I'm using Office Pro Plus 2016 on Windows 10 Pro 64-bit and having an annoying problem. I have turned off Windows Update and Office Updates. This is working fine, I think. But I'm getting this annoying notification in Office: UPDATES AVAILABLE Updates for Office are ready to be installed, but first we need to close some apps. Pause Notifications from Notification Center To quickly stop receiving notifications until midnight, do the following: Click on the Notification Center icon in the menu bar. Swipe down until you see the Do Not Disturb label. Disable All the Notification Alerts You do not need a third-party app to get the job done; you just need to play around with your Mac Settings. Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner and select “System Preferences” to be taken to your Mac settings panel.
Automatic Mac App updates can be useful. These will automatically run in the background and save you a little time, keeping apps fully up-to-date. But not everyone wants this feature. It can be better to know exactly what you are downloading, even if you’ve been using the same app for a while.
In this article, we look at the ways you can prevent automatic app updates on a Mac. There are a few ways you can do this, and apps that can make it quicker and easier to ensure you’ve only got the apps you need running on your Mac.
#1: Change update preferences (macOS Mojave 10.14 and newer)
- Go to the Apple menu
- Click on App Store
- Now click on Preferences
- In this, is a box for Automatic Updates (if checked by default, uncheck the box to disable automatic updates)
In the future, when an app you've downloaded through the Mac App Store has an update coming through, you will be alerted, but it can’t download until you manually confirm it.
Depending on the macOS or older version, Mac OS X that you are running, there are other ways to disable automatic updates. For these, we've covered Mac OS X High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks in the tip below — as they follow the same process — and older operating systems in another tip further down the article.
#2: Disable automatic updates (For: Mac OS X High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks)
With older operating systems — Mac OS X High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks — the process is slightly different from the one listed above for stopping auto app updates.
- Go to the Apple menu
- Click on App Store
- Now click on Preferences
- Uncheck ALL of the following boxes to prevent automatic updates:
- Automatically check for updates
- Download newly available updates in the background
- Install app updates
However, leave the following box enabled (as this is crucial for security): Install system data files and security updates.
#3: Delete Google Automatic updaters and other background agents
With some apps, they update and even work in the background without you being aware.
These are known as background apps, or and with some they have launch agents that activate whenever a Mac is switched on. All of this potentially uses processing power, such as CPU, and even internet bandwidth. Apps shouldn't be working unless you need them and remember agreeing to open them.
Here is how to prevent this from happening:
- Download CleanMyMac X (for free, here).
- Click on the Optimization module.
- There is a Launch Agents tool within this.
- Use it to disable automatic updates, notifications and even disable Google Automatic updaters and other background apps and launch agents.
#4: For third-party apps, you can also disable updates within individual app settings
Not everyone downloads apps on a Mac from the Mac App Store.
In many cases, people get them straight from a developers website, or third-party subscription service.
With these, you need to go into the individual apps, where you should have the option to ensure they automatically update, or to switch this setting off. With these apps, they will be configured to adhere to macOS standards, so these options should come as a normal feature, ensuring they're easy to update, or not, according to what people prefer.
Before we continue, here is a cool Apple fact for you: Have you ever noticed the date shown on created and modified timestamps that have failed to download, or you cancelled or paused during a download?
Take a look. Instead of showing whichever date the download stopped, they show 24 January 1984 — the day Apple founder, Steve Jobs, unveiled the first Apple Macintosh computer to the world.

#5: Another way to keep your software updated
As mentioned above, CleanMyMac X is a great way to prevent automatic updates and remove unwanted background apps. It can also be used in a reverse way — for updating all your applications.
The free version of CleanMyMac X (download it here) comes with an Updater feature to keep all of your updates in one place — whether or not you got them from the Mac App Store. It’s especially handy for 32-bit apps that will no longer work on the 2019 macOS Catalina. But if there are newer, 64-bit versions of these apps already available, the Updater in CleanMyMac X will suggest to automatically update your Mac.
It is also useful for keeping your Mac free from viruses and other problems that can cause a Mac to slow down. Get your Mac running as good as new, and make sure you’re only downloading the apps you definitely need.
