How to disable Auto system software update

android531, sorry to forget one other thing...

Go to Settings / App and iTunes Store / turn off "Updates" under "AUTOMATIC DOWNLOADS"

I don't know how you got all those points from being a jerk but this is the second time, stop saying that, I don't want to update to 9.1, I don't trust it yet and I don't want it wasting space.

The only solution to this is sadly jailbreaking, I did it with iOS8 for only 1 purpose, to install a tweak to shut off auto updating. I don't trust jailbreaks but if it keeps me on an iOS version that works I will see it as the lesser of 2 evils.

So after turning off as many auto-update settings as I could find, my ipad seems to have stopped bugging me to upgrade. And it no longer downloads the point release updates in the background. This is good. Not sure why it was continually doing that before when I already had all the update settings turned off.

I think even just clicking the software update menu item in Settings > General is enough to trigger the auto-download and pop-up notices. So just avoid going in there and it shouldn't bother you with update notifications or automatic downloading.

Today I decided to go ahead and manually update to the latest OS point release 9.1, and no problems. I'm fine with iOS as long as I can maintain my own preferred schedule for updating the system software and apps, and not have Apple bug me with pop-up reminders and background pre-downloading. Contrary to what I said in my previous posts, it does seem like we can still turn all that automatic stuff off. The day they force auto-updates on me, is the day I sell my iPad.

Hello Android351,

Perhaps you are right and your iPad is no longer being forced to download unwanted iOS updates, but I doubt it. I found this thread because I have been having the same problem: Apple has been pushing out iOS updates to all wifi devices, like it or not, and there is no setting that you can change to stop this. Turning off automatic downloading for the App Store only affects the downloading of apps, not iOS system software. I have called Apple Care and talked with Apple senior techs and they have admitted that this is the case.

For me, finding that all of the iPads and iPhones in our home are being forced to download large software updates without my permission is extremely alarming. Our satellite internet connection--the only service available to us--only gives us 10GB a month for daytime usage, and these massive iOS downloads quickly eat into our allowance to the point that we run over our data cap early in every month and are forced down to dial-up speed service or forced to pay lots of money for more allowance.

The iOS 9.1 update took slightly over 100MB, or all of 1% of your monthly allowance.

Perhaps, but the iOS 9.0 update took something like 1.3GB, then came the iOS 9.0.1 update and the iOS 9.0.2 update which were both large. And when you multiply that by two iPads, two iPhones and a couple of iPod touches, well, that's the end of our monthly allowance right there.

There is a huge size difference between an iOS update loaded onto iTunes followed by your iOS device compared to the (much smaller) iOS update loaded directly onto your iOS device. iOS 9 was large. The rest were not.

jonagold1, it did actually stop downloading automatically for me. At least, between October 7 and 23 there was no auto-download of the 9.1 minor update until I manually updated after that. I'm on WIFI all the time too, and had my iPad plugged in charging sometimes (but not connected to computer).

Try avoiding syncing with iTunes. Perhaps when connecting to the computer and iTunes the auto-downloads happen regardless of settings. Just a theory. I mostly avoid iTunes, so maybe it only downloads automatically when syncing or connecting to iTunes. Other than that, avoid going into the 'software update' area in settings, even to have a look because like I said, that *might* initiate the download - simply by checking to see if there's an update, you might be actually causing the download. Just another theory.

But then again, if you spoke with Apple and they admitted it forces the download regardless of the setting on your device, that's not good news. But keep in mind, phone support often won't go into details and can't be relied on. They just want to close the ticket as quickly as possible.

android351 -- If you found a setting that prevents automatic iOS system software downloads, I'd love to know about it. I've tried everything I could find, including turning off Background App Refresh, disabling automatic downloads in App and iTunes Stores, and even turning on Restrictions for Installing Apps. None of these have worked, and the Apple tech I spoke with confirmed that none of these would work.

I do avoid syncing with iTunes; the downloads come directly into the devices.

