How do I turn off OS notifications in upper right corner

Try going to System Preferences/Software Update or App Store (depends on OS you are running) and -un-check the Automatically check for updates box.

I'm using Mountain Lion, and I just got a pop-up to upgrade to Mavricks. Not an update for Mountain Lion... it was telling me to UPGRADE to Mavricks.

The most annoying thing is, there is no way to just close that little pop-up without opening the App store. Not good for my workflow.

As far as Mountain Lion updates go, I do it when it's convenient for ME. I am busy, and sometimes I can't just stop what I'm doing to update and restart my computer. Yet, I have to stop to open the App store so I can close it out again. ANNOYING.

Before everyone jumps on me for using Mountain Lion, this is a company computer, and I was told by my IT department to NOT update to Mavricks.

Supposedly, an update (unknown which one, but maybe the Mac App Store one) installed these two things:

/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CommerceKit.framework/Versions/A/Resources/Noticeboard.app

/System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.noticeboard.plist

If they exist on your machine, delete them and restart. That should preclude that obnoxious popup from interfering with your workflow.😎

Hi MaynardWinter,

I figured out how to do this today - it was annoying me too.

Launch the "App Store" Application.

Go to "Updates".

Control + Click on the Mavericks Update. It'll say "Hide This Update", and click on "Hide This Update".

Then you'll still get your other notifications, but you won't get the notification to upgrade to Mavericks.

This terminal command should permanently disable the Notification center.

launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.notificationcenterui.plist P

Push enter, and then type:

killall NotificationCenter

I hope you are not an Apple representative, as that was a slightly snarky and/or hubristic reply to a totally legitimate frustration and concern of 1/2 of all Mac users. I will generally respond to an update notice same-day, but in the meantime, the thing 'sticks' to the TOP of my desktop with no way to dismiss it other than opening the App store. Which I suspect is the $-driven reason that Notifications preferences do not include the option to disable system notifications.

The notification did recently add the ability to 'postpone' the notice to "one hour" or "tonight" or "tomorrow", which is better than being forced to open the AppStore, but still doesn't allow you to customize preferences in ...well, preferences.

If only! My system preferences pane has no 'software update' module -- because they moved it into AppStore (I think). Whose system-level resource, appropriately, has a file name that includes *Commercekit* -- which pretty much says it all. The notification may inadvertently help keep your computer secure and healthy, but the main thing is to drive 'traffic' to the AppStore.

How do you keep on top of software updates? Manual download every month? I guess Lion isn't getting any updates anymore, anyway... I was having serious speed issues after Mavericks upgrade, and they are still there a bit, but re-installing Mavericks always reset me to decent performance for a couple weeks, and keeping my trash empty has extended that to a few months now issue-free. I have a circa 2010 macbook pro.

The tragedy is that Notifications is great software -- Apple just needs to drop the $ motivation and give users more custom control of when, where, and how notifications appear, and when, where and how to dismiss COMPLETELY these notifications when they do appear. For starters, a simple swipe off the screen should dismiss ALL notifications for AT LEAST 24 hours. This includes especially system notifications.

Ok. I accept this begrudgingly. Apple should think long and hard about including market-motivated aspects into its basic OS, and take at least a couple steps back from the aggressive direction of OS user traffic to its AppStore.

Even a cosmetic change, like moving system software out of the 'AppStore' and into a duplicate back-end with far less processor overhead on loading and a different GUI and name that implies what it should be, like 'Free maintenance and support resources for OS X', would be a great start.

THIS IS THE BEST SOLUTION FROM ERIC ROOT

"Try going to System Preferences/Software Update or App Store (depends on OS you are running) and -un-check the Automatically check for updates box."

In OS 10.9.3, open preferences>AppStore and uncheck automatic check for updates.

For security, check for updates once a week or however much is appropriate for your risk-taking mentality.

I get this is an old thread, but it's still relevant. I don't mind the System Software updates. But everything else I can do without being notified every 10 min (exaggerating, but most here will understand what I'm saying). So any apps I downloaded from the App Store, or iTunes, or new OS available (ie. El Capitan), I prefer not to get notified about them until I choose to check manually. I didn't spend over $3000 for a computer, and I can't do what I want it to do for my use. Old Apple, I was able to. New Apple, I'm forced fed what they think I want, and have no choice.

I don't plan on upgrading my OS to more than 10.8.x right now. It's running fine for me, and most of the software I'm using runs on Mountain Lion. No need to for me to update. Except for actual critical system software updates like Security, and Remote Desktop, is there a way in Mountain Lion to turn all other update notifications off?

Thanks.