Microsoft Office 2016 Update – Learn how to disable automatic updates in Office 2016? Top 3 methods to disable automatic updates in Office 2016, Disable office 2016 update
We are all acquainted with the Microsoft Office updates which every time brings some really cool as well as easy to use features. Likewise, Office 2016 is the latest edition of Microsoft Office and needless to say that it is as awesome as its predecessors. With lots of different customization options, Microsoft Office 2016 has also overcome few glitches which you faced in its previous editions.
Disable Office 2016 Update Notification Mac Download
Not only this, you have always come across Windows as well as Office updates which are launched every time a bug is fixed! With each update, there are several bugs that get fixed and at times, it also works as a security solution. This is what makes it necessary for you to never ignore any of the Microsoft Office updates.
In the meanwhile, not all new updates are focused at bringing in new features and you may not always want to update your Microsoft Office package just like that! It is also possible that sometimes these updates can ruin your entire experience. Hence, you may find yourself in situations when you need to disable automatic updates! If you have also experienced this with Microsoft Office 2016 update, you are most likely looking for options to disable Office 2016 automatic updates.
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Top 3 Methods to Disable Automatic Updates in Office 2016
Before proceeding to try below-explained step by step methods, some of the most important things you need to know are that these methods are applicable for only to the Microsoft Office 2016 installed as part of Office 365 subscription as well as the one-time purchase of Office 2016 (either from the retail store or online).
So, if you are now ready to disable Office 2016 updates then here are 3 best ways using which you can disable automatic updates in Office 2016. Let’s know how to turn off automatic updates:
Method 1: Using In- Built Option of Windows
If you are using Windows 10 operating system on your PC, you can find the solution of how to disable auto update for Office 2016 very easily. This setting is available across the previous versions of Windows OS as well. In order to disable Microsoft Office 2016 automatic updates:
Step (1): First of all, press Win + I keys together and go to the option “Update and Security”.
Step (2): After this, expand the section of “Windows Update”.
Step (3): You will see “Advanced Options” button here, Click on it.
Step (4): Now you have to uncheck the option “Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows”.
Step (5): That’s it! You have successfully disabled the automatic updates.
By following the above steps, you have successfully disabled Office 2016 update and you are good to go now!! The next time when Windows will be searching for updates, it will ignore all the updates that are available for other Windows products.
And if you are using another version of Windows like Windows 8.1, Windows 8, and Windows 7 operating system etc. then the process of disabling automatic updates for Office 2016 is little different. For Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 versions, the method to find the same option is as follows:
Disable Office 2016 Update Notification Macbook Pro
Step (1): At first, go to the Control Panel → Open “Windows Update” settings.
Step (2): Go to “Change Settings” option on the left side.
Step (3): The next screen will have an option saying “Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows”. Simply, uncheck this check box to disable Office 2016 automatic updates.
Thus, you can see how simple is to disable automatic updates in Microsoft Office 2016.
Method 2: Using In-Built Option of Office 2016
Office 2016 update comes with several new features and there is ample scope for improvement as well. This is not a brand new option for blocking updates, but you can easily use it to disable automatic updates. In order to use this specific method of how to disable auto update in Office 2016, follow the below steps:
Step (1): Open any Microsoft Office product such as Word, Outlook, Excel, etc.
Step (2): Click on “File” button → Go to “Account” or “Office Account” section.
Step (3): You will see another option “Office Updates” here. By default, it is set to “Enable Updates”.
Step (4): Click on the “Update Options” button here and select “Disable Updates” from the drop- down menu.
Disabling auto-updates using the in-built option of Microsoft Office 2016 is also one of the most preferred ways, so if you are not happy with the first method then you can use this simplest method.
Method 3: Using DoNotSpy
DoNotSpy is a free software for Windows 10 using which you can disable automatic updates in Office 2016 without any difficulty. Using this software, you can disable all the things which Microsoft gathers from its users of Windows 10. You can disable your location, disable Microsoft Office 2016 update and also disable the password reveal button.
You can utilize this button further by downloading DoNotSpy software for your Windows 10 PC. After this, open the window of DoNotSpy app and look out for the option here that says “Disable Windows Update for Other Products”. Check the checkbox which is opposite to this option and then click on “Apply” button. Doing this will change the setting automatically and there is also no need to restart your PC afterwards.
Conclusion
So, these are the top 3 simplest ways using which you can disable automatic updates in Office 2016. All these methods will perfectly stop the automatic updates which you were getting in your Microsoft office 2016. Try out these methods to disable automatic updates Office 2016 and share your experience with us!
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