Deactivate instructions for macOS Catalina update

Since the beginning of the month, users of compatible Macs Update the same to macOS 10.15 Catalina. If you don't want to deal with the upgrade yet, you will probably have to do it anyway: because the message is displayed again and again that the operating system update is ready and can be installed. In addition, a red circle indicates a software update in the system settings. How you can switch off the annoying notification and the warning in the signal color, I have summarized that for you at this point.

Update 21.01.2021/XNUMX/XNUMX: Apple removed the option to ignore updates

Unfortunately, the way mentioned below to ignore the update no longer works. Apple has subsequently overridden the terminal command, so that neither in macOS Catalina nor in macOS Big Sur has the option of completely removing the information about the updates.

The upgrade to macOS 10.15 Catalina is ready and a regular update notification will remind you of this. How to turn off the annoying news, you can read here.

Deactivate macOS Catalina update notification via the terminal

You can easily take the individual steps to switch off the notifications and change the display in the system settings via the Port in front. You can't go wrong with this and you only need a single command line at a time. To turn off the notifications for the macOS Catalina update, open the terminal (e.g. via Spotlight with cmd+space, "terminal" input and enter) and copy the following command into it:

sudo / usr / sbin / softwareupdate --ignore "macOS Catalina"

Confirm it with Enter and update notes for macOS Catalina will be ignored. However, other software notices are still displayed. Your Mac is still safe after this command, but less annoying;) If you are ready for the Mac operating system for 2019/2020 at some point, you can read the instructions for the upgrade or for updates for bug fixes, patches and the like activate. You can do that with this command line:

sudo / usr / sbin / softwareupdate --reset-ignored

Hide update notice in system settings (red circle with "1")

If you are often out and about in the system settings of your Apple Mac, then you will certainly notice this red circle with the 1 when you are about to upgrade your OS. As on the iPhone display, where it indicates messages and notifications in apps, it triggers an urge to react - but perhaps because of the known Catalina problems does not want to comply yet. 

Here in the system settings, but also on the dock (if you have a link to the settings there) the software update notice is annoying. You can remove it with the following terminal command.

So, if you want to remove the interferer in signal color, then simply use this command line in the terminal:

defaults write com.apple.systempreferences AttentionPrefBundleIDs 0; killall dock

If new updates are found, the notice with the circle will of course reappear. Either you execute the command again, write a script that does this automatically on a regular basis, or just carry out the update at some point ... Do you have any further tips and tricks on this subject? Then leave a comment;)

Jen Kleinholz( Founder & Sir Apfelot )

Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He appears as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with problems of a technical nature. In his free time he drives electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with his iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions for current bugs.