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I'm trying to turn off automatic macOS updates. When I run command:

$ sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate AutomaticDownload -boolean FALSE

it works:

$ defaults read /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate AutomaticDownload -boolean                                                                                           
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But after reboot my changes are being reverted:

enter image description here

I even created custom preference file in /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist, but it didn't help. Why my changes keep reverting?

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  • 1
    Does the checkbox in the UI not work for you? Why are you doing this on the command line?
    – mr.cook
    Commented Sep 28, 2021 at 0:06
  • 1
    Was this computer previously managed by an organization?
    – Ezekiel
    Commented Sep 28, 2021 at 0:06
  • @Ezekiel yes, it was and this behaviour is some leftover I cannot identify :(
    – Taz
    Commented Sep 28, 2021 at 6:28
  • 1
    I'd strongly recommend clean installing macOS if it was once managed by organization before using it privately. (if you're using it privately, ofcourse.)
    – Skye-AT
    Commented Sep 28, 2021 at 8:15
  • I agree with Skye-AT here. You should wipe the machine and transfer your data manually.
    – Ezekiel
    Commented Sep 28, 2021 at 16:25

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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I was able to solve my issue by using great software KnockKnock to track down Launch Agents/Daemons

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and then disabling them by simply renaming, for example:

sudo mv /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.<some item>.plist /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.<some item>.plist.bak
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