As for the reliability of phone support, my call was escalated to a senior tech, who did a bit of research and confirmed that the downloads cannot be stopped. In his view, this was an oversight by the designers, but who knows. He forwarded the issue on to engineers, so we'll see.

On another thread, I read that downloads can be prevented if you block these websites in one's router settings:

mesu.apple.com

appldnld.apple.com

However, there does not seem to be a way to block websites on an Airport base station.

We cannot get Internet service where we live other than tethering our Mac and iPads though our iPhones. We have 15GB of shared data on our monthly plan, so we have to be very careful of watching our data usage because if we go over that limit, AT&T charges us $15 per each GB more!! When we have to update our apps or expect to download larger data, we take our devices to work or the local hotspots and use the community WiFi to preserve our personal reserve.

Now Apple automatically updated our iPads because they were "connected to WiFi" which was THROUGH OUR iPHONES (being tethered to our cellular network). This action just ate up a huge chunk of our data plan! Now we really have to skimp on our online usage for the next couple weeks or we'll exceed our plan and be penalized with expensive overage fees. If we had already been near the end of our monthly term with most of our data used, Apple's downloads would've put us over and cost us likely over $30 - $45 for the extra data these downloads used. Would Apple reimburse us for they data they forced upon us? I don't think so! We have been given the choice when to install the updates, so we'll go to a public hotspot to complete, but we weren't given the choice when to receive the downloads in the first place.

Apple MUST give customers a CHOICE when to receive these downloads. They don't have the right to use OUR data as they see fit! If this practice continues, it's only a matter of time before they face a class action suit from cellular users. I don't want to see it come to this, as I am also an Apple stockholder.

I was mistaken when I thought it stopped downloading. The iOS point release downloads continue to happen and I can't stop it. When I delete the update, it just downloads again when I'm next charging and bugs me with stupid pop-up reminders with "install tonight" or "remind me later".

This is fascist BS. It goes beyond Microsoft-style nagware to a new low. No user option to prevent background downloads and no user option to prevent annoying pop-up reminders. It's my business if and when I install operating system point-release or major updates, and definitely not Apple's place to enforce background downloading without option to turn off. This is significant.

I can't respect a company that takes away control we once had, without even any announcement.. they just hope nobody would notice, or hope everyone accepts it. A move like this wreaks of desperation. Obviously Apple are unhappy with how many people don't bother installing OS updates, so their internal brain-storming came up with mandatory background software downloads, and nagging pop-ups that can't be disabled. Little do they know this just erodes consumer confidence and trust in their methods for remotely controlling their products once people take them home.

What next? Airplane mode taken away? Games won't load without the internet? I've seen that happening on some Steam games. Get ready for further Apple and Tech Giant strangulating grip around our necks. Served up in our best interest of course, always with a corporate smile and "good for users" and all that rubbish.

Dear Apple and community,

We are experiencing the same problem, but with devastating consequences for our handicapped daughter who is completely dependent on her iPad 2 and the very expensive Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) device app Proloquo2go (US$250) to communicate with. Like many special needs apps, Proloquo2go is available only for iOS.

Given the nature of her disability, our daughter is an Apple product user who is unable to read and unable to make a decision as to whether or not to update the iOS. Like small children who are also Apple product users unable to read and make these decisions, our daughter will begin pushing the pop-up menu buttons in an effort to make them go away so that she can access her device. Then the install begins, interrupting her activity, and reboots. She doesn't understand what is happening and gets understandably upset. When it reboots and a new iOS appears with significant user-interface changes, it works differently, looks different, and she can no longer access her apps, including her AAC device app. Then we and her teachers must stop everything we are doing and in that moment figure out a way to problem solve. A significant iOS update can mean having to design a program to re-teach her how to use it, producing countless more moments of frustration. Meanwhile she does not have proper access to her AAC device program when she needs it, rendering her unable to communicate.

This is one thing if a parent, teacher or therapist makes an informed decision to update, plan time and strategies for teaching an individual how to navigate the new iOS. It is wholly another when the user with a disability initiates a forced update, unaware of and unable to plan for the consequences.


