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The answers to this question imply that the reminders do not recur... but that's for versions prior to iOS 9.

Much like with newer versions of OSX, iOS 9 will remind you every other day or so to update giving only the options to "update now", "remind me later", "view details". The third option is the only way to avoid "scheduling" a reminder later and it's my go-to option in OSX to shut the reminders off for a bit... but I don't want to stop in the middle of what I'm doing to switch over to the Settings app and then go right back to the app I was actually using.

This is very annoying to me, particularly as I intentionally skip updates. Is there a way to turn this "feature" off?

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  • I've been doing the same: Clicking "View details" and then switching right back to the app I was in.
    – aliteralmind
    Oct 7, 2015 at 18:20
  • @aliteralmind ... Yeah... I've already said that's what I'm doing too.
    – Catija
    Oct 7, 2015 at 18:21
  • This is not the answer at all on my iphone 5s. Because the update itself is NOT listed in all my storage items, it never comes up to delete so I cannot.
    – user154979
    Oct 30, 2015 at 0:23
  • @Selket You should post your comment on the answer you're talking about, not on the question.
    – Catija
    Nov 5, 2015 at 23:17

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
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This is kind of a yes/no question. No, most people can't or won't be bothered to turn them off. Yes - you can turn off all network access or block the update servers.

The iOS 9 itself does not have a toggle you can flip and the software is designed to let you know the update is available. I'll leave my opinion aside whether Apple designed this correctly, but from a security standpoint. If you are on iOS 9 - upgrading to patch levels doesn't break existing apps and solves known security, performance, energy efficiency and bug issues, so declining a 9.0.x or 9.x update is far harder to justify than just not upgrading to 9.0 in the first place.

The best technical way to block iOS 9 updates is hosted on JAMF Nation discussions:

This involves blocking two URLs on your firewall (could be useful if you're using a Wi-Fi only iPad at home): 

appldnld.apple.com
mesu.apple.com

You'll want to have control over your network, have an MDM and the energy to configure your devices to avoid updates. Basically, preventing this is a short term battle and I know it makes sense to try it from time to time or if your organization needs to buy time - but it's a pain since the design is to push updates on each device that connects to the internet.

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  • 1
    That's sort of what I figured. As a note, I ignore them in OSX because half of them are Camera RAW updates for cameras I don't own :P I suppose the iOS ones may not be as bad... but it takes time, and I'm usually using my device (iPad). I've not updated my phone to iOS 9 because I'm not sure if I like it yet.
    – Catija
    Oct 6, 2015 at 19:18
  • It's nigh impossible to revert if you go to iOS 9 - forgive me for mis-reading that you were on 9.x already. Good points, there is a price to pay letting updates apply as there is for having un-patched camera plugins and other updates. As long as you're aware of each patch, that's far better than many do. Cheers @Catija !
    – bmike ♦
    Oct 6, 2015 at 19:30
  • No mis-reading! I have updated my iPad to iOS 9! But I only use it for gaming, so I'm usually in the middle of a game when it wants me to update, so it's annoying. :D
    – Catija
    Oct 6, 2015 at 19:32
  • 5
    "...declining a 9.0.x or 9.x update is far harder to justify than just not upgrading to 9.0 in the first place." Except that the usability is terrible. I just want to make a call, or check the weather, but iOS 9 wants me to drop what I'm doing while it verifies the update and reboots the phone. Declining is a two step process, and if I don't follow up quickly, the same thing happens tomorrow.
    – Tom Harrington
    Oct 7, 2015 at 21:47
  • 3
    "...declining a 9.0.x or 9.x update is far harder to justify than just not upgrading to 9.0 in the first place." Unless you're an iOS developer, in which case it's perfectly reasonable.
    – occulus
    Nov 18, 2015 at 11:22
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TLDR - Go to General > Storage & iCloud Usage > Manage Storage (under Storage) > Select the update item (should have the settings icon and named iOS 9.x.x) > Delete Update

There is a much easier solution to the nagging reminders explained in the following link.

https://discussions.apple.com/message/29004014#29004014

Yes there is a way to disable it. First let me explain why you are getting that notification. Even if you have automatic updates turned off, the new IOS update still downloads to your phone and iPad. It is already in your phone and iPad right now waiting for you to completely install it. It is not installed but it is sitting there in your phone and iPad waiting for you to click on it to install. So what you must do is the following:

Click on the Setting icon. Then click on General. click on Storage & iCloud usage. It might just say Storage on your device. When the next page pops up you will see at the top the word Storage. Under it you will see Manage Storage. Click on it and wait till the list is fully populated. Depending on how many apps you have this can take a couple of seconds to about half a minute. Look through this list till you see the new iOS update. Delete it. Then your pop up notice should go away. Don't worry about loosing the update. You can always get it later in the future. If in the future you get the pop up again, then that means Apple has again downloaded it to your phone or iPad without your permission. Simply do the above all over again to delete it and get rid of the new pop up. This is the only way to get rid of the pop up without installing it.

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  • Once you have accepted and completed the download - when you delete it, doesn't the device poll for updates and remind you again to upgrade?
    – bmike ♦
    Oct 15, 2015 at 19:51
  • 1
    I haven't had the chance to verify this information, but my understanding was that the system automatically pulls every new update, but it doesn't keep on checking if it's present on the device in order to download it again. So at most you'll have to follow these steps once every time there's a new update available, which is not that bad.
    – Alex Malcoci
    Oct 15, 2015 at 20:05
  • @bmike - not if you turn off automatic downloads for updates. Go into the App & iTunes Stores settings and disable the automatic downloads for Updates.
    – Chuck Dee
    Nov 8, 2015 at 15:25
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    As of iOS 9.1, the updates will now re-download automatically after you've deleted them.
    – Slipp D. Thompson
    Dec 12, 2015 at 19:17
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There's no other way around. The above feature is hard-coded in to the existing iOS. The only solution is:

Add the following entry in your router to block the DNS:

mesu.apple.com,     23.73.181.0/24

Or if you have Raspberry Pi functioning as router, add the following in iptables:

sudo iptables -A FORWARD -i eth1 -d 23.73.181.0/24 -j DROP #mesu.apple.com

Although I am using Apple's product, there is never any resason for my access any of hosts owned by Apple, Inc. So I am blocking all Apple hosts:

sudo iptables -A FORWARD -i eth1 -d 17.0.0.0/8 -j DROP #apple.com
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  • Wouldnt this only work if you only connect to wifi at home?
    – Wesley Smith
    Oct 21, 2016 at 1:10
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A much simpler way is to use existing ad blocking apps to block your iPhone/iPad from checking Apple's server - specially mesu.apple.com and applednld.apple.com. These apps filters traffic coming in to you iPhone via a dummy VPN or a proxy auto-config file.

I personally used Weblock on my iPad. There are other apps such as, Adblock or Adguard Pro, that will do the trick too. Note that Safari content blockers won't work.

The overall idea is similar to the other answers here, but since it is not applied on your router, only your iPhone is affected.

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