1 or do a reset to remove all content. So far, the feedbacks from the ios 6.1 users are not very convincing toward installing it.

I haven't install it yet and I have no opinion about 6.1 compared to 6.0.1 so I haven't decided what will I do...Probably, there are not many significant differences between them. I don't know...

Hi! I have it downloaded but not installed yet in my 4S. I've heard bad opinions about iOS 6.1. I'll wait..

I have had this same problem for the last two OS updates and it's beginning to irritate me. If I am dismissing a dialog box that is somehow telling it to download, then that box is worded very very poorly, because I would not have told it to download had I known it would. I only have 16GB to work with and it isn't even enough. Apple seriously needs to address this issue, just put an option in the updates section of settings. It can't be that hard.

This link will help you in resolving your issue I think.

iTunes 11 for Mac: Automatically download new iTunes Store purchases to multiple computers and devices