How do I stop my iPad 3 from automatically downloading iOS upgrades

I don't believe there is anyway of preventing the download short of turning off your internet connection.

Tell Apple you would like a way to stop this: http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html

It is still a good idea. Make it detailed.

Or you can call AppleCare and do the same thing.

Hi there, I shouldn’t worry too much as once you see the iOS7 UI you’ll probably like me GET RID of your iPad and replace it with a Samsung device.

Apple have stuffed up my machine BIG TIME with this iOS7 'Upgrade'.

The user interface is poor 2D icons, the battery goes completely flat now (even if you’re not using it), the fixed icons at the bottom of the screen have some awful background, the Notes has lost the option to change the fonts, the white glare background on ALL the screens is hurting my eyes. There’s more but I don’t want to spoil your pleasure in finding out all the downsides of iOS7 for yourself.

I bought the iPad because I liked the quality of the display and the rich icons that Apple ‘were’ famous for. I now feel I’ve been cheated out of my money as my machine is no longer the machine I bought.

Rant, not related to topic.

Just uploaded this feedback about my issue(same as yours). We all must realize what is really going on. if you not istalled it yet - unfortunately, you can't get rid of that aweful iOS7 download!!! nobody can. Apple Care Geniuses can't do ANYTHING about this, and they have no power to ROLLBACK downloads. No option on the iOS for user to just locate and delete unwanted download. Pretty stupid, huh? Well, maybe iOS8 will address this. :]

(from my post to Feedback)

- Apple Update server Downloaded full version of the iOS7 upgrade to my iPad (this is extremely unethical and unprofessional way to upgrade software. NO other company in the world does that!) Just a Notification should be used!

- This action by Apple resulted in losing 1.2GB (possibly more) in space on my 16GB iPad. And I need that space, every bit of it. 16GB is not much, you know...

- I want this space back, but now I can't do that, because as soon as I backup my iPad to the iTunes and restore it to the point right before that iOS update was downloaded - Apple Update server will detect that "fresh" iOS6 and will automatically push that Download again ... right now me and all other people in this situation are screwed!

- To fix it, Apple must change Update server to push only NOTIFICATIONS, and stop downloading full upgrade to iPhones, and iPad's. Then I can back up and restore, getting space back.

PS: my older iPhone 4S with iOS5x received only a Prompt to upgrade, and entire upgrade package was not DOWNLOADED! Yay! So, it is definitely only iOS6 is affected by this antiservice!

What is wrong with Apple... is going bad? 🙂 first iMaps, then iOS7 - are they all drunk on fermented apple sider? :]

I so agree! I loved my mini iPad..... before iOS 7.0.2! I'd pay another $300 to get my pre-iOS 7.0.2 "upgrade".

They are wrong. The only way that I have read that this happens is when you are connected to AC power and not connected through the cord to a USB port on a computer.

Here we are almost twoo weeks later and mu iPad on 6.1.3 has not downloaded the update. My iPhons is the same way. I always charge my Mini through my MacBook.

Thanks, hexonxonx.

This is great way to protect yourself from bad Apple Server, and I already forgot about that option.

Another simple trick is to go to Settings and turn OFF WiFi. Then you can use that wall AC adaptor...

I use WiFi only as needed, to make battery last longer, but sometimes you will forget (especially, when there are more than one phone/pad in family) .. and plug it in ... and you toast (err, an ApplePie ! ) 🙂

And, I guess, not that many people actulaly know about this option. This is especially bad for those who got only iPad, and no computer. Yeah...

Thanks.

This happened to me last year. My mom's iPhone 4 downloaded the iOS 6 update and in the process maxed out the data I buy for them each month in order for us to Facetime. The downloaded file was deleted again after a few weeks as I did not do the install. Her phone is still happily running iOS 5.1.1. That is what happened in her case. Don't know if it still the same with iOS7.

I found a simple and quick fix to prevent this from happening again. I just filled up our iPhones and my iPad to make the free space about 2GB. My iPhone currently shows that it needs 3.9GB before the update can be downloaded and installed. The update will not download if there is not enough space to also install it.

So just add some more music, video's and apps to your iPad to get the free space to about 2GB and you will not have the problem again. Hopefully the downloaded file will be deleted from your iPad in a few weeks.

Something else you might want to try is to "Delete all content and settings" and then restore your iPad from a back-up or even set it up as a new device. Maybe that will delete the downloaded update file as well. If you set it up as new device you will however loose all your app data and settings in the process.

Hope this helps.

@jamieryan157

I have a similar procedure that I used on my iPad mini (16 GB)

For those interested, I've created a work-around. The idea is to fill up the memory on the device with *your own files* so the auto-pushed download will see that there's not enough room on the device and won't begin the download at all. The approx max size you need to leave *free* on the device is ~2.45 GB. The download will not initiate if this size (or less) is on the device. If more memory than this is free, the download will begin again when the device is connected to Wi-Fi and is externally powered.

1. Create a video file on the iPad's video camera of about 5 minutes in length (~684 MB) which you use as "padding", taking up space on the iPad.

2. Copy that file multiple times into a folder on your HDD, renaming each one sequentially IMG_01.MOV (IMG_01 - IMG_20. I have 20 copies on mine.

3. Restore the iPad as new from the iPad itself (Settings>General>Reset>Erase All Content and Settings) to keep the device at iOS 6.x

4. Setup the iPad with Wi-Fi and activate it.

5. Disable Wi-Fi on the iPad.

6. Take one picture with the iPad (to create the Camera folder on the iPad)

7. Download & install iFunBox (Google it)

8. Run iFunBox with iPad connected and access the Camera folder on the iPad

9. Fill the Camera folder with the video padding files you created above. On my 16GB mini, I filled the folder with 17 of the video padding files, leaving ~2.45 GB free on the mini.

10. Re-enable Wi-Fi on the device.

11. Copy your apps/music/etc to the iPad as you would normally. As your memory size reduces on the device, simply delete one or two of the video padding files using iFunBox being careful not to leave *more than* ~2.45GB free. This way, *you* have control over what is being pushed (or NOT pushed) to the device and when you need more memory, you free it up yourself as needed.

hexonxonx wrote:

They are wrong. The only way that I have read that this happens is when you are connected to AC power and not connected through the cord to a USB port on a computer.

I have first-hand experience over multiple tests and restores of my iPad mini this past weekend trying to find a way to circumvent this pushed download. The download will also initiate and complete if:

1. The device is connected to Wi-Fi with a working internet connection

2. The device is externally powered via PC or external charger

3. The device meets the minimum space requirements (Apple states it's minimum memory requirement is 3.1 GB, my testing found it to be closer to 2.5 GB)