APRIL 2020 MACWORLD 19it’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.
- Launch System Preferences and click
Software Update. - Click Advanced.
- Uncheck the first three boxes: Check
For Updates, Download New Updates
When Available, and Install macOS
Updates. - Click OK.
- Now launch Applications → Utilities →
Terminal. - 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 disables 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 ■To stop update reminders, you’ll first need to
open System Preferences.