Ignore Sequoia for 90 days

[bogdanw]

Profile installation in Sonoma 14.6.1 virtual machine

 

[svenmany]

I dont get why you would want to do this?
Just don't update?

I would be annoyed to constantly see the "Software Update Available" in System Settings. I would frequently check it to make sure there's no Sonoma update for me. I don't get that message, so I don't apply this profile. Do you see the message telling you there's an update available and find that it's only Sequoia they're talking about?

 

[BKDad]

Does this profile actually defer installation for 90 days or does it defer displaying "Software Update Available" messages?

In one case, Sequoia would be automatically installed after 90 days. Not what we want... In the other, I think you just need to uninstall and reinstall the profile when the reminder shows up. Is that right?

 

[bogdanw]

The profile tells macOS that only upgrades released more than 90 days are available for install.
macOS Sequoia 15.0 was released on 16 September 2024, 90 days since then will be on 15 December 2024. After that date, even with the profile installed, macOS 15.0 will show up in Software Updates.
This profile does not control Software Update settings, like “Automatically download macOS updates without asking” and "Install macOS updates automatically". You can do that from System Settings https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/mchla7037245/mac or by enforcing the settings with another profile, as described here https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ventura-magically-updated-to-sonoma.2416284/post-32853445

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Interesting. I don't get any notifications to update to Sequioa from Sonoma. I know it's sitting there waiting but nothing intrusive comes through for me. I wonder why it's different for others, or me.

 

[cadec]

Not from me, I rarely express opinions here or such statements in general.
As theoretically Sonoma has the same security updates as Sequoia, I have no reason to upgrade at the moment.
For personal experiences and (un)solicited opinions “Intel mac users, stay away”https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/intel-mac-users-stay-away.2436689/

good to know about the security updates: thanks!

in case of interest: eclecticlightco site by Mac developer Howard Oakley has a bunch of technical info and good in-the-deep-weeds Mac info (as well as art!). also has some free tools May be of interest.

 

[BKDad]

The profile tells macOS that only upgrades released more than 90 days are available for install.
macOS Sequoia 15.0 was released on 16 September 2024, 90 days since then will be on 15 December 2024. After that date, even with the profile installed, macOS 15.0 will show up in Software Updates.
This profile does not control Software Update settings, like “Automatically download macOS updates without asking” and "Install macOS updates automatically". You can do that from System Settings https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/mchla7037245/mac or by enforcing the settings with another profile, as described here https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ventura-magically-updated-to-sonoma.2416284/post-32853445

OK - thanks! Then, how about minor updates of Sequoia? Is there a way to restart the 90 day timer? I'm hoping that Sequoia will be stable by mid December, but with all the new Apple Intelligence features, who knows?

 

[bogdanw]

OK - thanks! Then, how about minor updates of Sequoia? Is there a way to restart the 90 day timer?

You can not restart the timer. As explained before, it’s 90 days since the upgrade/update was released by Apple. Not 90 days since you installed the profile.

 

[katbel]

Thanks goodness I had the profile installed!
I had to update to 14.7.1 and because the Software update setting doesn't show Sequoia
I just clicked the update button : wrong! I got an error window that I couldn't do the update
Yes, the mischievous SU tried to go straight to Sequoia.😵‍💫
I then opened "More Info" and from there I updated it correctly🫠

 

[BKDad]

You can not restart the timer. As explained before, it’s 90 days since the upgrade/update was released by Apple. Not 90 days since you installed the profile.

Thanks!

How do businesses and schools who aren't sure about allowing a new version of macOS manage to keep the upgrades unavailable after 90 days? I know that where I worked previously, they stuck with Windows 7 for some time after Windows 10 was released. Like a couple years. Windows didn't bug me to upgrade over that time. But, once the IT department decided that Windows 10 was OK, we were upgraded within a day or three, whether we wanted to upgrade or not.

 

[bogdanw]

Yes, the mischievous SU tried to go straight to Sequoia.😵‍💫

I had a similar experience on iOS. I checked for updates and it showed iOS 17.7.1. I had others things to do and closed Software Update. Later I opened Settings and just tapped the notification under Apple ID. It went straight to iOS 18.1. I had to close and open Settings > General > Software Update to get iOS 17.7.1 again.

How do businesses and schools who aren't sure about allowing a new version of macOS manage to keep the upgrades unavailable after 90 days?

Network administrators use third-party tools, like:
S.U.P.E.R.M.A.N. https://github.com/Macjutsu/super
Nudge https://github.com/macadmins/nudge
Jamf Pro https://learn.jamf.com/en-US/bundle..._Beta_Managed_Software_Updates.html#task-7077
Microsoft Intune https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/intune/protect/software-updates-macos
and they have similar questions
"Deferring macOS Sonoma for 6 months" https://community.jamf.com/t5/jamf-pro/deferring-macos-sonoma-for-6-months/m-p/300275

 

[BKDad]

I had a similar experience on iOS. I checked for updates and it showed iOS 17.7.1. I had others things to do and closed Software Update. Later I opened Settings and just tapped the notification under Apple ID. It went straight to iOS 18.1. I had to close and open Settings > General > Software Update to get iOS 17.7.1 again.

Network administrators use third-party tools, like:
S.U.P.E.R.M.A.N. https://github.com/Macjutsu/super
Nudge https://github.com/macadmins/nudge
Jamf Pro https://learn.jamf.com/en-US/bundle..._Beta_Managed_Software_Updates.html#task-7077
Microsoft Intune https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/intune/protect/software-updates-macos
and they have similar questions
"Deferring macOS Sonoma for 6 months" https://community.jamf.com/t5/jamf-pro/deferring-macos-sonoma-for-6-months/m-p/300275

Looks like I'll still have to ignore the upgrade notifications. There seems to be lots of ways to force upgrades, but not so many to ignore them.

