• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

AppleToolBox

Tools and Fixes for Mac, iPad, iPhone & iWatch

Search posts

  • About
  • Contact

CONNECT WITH US

CATEGORIES

  • iPhone
  • iPad
  • iPod
  • Apple Watch
  • Mac/MacBook
  • AirPods
  • Apple TV
  • News
  • Apple Services
  • HomePod
  • Reviews

SITE

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Advertise

Search posts

You are here: Home / iPhone / How To Disable Automatic Updates on iPhone for iOS & iPadOS

How To Disable Automatic Updates on iPhone for iOS & iPadOS

By SK 14 comments Last updated October 6, 2019

Is your iPhone or iPad suddenly updating itself, without your permission or intention? If so, you are not alone! The Automatic Update feature is a nasty or pleasant surprise in iOS 12+ and iPadOS, depending on how you look at things.

Starting with iOS 12 and continuing in iPadOS and iOS13+, your iPhone can auto-update your device. For those of us that don’t want to think about updating our iPhone or iPad or see those update nags–this feature is great! Our iDevice software stays up-to-date with no action required with iOS’s automatic software updates.

But for folks like me, that like CONTROL, or for people running on older iDevices with limited storage or using Cellular Data only (no WiFi available,) automatic updates are a hindrance at best. And of course, some of us just don’t like to update frequently (or at all!)

In this short article, we look at how you can disable automatic updates on your iPhone when running iOS 12 and above including iPadOS.

RELATED:

  • Comprehensive Guide to your Apple device Backups
  • How to stop your iPhone from being updated to newer iOS
  • How to update iOS and iPadOS using Finder and macOS Catalina

Contents

  • What does the Automatic updates feature do for your iPhone?
    • You Know When An Update Happens
  • Why Auto-Update?
  • Should you disable Automatic updates on your iPhone?
  • How-To Disable Automatic Updates feature on your iPhone for iOS and iPadOS
    • Don’t Want To Update Your iOS?
    • What We’d Like to See With Auto-Update Features
  • What Happens When Automatic Updates Is Off?

What does the Automatic updates feature do for your iPhone?

Okay, let’s get basic: when automatic updates is turned on when Apple releases a new version of iOS, your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad is updated automatically.

You Know When An Update Happens

Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch should push out a notification letting you know the update will occur overnight. notification for iOS software automatic update

Why Auto-Update?

The basic premise behind the push for auto-update is to ensure that your iPhone stays updated with the latest iOS upgrades so that your device is up-to-date with not only all the latest features and bug fixes but more importantly all the security updates.

When auto-update is on, it downloads and applies the iOS updates automatically. You see a notification when there is a new software update available.

For now, Apple wisely decided to turn Automatic Updates off by default. That means that your iDevice’s default for software updates is still manual. But we anticipate this might change with additional iOS releases.

How To Disable Automatic Updates on iPhone for iOS 12

Should you disable Automatic updates on your iPhone?

Many iPhone users that use their Smartphone as daily drivers regularly backup their device, however, some of us still prefer not doing automatic iCloud backups and instead do our backups manually.

Before updating your iPhone or iPad to a new iOS, you should consider taking a full backup of your device, just in case there are problems later and you need to restore your device.

When you are in the auto-update mode, it may update your iOS device when you haven’t completed your backup tasks.

Although the iOS 12 is focused on reliability and performance, history tells us that when new iOS updates are released, it can lead to weird issues and it sometimes takes Apple a few days to fix the problem and release a new version.

If your iPhone is your daily driver, it may be prudent to wait for a few days when a new iOS is released and then update manually to mitigate any risks.

How-To Disable Automatic Updates feature on your iPhone for iOS and iPadOS

When you download the new iOS (or iPadOS) update onto your iPhone, you see various welcome screens. One of these screens is the “Keep Your iPhone Up to Date” screens.How To Disable Automatic Updates on iPhone in iOS 12

On this screen, if you choose ‘Continue’, the iOS auto-update feature is turned on by default.  You will, however, get notification before any updates are installed even when auto-update is on.

To disable auto-update, you can simply tap on ‘Install Updates Manually’ and move forward.

Don’t Want To Update Your iOS?

For whatever the reason, some of us just want our software to stay where it is! Maybe we like our current iOS or don’t like re-learning the wheel with every change.

It really doesn’t matter why! What matters is that we can indeed choose to update or not!

Thankfully, this is not the only option around choosing manual updates in iOS 12+ or iPadOS. Here are some of the steps that will help you change the setting from auto to manual when you decide to make the change.

  • Start by Tapping on the Settings App on your main screen
  • Tap on General > Software Update > Automatic Updates
  • Here you can disable automatic updates by switching it off

Disable Automatic Updates on iPhone for iOS 12

Enabling automatic updates on the iPhone is done from here as well.

If you have enabled automatic updates, your iPhone will only update to the latest iOS overnight when it is charging and connected to your Wi-Fi.

What We’d Like to See With Auto-Update Features

We’d like Apple to recognize that some of us don’t have consistent access to WiFi. So adding a toggle to download iOS updates via WiFi or Cellular Data only would be excellent!

What Happens When Automatic Updates Is Off?

Just like before, your iDevice waits for you to manually tap the install button once Apple releases an update. However, for most devices, iOS still downloads any new updates in the background–it just doesn’t install those updates.

We hope that you found this short tip informational and useful. Please let us know in the comments below if you have any questions or comments.

sudz - apple
SK

Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the original editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.

Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.

In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.

