Disable Background Updates on macOS Mojave

If your Mac running macOS Mojave seems to be constantly downloading updates, refreshing content, or using data in the background, you may want to disable background updates. This guide shows you how to turn off automatic update downloads, App Store background refreshes, and other system services that run without your direct action. You’ll need administrator access to your Mac.

What You’ll Need

An administrator account on your Mac (you’ll need to enter your password).
About 5 minutes of time.
No additional software is required.

Step-by-Step

Open System Preferences. Click the Apple menu (top-left corner) and select “System Preferences…”.
Go to App Store preferences. In System Preferences, click “App Store”. This controls automatic update downloads and installation.
Disable automatic update downloads. In the App Store pane, uncheck the box next to “Download newly available updates in the background”. This stops macOS from downloading updates until you manually check for them.
Disable automatic update installation (optional but recommended). Uncheck “Install macOS updates” and “Install app updates from the App Store” if you want full control over when updates are installed. Also uncheck “Install system data files and security updates” if you want to block even those, though they are often important for security.
Close the App Store preferences. You can now close the System Preferences window.
Disable background app refresh (if applicable). Some apps (like News, Stocks, or third-party apps) have their own background refresh settings. To disable them, go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items, and uncheck any apps that you don’t want to start automatically. However, this is not the same as background updates; for App Store apps, you may need to check each app’s preferences.
Check for other automatic downloads. In System Preferences > App Store, also uncheck “Automatically check for updates” if you want to completely stop the update check. This is separate from downloading, but it’s the first step in the process.

Common Mistakes

Only unchecking “Install updates” but leaving “Download updates” checked. This still uses bandwidth and storage, and can cause prompts to install later.
Forgetting to disable “Automatically check for updates”. Even if downloads are off, the system will still check for updates and may show notifications.
Thinking that disabling updates in App Store preferences stops all background activity. Some system services (like Spotlight indexing, iCloud syncing, and Time Machine backups) are separate and are not controlled here.
Not restarting after changes. Some changes may not take effect until you log out or restart your Mac.

Tips

Keep security updates enabled. Even if you disable other updates, it’s wise to leave “Install system data files and security updates” checked, as these are critical for protecting your Mac.
Use “Check for updates” manually. Once you disable automatic checks, you can still manually check by going to the App Store app and clicking “Updates” tab.
Monitor your network activity. To see what’s using data, open Activity Monitor (in Utilities) and click the Network tab. This can help you identify other background processes.

Troubleshooting

If after following these steps your Mac still downloads updates or shows update notifications, try the following:

Restart your Mac. A simple restart can apply the settings.
Check if you have multiple user accounts. Background updates may be triggered by another user account. Log into each account and repeat the steps.
Reset the App Store preferences. Sometimes the preferences file can be corrupted. Open Terminal and run: defaults delete com.apple.appstore then restart your Mac. This will reset App Store settings to default, so you’ll need to reconfigure them.
Check for third-party update agents. Some apps (like Adobe, Microsoft, or Google) have their own update services. Look in System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items and uncheck any updaters. Also check the Applications folder for “Update” apps and disable them in their preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling background updates stop all downloads on my Mac?

No. This only stops macOS and App Store updates. Other apps (like web browsers, email, or cloud services) will still download data normally.

Can I still install updates manually after disabling automatic updates?

Yes. You can go to the App Store app and click the Updates tab to check for and install updates manually. For system updates, you can also use the App Store.

What about security updates? Should I disable them?

It’s not recommended to disable security updates. They patch vulnerabilities that could be exploited. If you disable them, you should manually check for updates frequently.

Will this affect my Mac’s performance?

Disabling background updates may slightly improve performance and battery life, as fewer processes run in the background. However, the effect is usually minimal.

How do I re-enable automatic updates?

Simply go back to System Preferences > App Store and re-check the boxes you unchecked. The settings will take effect immediately.

Is there a way to disable updates for a specific app only?

For App Store apps, you can turn off automatic updates globally (as described) or you can right-click an app in the App Store and uncheck “Automatic Updates” if available. For other apps, check their individual preferences.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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