Apple has a responsibility to the most vulnerable in our society - children and individuals with disabilities - individuals who are incapable of making an informed decision as to when and where to update an iOS. Apple is proud of the special status the iPad, iPhone and iPod maintains in the special needs, special education, accessibility community - http://www.apple.com/education/special-education/. IPads are used in special education classes across the world, in therapy, in care setting, in homes. Parents invest in Apple products, in expensive special educational and AAC iOS apps, in special mounting systems, amplification systems, switches, eye-gaze tracking switches designed specifically for Apple products. The consequences for this community - the most vulnerable in our society - are great when each individual user is forced by Apple to make a choice - an informed choice - but because of their disability they cannot.


As the parent of an individual with a severe disability who has used an Apple device for years as an AAC device, as well as for educational and leisure purposes, I implore Apple to consider this issue carefully. Our society is one that values freedom of choice highly. But we also value the freedom and right to communicate and make informed choices. If Apple is unaware of the National Joint Committee's Communication Bill of Rights, I strongly suggest that they review this consensus document, which outlines the connection between the right to affect the conditions of one's existence through unimpeded access to communication, including AAC devices, and being offered choices and alternatives one can understand. http://www.asha.org/NJC/bill_of_rights.htm

A toggle button for curtailing automatic system updates would give parents (and teachers and therapists) of children with disabilities the ability to ensure that they do not inadvertently download an update with devastating consequences to their lives and functioning. And at little cost to Apple. Freedom of choice is of high value in our society, and its presence can improve the lives of the most vulnerable. It is my hope that Apple will come its senses on this issue.

Absolute best,

Theresa T.

<Personal Information Edited by Host>

We are exactly in the same boat my friend!!! You are NOT ALONE!!! LOL!!! I am NOT against the updates and have never had any issues with Apple iOS updates. I would just like to be asked before the update is downloaded. We have multiple apple devices so each time it does this, it cost us some of our CELL PROVIDER DATA ALLOWANCE. It may not be much, but even its 0.001 GB of data and I'm over that much, my cell provider is going to hit me for $15. I would like for it to work like this ..... Notify me there is an UPDATE AVAILABLE, then let me choose WHEN to download it. This method is used for APPLICATION updates, but not OPERATING SYSTEM updates. This would afford me the opportunity to manage my data usage accordingly.

Apple, please give us a break!!! Love your product, dislike your method!!!

Thanks!!!

Very annoying indeed. I usually tend to hold off a little while with updates, just to make sure all the critical apps I use professionally are compatible or have time to post an update. It's not unusual that some apps functionality break with an iOS update, so to make sure I don't lose out on work I play it a bit safe. And for some, I read, the implications are even greater. Also the background downloading is annoying, with some good examples in this topic. Besides that, loosing control is not a good feeling, it just made me question if I really need an iOS device or if I could get something else the next time around.

The notification in Settings is quite enough imo. When to download and when to update should be up to the user, with automatic being one option of course, but also manual.

Just a reminder: http://youtu.be/OYecfV3ubP8

Today my iPad & my girlfriend's iPad both auto-updated to the awful iOS 9.3 where nothing works, even though we both had automatic updates turned off. I even deleted a download of iOS 9.3 to free up space the other day but like a virus it has returned and this time installed itself without even asking me! I thought maybe this was a one-off but then my girlfriend's iPad did exactly the same thing today.

I really think Apple are trying their best to encourage people to upgrade to the latest software (whether by fair means or foul), so it can bork & slow down their older devices (I know some people who have just bought new devices rather than tried to troubleshoot stuff because they're not tech-savvy people....these people are Apple's dream - constantly updating their over-priced hardware and keeping their share price high). The other alternative of course is that these things happen because Apple are inept, chaotic & negligent which is hard to believe of one of the three richest companies in the world with a huge, skilled workforce drawn from the cream of the tech world! It's time we had a whistle-blower about this...Wikileaks anyone? Then we need laws to ban this sort of behaviour.