Q: How to disable Auto system software update

This happened to me , it keeps downloading the IOS 8 even though I dont want to update it. It wasted 3.5GB of space. I deleted yesterday but this morning it's downloading again automatically. What a stupid act.

Hi,

similar experience with me. I downloaded the 8.0.1 on my Ipad4 but didnt install since, it wont install. It says that I need ti install the update. I dont want to istall it, rather delete the downloaded update, is there a way of deleting or cancelling a loaded but yet applied update? I am using Version 8.0, A12A365. Thank you very much for answers ...

Of course, the answer is now to download and install iOS 8.0.2, which was released a few hours ago.

In reply to everyone who tends to recommend installing the OS update, because it is worth updating or tell 'just do it, then your problem is solved':

This is not at all helpful and those answers are wasting others time. There are good reasons for all who search for a solution regarding the TO's topic NOT to update or at least to regain the freedom to decide if and when to update.

I need iPads with a specific OS version for testing and developing. It is ridiculous to continuously watch if the OS remains in a state I want it to be.

Unfortunately I haven't any helpful reply either.

my previous post got "moderated" so someone IS reading all this! Yes!!

Here is my problem. up until yesterday I had a working iPhone 5S (purchased in Jul-2014). Since it got clogged with the automatic update (and no free space to perform it on the phone itself) I used iTunes to update to OS8.1 from OS7. It didn't work and now the iPhone is in RESTORE mode. Can not be updated but only (according to iTunes) "can be factory restored to OS8.1 "

after waiting for hours for iTunes to download OS8.1 plus about 10minutes for extracting software I got the message :

- The iPhone "iPhone" could not be restored/ iPhone could not be found

I repeated the procedure on 3 different Windows computers and got the same result (I tried everything in this posting but I will not jail-brake the phone!)

Is my under warranty iPhone 5S 32GB Grey damaged beyond repair by following update instructions from Apple?

Could someone please help?

just a quick update:

15th time lucky! the update went through and now I am conducting the painful process of restoring my data and 2000songs that I had on my iPhone...why it worked this time? no idea...I am just hoping my phone will not qualify for the next update!!!

What I need to be done:

- press and hold menu and power until black screen...

- add cable to connect the iphone 5S to Itunes

- Itunes expanding (already downloaded) software and updating (say a prayer or two)

- restore done. OS 8.1 installed

Now I understand why my iPhone is constantly sucking my bandwidth. My girl did not believe me that disconnecting the iPhones from wifi improves the internet speed. I use Windows Remote Desktop too much, and when my girl arrives home with her iPhone, the network performance always drops down.

I don't want to upgrade to iOS 8, because always new versions of iOS consume more resources. When I upgraded my old iPhone 4S from iOS 6 to iOS 7, the battery duration drop from 12 hours to 4. Huge difference!!

I don't want to upgrade to iOS 8, I don't want auto update downloads and I don't want to buy a new iPhone.

VERY BIG THANK YOU!!! just freed up 1.2 gigs off my phone !

I'm getting the same annoying message about iOS 9.0.1. Are there any new options to make the phone stop the insanity?

Sure!

iOS 9.0.2 was released about four hours ago.

Update and the message will disappear.  And you should be glad you did an update, as updates provide more reliable software, often with added features.

Thanks for the information. But, is there a way to shut off the updates? I've found the puny little dot dot updates to be more risk than upside.

I recently updated my iPad to ios9 from 7. Really disappointed to see they now force the download of software updates without my permission.

This is the kind of thing that will push me away from the iOS platform completely. There is no reason at all to force software downloads in the background and deny us the option to do that manually. "Stealth" system downloads when the iPad is in standby, without any option to prevent that happening is completely obnoxious. It feels like it's not even my iPad, im renting it from Apple.

And when it does download it then proceeds to bug you to install it with annoying reminders. If I delete the download it reappears a few days later.

IM so angry about this. i regret updating to ios9. My wifi bandwidth belongs to me and apple have no right doing their secret undercover system downloads. Shame on Apple, this is disgusting. People saying "just install it" you don't get it. Control has now been taken away from your own device. That is not cool.

"Ipad as a service".   No thanks

I've been successful in removing unwanted updates and not having them re-download since iOS 8.0. You still get the update tag on the system Settings icon, but it's only a notice that one is available. However, if a subsequent update is released (like 9.0.2 - geesh! I wish Apple would get it right before they do the updates in the first place!) then the new update will automatically download. In both cases (new update and updated update )  your phone/iPad/iPod must be connected to a wifi network to download, so it shouldn't (theoretically) use any data from your allotted data on your plan. I agree it's annoying and dictatorial of Apple to have made this decision to push updates. I'm choosing not to update my iPhone 5c and two iPads (3 & 4) until I see how this all plays out. I have vivid memories of my iPad 1 turning into a slug with iOS 5 and don't want that experience again!

HOpe this helps.

While it's possible to get the annoying prompts to go away, I haven't been able to get rid of the notification icon on the Settings app icon. Here's what I did:

Go to Settings / General / Storage & iCloud Usage / Select "Manage Storage" under STORAGE / Scroll down to the iOS update / Select the update / Hit "Delete Update" and follow the prompts.

If you change your mind and decide you want the update, you can download the update under Software Update settings by going to Settings / General / "Software Update".

Your device should recognize there's an update available.

Last few posts from this thread have vanished. Is that the moderator doing that? Why? A reason for deletion would be nice.

I recently updated my iPad to ios9 from 7. Disappointed to see they now force the download of point release software updates without my permission, no way to prevent that. Then once it's downloaded in the background, bugs me with pop-up alerts to install the update.

I'm not against updates, but definitely against losing manual control of installing them at my choosing when it suits me. For development purposes I prefer to install any major or minor software updates manually when I deem it necessary. And just the principle of Apple taking it upon itself to deny me the option to disable pop-up reminders bugging me and software downloading in the background, is a new low.

Is there any way to stop this? I have turned off auto-updates, and disabled everything I can in settings, but the point releases still auto-download when the iPad is charging, then bug me to install whenever I wake the iPad up.

If I delete the software update it gets downloaded again later and the reminder pop-ups resume.