Disabling Java Auto Update Check

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Level 1

5 points

Disabling Java Auto Update Check

I work for a large company that uses Deep Freeze on all of our Mac machines. Therefore, we turn off "auto-updating" in all applications that have an "auto-update" or "check for updates" feature.

When it comes to Java, we run into problems. Java (found in System Preferences) has an auto-updating feature which reads, "Check for Updates Automatically". We obviously uncheck the box, apply the change, and click "OK". But the problem is, when you re-open the Java Preferences, the check magically re-appears!!!!! It seems that there is no way to turn it off!!! The check ALWAYS re-appears!!!!

We thought that maybe it's a glitch and we were hoping the auto-updating feature is actually staying off, but our employees are getting pop-up windows asking them to update Java!!!

Does anybody know how to disable the "check for updates" feature in Java???

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope it made sense!!!

I've attached a screenshot of the "Update" window in Java preferences.

Posted on Jul 7, 2014 12:59 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

disguise

Level 2

452 points

Jul 7, 2014 1:41 PM in response to richardzulu

This worked for me - In Terminal

sudo defaults write /LibraryPreferences/com.oracle.java.Java-Updater JavaAutoUpdateEnabled -bool false

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Answer 2

Jul 7, 2014 3:04 PM in response to richardzulu

While your company might want all updates disabled, Not updating Flash and Java leaves you vulnerable to security threats. Rather than run old software, I would completely remove. You don't have to have either Flash or Java.

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Answer 3

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Jul 7, 2014 3:34 PM in response to dianeoforegon

Connecting to the Internet leaves you vulnerable, whether Flash Player or the JRE are enabled. I always have then up and running. I'm responsible for my security.

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Answer 4

richardzulu Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 8, 2014 12:53 PM in response to disguise

Disguise,

That worked!!! Thank you so much!!!! But I think you had a typo in your script..... you need to add an extra "/" between Library and Preferences. But OH MY GOD..... I cannot believe that it worked!!!!!!!!!!! You are a genius!!!!!

Diane,

We are completely on top of security threats, but thank you for the advice!!! We update Java and Flash manually the day the updates are released. We just don't want our computers checking for updates all day every day, or our employees running the updates themselves, because once they restart their computers, they simply go back to the way they were when we last froze them (using Deep Freeze).

Thank you EVERYBODY for your input!!!

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Answer 5

macfay

Level 1

0 points

Oct 5, 2015 6:21 AM in response to disguise

sudo defaults write /LibraryPreferences/com.oracle.java.Java-Updater JavaAutoUpdateEnabled -bool false

This doesn't work for Java 8u60

Anybody has some other suggestion....

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Answer 6

macfay

Level 1

0 points

Oct 7, 2015 6:40 AM in response to macfay

I got fix for this.

The above mentioned command was not working because no such file was existing at this location. If you create a file using below command and deploy it on all Macs, it will work 🙂

defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist JavaAutoUpdateEnabled -bool false

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Answer 7

Jan 27, 2016 7:22 AM in response to macfay

The command works for me

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.oracle.java.Java-Updater JavaAutoUpdateEnabled -bool false

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