Is there anyway to stop Microsoft Office 2016 on macOS prompting for update?

[ulyssesric]

I want to stop this prompt:



Normally I’d encourage people to keep their system / app up-to-date, but there is only one word that can describe what Microsoft had done in Office for Mac: catastrophe.

Their Apr 2018 update destroyed the ability to display / assign Asian font correctly. Prior to the update, I can view & set Asian font using the Asian name of a font family (e.g. "細明體" instead of "PMingLiU"). But after update all fonts are displayed using English font family name. I can stil use these Asian fonts, but it's no longer be compatible with Windows version.

Besides, the performance is severely declined after update: the text input curser can’t even catch up with my typing speed.

I've managed to revert to older version via Time Machine backup. This is not the first time that Office update ruined everything so I'd always make backup before applying for update. Now I just want to stop this annoying prompt.

[EDIT] Yes I’ve already set Microsoft Auto Update to “Manually Check”. The problem is all Office apps keep bugging me & asking me to check updates.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Probably not, as MS has gone crazy with their update policy. It's even worse on Windows 10. If you go into "Microsoft AutoUpdate," you can set it to "Manually Check" so at least it won't do it to you accidentally.

 

[techwarrior]

The Office 2016 Auto Update app allows you to set Manual, Auto Check, Auto Download and install. If you select manual, it will only check for updates when you launch the update app.

 

[jaduff46]

I've done this on both Windows at work and on my iMac at home. Works OK and avoids the constant requests.

Used to have the problem at work as I had a risk model which would run overnight with results due to a client the next day. If the machine shut down either for Windows or Office updates if would take 8-9 hours to run it during the day with more network traffic taking place.

Problem solved!

 

[ulyssesric]

The Office 2016 Auto Update app allows you to set Manual, Auto Check, Auto Download and install. If you select manual, it will only check for updates when you launch the update app.

I did. It’s the very first thing that I had done after installing Office. It’s not the first time that a single update ruins everything; so I’d always update first and apply update manually. The problems is that all Office apps keep bugging me asking me to check update. Just want to know is there anyway to stop these prompts without installing that disastrous update.

 

[mpainesyd]

Some time ago I moved the Microsoft Updater app (called something like that) to a different folder so that Word and other MS Office apps couldn’t find it and it wouldn’t load on booting up. Then I just run it from time to time for updates. Not sure if this will work with the latest versions (and I don’t have access to my Mac to try it).

 

[greyeyezz]

The trick is not to update auto updater, it will stop nagging you. Then go here if you need to install updates manually.
https://support.office.com/en-us/ar...ab62-0d67-4f23-947b-3686cb1a8eb7#bkmk_current

 

[broadbean]

I don't mind it checking, but every day it's bugging me to "Turn On Automatic Updates". I do not want it to install automatically, so I have to keep hitting "Not Now", every day!!

Any tips how to get rid of that without declining daily?

 

[YatBob]

I was also getting this daily reminder, couple days ago there was an actual update which I installed, while there were no notes to indicate what the update entailed the daily reminder has stopped, think the update was a correction to the reminder bug that ignored user preference

 

[broadbean]

I was also getting this daily reminder, couple days ago there was an actual update which I installed, while there were no notes to indicate what the update entailed the daily reminder has stopped, think the update was a correction to the reminder bug that ignored user preference

I had no updates available, but will try! LOL

Maybe if I enabled it, then disabled it afterwards if there's no updates.

 

[BrianBaughn]

I was also getting this daily reminder, couple days ago there was an actual update which I installed, while there were no notes to indicate what the update entailed the daily reminder has stopped, think the update was a correction to the reminder bug that ignored user preference

That could be it. The last update I did for someone only updated the update app itself. Office products were up to date.

 

[ianmacc]

This method has worked for me.

Go to: Macintosh HD--Library--Application Support--Microsoft--MAU2.0 and move the file Microsoft AutoUpdate to another location (do not delete.)

When I need to update I just drag the file back into the folder MAU2.0 and it updates fine. It is the only way I could find to remove the annoying message when starting up an Office application.

Hope this helps, Ian

 

[YatBob]

I was also getting this daily reminder, couple days ago there was an actual update which I installed, while there were no notes to indicate what the update entailed the daily reminder has stopped, think the update was a correction to the reminder bug that ignored user preference

The reminders started showing up agin apparently the update was not what I thought it was

 

[Phil Dziki]

Got the hints from other here and elsewhere, but it works. I have Office 16, and do not want to upgrade to get any further updates. I like my 16 just the way it is!! I will not pay any extra for an upgrade. So, get rid of Microsoft AutoUpdate permanently:

Go to: Macintosh HD--Library--Application Support--Microsoft--MAU2.0 and move the file Microsoft AutoUpdate, to the Trash.

And also, just to be safe:
Go to: Macintosh HD--Library--PrivillegedHelperTools and take the "com.microsoft.autoupdate.helpertool" file and move it to the Trash.

No more messages from Microsoft! Love it!!