Related Posts:

  • iOS 13 or iPadOS problems and how to fix them - Troubleshooting Guide
    iOS 13 or iPadOS problems and how to fix them -…
  • Taking Photo But iPhone Says Storage is Full?
    Taking Photo But iPhone Says Storage is Full?
  • iMessage not working iOS 13 or iPadOS? Fix it today
    iMessage not working iOS 13 or iPadOS? Fix it today
  • Common iOS 11 Problems, How-To Fix
    Common iOS 11 Problems, How-To Fix
  • No text or message notification alerts or sounds on iPhone? Fixes
    No text or message notification alerts or sounds on iPhone?…
  • Error Occurred Installing iOS 12 on iPhone or iPad, How-To Fix
    Error Occurred Installing iOS 12 on iPhone or iPad, How-To…
  • Should I sign up for Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program?
    Should I sign up for Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program?
  • iOS 16 Tips and Tricks: The Definitive List
    iOS 16 Tips and Tricks: The Definitive List
  • How To Reset the Screen Time Passcode on iOS, iPadOS, or macOS
    How To Reset the Screen Time Passcode on iOS, iPadOS, or…

Reader Interactions

Write a Comment Cancel reply

Show 14 Comments

  1. Cyril says

    May 8, 2022 at 4:19 PM

    My software has not been updated for the past fee months so it happens that the version is still low and does not even support Netflix….. what should i do?

    Reply
  2. Duane says

    January 26, 2021 at 7:41 AM

    I want automatic updates and do not want to turn that off. What I do NOT want, are notifications about those updates. Possible?

    Reply
  3. Wayne Scott says

    October 26, 2020 at 4:07 PM

    My phone recently updated to 14-1 automatically and now my Dexcom continuous glucose monitor program is not completely compatible with this version of iOS.
    Is there a way to go back to 13.6? I need this program to be working properly for my diabetic health. Thanks

    Reply
  4. Jim says

    September 13, 2020 at 5:24 PM

    I, for one, am fed up with my iPad and iPhone continuously downloading IOS updates, even though I have autoupdate and auto downloading in the App store settings turned off! Clearly, Apple is pushing these updates out, regardless of whether we want them or not….for THEIR convenience, not for ours.

    I’ve seen too many IOS updates slow down, or break device functionality, and I’m convinced Apple does it to influence or force customers to buy new devices…very unethical. There seems to be no way to prevent this from happening, and that’s just plain wrong. And if they keep this crap up, they’re going to lose customers.

    Reply
  5. gregory battaglia says

    July 27, 2020 at 9:37 PM

    You show how to disable auto updates but you don’t show how to stop iPhone 7
    from then periodically asking you to update the iOS.

    Reply
  6. Rod says

    February 5, 2020 at 6:00 PM

    How on earth do we get Apple to allow us to turn off auto download of IOS updates, not just the install?

    Reply
  7. Vin says

    December 19, 2019 at 12:50 PM

    I had disabled automatic updates yet last night Apple installed iOS 13.3

    Is this usual or has someone just hacked my phone?

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Jones says

      December 19, 2019 at 12:51 PM

      Hi Vin,

      It’s likely normal–some settings like this one often require a restart to stay in place.

      Reply
  8. John says

    October 16, 2019 at 6:48 PM

    I agree and support the comment from Rebecca about being able to control when the download happens. Similar to her situation if you’re connected at a location that has limited monthly data, you don’t want to be using all that data downloading a 3Gb update from Apple if you have other alternatives (work or unlimited etc).
    Yet another way these companies are dumbing everything down to the lowest common denominator. (Windows 10 another example)

    Reply
  9. Cherrielane says

    October 10, 2019 at 9:36 AM

    Thank you SO much !!

    Reply
  10. Rebecca says

    October 6, 2019 at 5:27 AM

    I realize it’s been more than a year since this was written but it’s still relevant because this is still a problem.

    I just got charged $15 dollars for an extra GB of data because my iphone automatically downloaded a big update on the last day of my coverage.

    All I’m asking for is the right to choose when these updates download.

    If I’d been allowed to download this update one day later on my own wi-fi or been allowed to wait until I’m at work or my brothers house (both have unlimited wi-fi) then I wouldn’t have to pay this overage charge.

    Reply
  11. Ceres says

    January 19, 2019 at 12:08 AM

    I’ve set my “automatic updates” to OFF and still my iPhone still automatically updates on its own which is the most irritating thing.

    Every update my battery charge does not last long from 100% charged after checking the weather and 5 minutes on Facebook, my battery quickly goes to 15% charged.

    Is this Apple’s trick to make one buy a new iPhone every year.

    Apple is greedy and I hate it’s “planned obsolescence” Congress should investigate

    Reply
  12. karen says

    January 9, 2019 at 12:11 PM

    I disagree, not boring.

    Not everyone is a computer geek and I appreciate the plain language.

    Not enough writers cater to those who don’t use their computers 24/7.

    Thanks for the article!

    Reply
  13. Ryan Cragun says

    August 30, 2018 at 9:54 PM

    Very boring, repetitive article.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • How to Enable Taptic Chimes on Apple Watch
  • Apple Business Connect: What Is It?
  • Apple Data Collection: What Does It Know About You?
  • Can’t Set Up HomePod? How-to Fix
  • Apple Watch Tips and Tricks for 2023
  • How to Show and Hide Recent and Suggested Apps in Your iPad Dock

Connect with us

Footer

ABOUT

  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

GUIDES

  • iOS 13 & iPadOS
  • Apple ID
  • iCloud
  • App Store
  • iTunes
  • FaceTime
  • iMessage
  • Siri
  • Books and iBooks
  • Game Center
  • AirPlay

CONNECT

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • FeedBurner
  • YouTube

© Copyright 2010-2023 Guiding Tech Media · All Rights Reserved

This site and its content are in no way affiliated or endorsed by Apple, Inc. · Reproduction without explicit permission is prohibited