How to stop Software Update from automatically downloading 1GB+ iOS files?

An alternate workaround is not having 10GB or more of free space on the device. 10 is the magic number: as soon as that amount is available, download starts at the next plugged+Wi-Fi occasion. 9.9GB and you're safe, at least that's how that cookie crumbled on my iPhone6+ and iPad4, both 64GB in size.

Those updates are downloaded when the device is plugged into power and connected to wi-fi. The settings you changed will have no affect on iOS updates.

You can turn off wi-fi when the device is plugged in, or you can just delete the file after it is downloaded. However, it is not using cellular data to download.

The point is,, the OP and myself just don't want it to do that, is there no way to disable the download?

I have NO intention of upgrading (And functionally bricking) my iPhone 5. Have spouse and daughter

with the upgrade and I hate several of the changes (Where did swipe to answer go). I'm fully expecting the same BS I went through on my iPhone 3, it was working fine till the final "upgrade" then became unusable because the apps totally were not compatible with it.. Started taking over 5 minutes to open the phone app or safari was finally forced to get a new phone (My current 5) not ready to spend the $$ again and if I do because of extortion-ware it will be an Android..

dwtaylorpdx wrote:

The point is,,

There is no way to disable it, except if you prevent the connection to wi-fi when the device is connected to power. While the update will download, it cannot install without user intervention. If it downloads, then go to Settings>General>Storage & iCloud Usage, then under Storage go to Manage Storage and delete the update. However, if you are connected to wi-fi and power again, it will download the update again. The choice to update is yours.

dwtaylorpdx wrote:

because of extortion-ware it will be an Android..

I'm not sure what you are referring to as extortion-ware, since nothing here is costing you any money, nor is it disabling the device, which is all I would consider extortion. The decision to use Android is yours and yours alone, but I would watch the extra software that carriers add to Android when making your decision.

dwtaylorpdx wrote:

The point is,, the OP and myself just don't want it to do that, is there no way to disable the download? I have NO intention of upgrading (And functionally bricking) my iPhone 5.

No. Download is always automatic when your device is charging and connected to WiFi (and internet). You can easily avoid auto iOS download by not charging and connected to WiFi at the same time. Delete the fully downloaded iOS package. You won't be nagged to install it.

dwtaylorpdx wrote:

forced to get a new phone (My current 5) not ready to spend the $$ again and if I do because of extortion-ware it will be an Android..

You'll be disappointed. Android does the same thing. It auto downloads Android updates and lets you know when it's ready to install. If that bothers you, smartphones aren't for you.

You posted nothing different than what was already posted above,

The smartphone comment is out of line.

Still looking for a good workable answer.

Having a meeting die because the download kicks in while I'm on

the phone on wi fi and plugged in because the battery won't run it

long enough with all the load is a non starter..

And yes you can disable downloads completely on android I just didn't

want to go that way I do like the iPhone for the most part, but the way apple

is reducing owner serviceability of their products is maddening.

dwtaylorpdx wrote:

You posted nothing different than what was already posted above,

The smartphone comment is out of line.

Still looking for a good workable answer.

I didn't read all the comments and still have not read them all. Workaround that I'm using is block access to mesu.apple.com on the WiFi router. Yes it only works on the WiFi router where the block is in place. I never see iOS 10 offered on my device.

dwtaylorpdx wrote:

And yes you can disable downloads completely on android

Not on mine. I can disable notification to install. That's all. Download is automatic as soon as I'm connected to WiFi.

Actually it wakes up and nags me to install several times a day, which is why I delete the file, then it downloads it again about a day later and we play the song again..

I use the phone hard, a complex chat program, a corporate app and some other business toys that I need to do my job. ITs just gotten annoying that I can't stop that cycle. Oh and I have a Mophie case that I use to extend my battery life, which also triggers the download if I forget the wifi is on..

dwtaylorpdx wrote:

Actually it wakes up and nags me to install several times a day, which is why I delete the file, then it downloads it again about a day later and we play the song again.

That's right. It'll keep downloading the update and nag you when it's ready.

dwtaylorpdx wrote:

ITs just gotten annoying that I can't stop that cycle. Oh and I have a Mophie case that I use to extend my battery life, which also triggers the download if I forget the wifi is on..

As I said yesterday, blocking access to iOS update server on the WiFi router is the only effective workaround to stop it from auto downloading (but it's limited). When you're connected to a public access point and your Mophie is attached, it'll start downloading that crap again. At least you can stop it from auto downloading at the office or home where you have control of the WiFi routers.

I'm a systems engineer that spends his time in various environments. I have pretty much zero control of the routers. And I have not invested in a router with the chops to do service blocking at that level.

The frustrating part is they had to do this deliberately, the only update that overrides my local settings is the OS upgrade.

I care for tens of thousands of servers and updating software and OS levels is daily life for me and this one is driving me crazy.. Even on my MAC(s) I can block updates. Embarrassing when a customer call drops during a outage and I have to dial back in because the download blew QOS out of the water...

Yea I've been fiddling with this for a while..

I really like a lot of things about apple but the "No user serviceable parts inside" model is rapidly becoming a deal breaker.. Especially with the changes in phone contracts, there are other options rapidly becoming more attractive..

What ***** greatly is this has only been doing this since like 9.7 or so, at least I never had the issue of the nagware before.. So this is added strategic behavior..

dwtaylorpdx wrote:

Yea I've been fiddling with this for a while..

I really like a lot of things about apple but the "No user serviceable parts inside" model is rapidly becoming a deal breaker..

If that's going to be a deal breaker for you then you might as well come to terms with the fact that you will never own a mobile device again. Ever. That's the norm now.

Kind of late, but since this thread popped up in my own search for an answer...

There is (at least) one ad blocker available on the app store which allows the blocking of URI's for the whole device not just a browser. AdBlock on the App Store

It runs as a local VPN on iOS which it then filters requests passing through. How trust worthy this method is I will leave to you. I suppose you could connect to your own VPN at home or your office where you may be able to block the mesu.apple.com URI mentioned by ShagCA earlier, if your server or router supports filtering.

FYI, I have used the app above and have found it unreliable. Current versions seem to work fine until you switch networks. At which point you need to open the app to get it to run the VPN again. An easily forgettable hassle.

iOS updates do not download over cellular data, only over WiFi. Temporarily turn off WiFi while you download the update using iTunes.

There's a setting to disable/enable automatic app updates but there's none for iOS update. In your scenario there is no solution to stop iOS update from downloading and nagging to install.