How do I stop Mac App store from updating an app...permanently.

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Level 5

5,454 points

How do I stop Mac App store from updating an app...permanently.

I have an application purchased in the Mac App store that has an update available. However, the nature of the update removes features that the developer removed to allay a potential dispute with a third party.

I really want to retain these features, unless and until the app is no longer supported by a future OS X version.

My question is how do I remove update suggestions from the App Store application, so I don't accidentally perform an update, and so I can use the "update all" button again, without fear?

If I change the App file name, will that be enough? Or will it cause another problem in doing so?

Any suggestions? Thanks.

Posted on Aug 21, 2015 11:52 PM

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Answer 1

Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,656 points

Apr 16, 2017 8:53 AM in response to dpdpdp

I'm not a fan of letting your Mac update automatically or update all, I prefer to do updates one at a time and avoid using the App Store whenever I can. More control.

Send Apple feedback, https://www.apple.com/feedback/

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Answer 2

dpdpdp

Level 1

71 points

Apr 15, 2017 10:42 AM in response to Martin M.

Actually, hiding the app from the Purchased list does not have this effect — and after looking into it as best I can for about an hour, my conclusion is that there is no solution. Which is very annoying!

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Answer 3

Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,656 points

Apr 15, 2017 11:47 PM in response to SP Forsythe

Your solution would be to stop clicking on the Update All button when you receive updates.

Instead click on the 'more' text that will then list the items that have updates available and only choose the ones you want to be updated.

Have you made a back up of the app in question? If for some reason you do update it then you can revert to the previous version you like by dragging it back to the Applications folder.

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Answer 4

dpdpdp

Level 1

71 points

Apr 16, 2017 6:42 AM in response to Eau Rouge

This is all good, but it means you can't turn on automatic updating, and you have to make sure you never negligently click on the "update all" button. Not a major hassle, but it's such an obvious thing to allow users to have a "do not update" button that it's both surprising and annoying that it's not there.

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Answer 5

Aug 21, 2015 11:54 PM in response to SP Forsythe

There's no way to remove available updates from the Mac App Store. It's not possible to modify the app file name either.

Just make sure to not click: Update All

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Answer 6

Eric Root

Level 10

685,257 points

Aug 22, 2015 11:50 AM in response to SP Forsythe

Hide Updates Yosemite see 3 Mar post by tc767400

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Answer 7

Jun 14, 2016 12:48 PM in response to SP Forsythe

Apparently, if you hide the app from the Purchased list, then you should stop getting update notifications for that app. See Apple's explanation here: Hide and unhide purchases in the Mac App Store - Apple Support

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