Macworld - USA (2019-12-B)

98 MACWORLD DECEMBER 2019

WORKING MAC STOP GETTING CATALINA UPDATE REMINDER

it’s best to have a current complete
backup before you start just in case.

WARNING!
Disabling notification of updates can mean
that you miss important security updates
for your current version of macOS. Keep
aware of other updates if you pursue this
course.

HOW TO STOP THE CATALINA
UPDATE REMINDERS
Apple replicates many of its utilities that
appear with graphical interfaces in macOS
as terminal commands. That includes
Software Update. Follow these steps to
halt reminders and remove the red badge
from System Preferences showing an
update.

1. Launch System Preferences and click
   Software Update.


2. Click Advanced.


3. Uncheck the first three boxes: Check
   for Updates, Download New Updates
   When Available, and
   Install macOS
   Updates.


4. Click OK.


5. Now launch
   Applications →
   Utilities → Terminal.


6. Enter the
   following commands
   below, copying each

line and pasting it, then pressing Return at

the end.

sudo softwareupdate --ignore

“macOS Catalina”

defaults write com.apple.

systempreferences

AttentionPrefBundleIDs 0

killall Dock

The first item disable updates for

macOS Catalina; the second and third

prevent the red badge in System

Preferences and restart the Dock (without

affecting the rest of your system) to reset

the state of the System Preferences icon.

The red badge will return, however,

every time macOS checks for updates.

Opening the Software Update preference

can trigger that check, which then causes

the badge to reappear!

If you’d like to get updates that include

macOS Catalina, return to the Terminal and

enter this command, followed by Return:

sudo softwareupdate --reset-

ignored ■

3.