I wish Apple gave people a choice.

Reading the reports on upgrading both iOS and to Sequoia is not encouraging. Aside from the security updates, I can't find any feature that is compelling for me.

Thanks for your help!

Edit: In a little further research, I found this:

Stop the Upgrade

Does this actually work?

 

[katbel]

I had a similar experience on iOS. I checked for updates and it showed iOS 17.7.1. I had others things to do and closed Software Update. Later I opened Settings and just tapped the notification under Apple ID. It went straight to iOS 18.1. I had to close and open Settings > General > Software Update to get iOS 17.7.1 again.

That too! But I was already aware of the sneaky trick and disaster avoided!

 

[katbel]

Since the update to 14.7.1 I receive the notification of an update available, but it's working correctly so far
because there are updates , like safari this morning

 

[bogdanw]

Edit: In a little further research, I found this:
Stop the Upgrade
Does this actually work?

That is only supposed to get rid of the colorful notification about the upgrade. As nobody reported seeing it for Sequoia so far and it doesn’t actually stop the update, I don’t consider it useful.

Since the update to 14.7.1 I receive the notification of an update available, but it's working correctly so far
because there are updates , like safari this morning

I usually update Safari before installing the OS update, but this time Safari 18.1 was released a day later than Sonoma 14.7.1.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/100100

 

[Sciuriware]

That is only supposed to get rid of the colorful notification about the upgrade. As nobody reported seeing it for Sequoia so far and it doesn’t actually stop the update, I don’t consider it useful.

I usually update Safari before installing the OS update, but this time Safari 18.1 was released a day later than Sonoma 14.7.1.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/100100

On an other thread there are severe warnings that downloaded applications no longer may run under 15.1

ANYONE?
;JOOP!

 

[bogdanw]

On an other thread there are severe warnings that downloaded applications no longer may run under 15.1

Potential temporary solution for one problem https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...permission-to-open-null.2441374/post-33535657

 

[960design]

Be careful with installing profiles offered by others on the internets.
I can do some very horrible things to your devices with a profile.

 

[bogdanw]

Be careful with installing profiles offered by others on the internets.
I can do some very horrible things to your devices with a profile.

That’s why I described how to make a profile and included an example in plain text, so that people can compare it to the one on Apple’s page.

 

[960design]

That’s why I described how to make a profile and included an example in plain text, so that people can compare it to the one on Apple’s page.

I looked at the one you provided and did not see anything nefarious: the post was not reported.
My post was just a friendly reminder to those that may not be aware of what profiles are capable of.

I could permanently lock your computer, for example.
I could monitor your activity; basically any creepy thing you can think of.

 

[katbel]

I looked at the one you provided and did not see anything nefarious: the post was not reported.
My post was just a friendly reminder to those that may not be aware of what profiles are capable of.

I could permanently lock your computer, for example.
I could monitor your activity; basically any creepy thing you can think of.

Of course you are right and I don't trust anyone
@bogdanw has been very honest, helpful and trustworthy beside putting always the code so you can do your own.

 

[svenmany]

I started getting the update indicator the day before yesterday. There was an update advertised for Safari at the same time. I did apply that, but the indicator did not go away.

 

[Sciuriware]

I started getting the update indicator the day before yesterday. There was an update advertised for Safari at the same time. I did apply that, but the indicator did not go away.

Nothing unusual.
I upgraded every machine to 15.1.1 and ..... I'm still alive.
;JOOP!

 

[bogdanw]

An old trick seems to be working in Sonoma 14.7.1 to hide the System Settings notification badge.
Profile that sets AttentionPrefBundleIDs to 0 for com.apple.systempreferences:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>PayloadContent</key>
    <array>
        <dict>
            <key>AttentionPrefBundleIDs</key>
            <integer>0</integer>
            <key>PayloadDisplayName</key>
            <string>System Preferences #1</string>
            <key>PayloadIdentifier</key>
            <string>com.apple.systempreferences.5FB0E291-D282-4C61-BA73-E462854DCC92</string>
            <key>PayloadType</key>
            <string>com.apple.systempreferences</string>
            <key>PayloadUUID</key>
            <string>5FB0E291-D282-4C61-BA73-E462854DCC92</string>
            <key>PayloadVersion</key>
            <integer>1</integer>
        </dict>
    </array>
    <key>PayloadDisplayName</key>
    <string>NoBubble</string>
    <key>PayloadIdentifier</key>
    <string>Mac.9C07F9F5-F6E2-4E9A-ACD9-078280182B69</string>
    <key>PayloadScope</key>
    <string>System</string>
    <key>PayloadType</key>
    <string>Configuration</string>
    <key>PayloadUUID</key>
    <string>9C07F9F5-F6E2-4E9A-ACD9-078280182B69</string>
    <key>PayloadVersion</key>
    <integer>1</integer>
    <key>TargetDeviceType</key>
    <integer>5</integer>
</dict>
</plist>

To delete the already present badge:

defaults delete ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist AttentionPrefBundleIDs; killall Dock

 

[svenmany]

Nothing unusual.

Seems a bit unusual. I am curious why it just started for me. It's just over two months since the release. The trigger seemed to be the arrival of an update for Safari. The update for Sequoia was already there and not causing the alert.

I upgraded every machine to 15.1.1 and ..... I'm still alive.

I was warned by a vendor of one piece of software I use that it wasn't supported in Sequoia yet.