Comment by kqp
13 hours ago
Relatedly, Apple finally kicked me off the quick update bandwagon with macOS/iOS 26, and I was surprised to learn that no, Apple does not let you just say no to updates. You get a permanent red badge that you can only dismiss by fully turning off system notifications, you get nagged literally thousands of times, and if any of those times you don’t repeat your rejection quickly enough, it overrides your non-consent and updates. That’s all with updates turned off. HN comment sections had led me to believe that consensual updates are a pro of Apple over Windows and an example of Apple’s class, but they don’t exist, the actual software is everything people lambast Windows for.
I have a script to add an /etc/hosts entry for `127.0.0.1 gdmf.apple.com` and that seems to eliminate any nagging, just remove when it's time to update.
Nice. Someone made a site to notify for updates when you have that subdomain blocked.
https://github.com/travisvn/stop-tahoe-update/issues/19#issu...
This was after Apple broke the trick to prevent Tahoe update nags.
You'll miss security updates following that site
2 replies →
I have automatically download and install (separate toggles) disabled, and it obeys that. Might be notifying me, I don't remember.
And even if you have automatic updates turned off, Apple will still start downloading the 15 gigs for MacOS 27, just in case...
And disable certain features like Apple Pay if you don’t have auto-updates enabled.
Sounds like an unauthorized access of my computer - a fine of a dollar per byte, per person, should make Apple turn the hell around. 15 billion dollars times how many Apple users that have been wronged in this manner? Apple would be dead instantly.
I think you'll find that you agreed to it somewhere in their voluminous terms of service.
I looked it up and indeed, it's in section 1, paragraph C:
Your Device will periodically check with Apple for Apple Software Changes. If a change is available, the change may automatically download and install onto your Device and, if applicable, your peripheral devices. By using the Apple Software, you agree that Apple may download and install automatic Apple Software Changes onto your Device and your peripheral devices.
https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/iOS26_iPadOS26.pdf
Well it wasn't always this way. There was a time a few years ago (~4?) where you absolutely could avoid updates.
You can turn off the nagging by joining the Beta updates (profile) for the older major iOS version.
This is not to excuse Apple, just a useful trick.