How to stop your iPhone from automatically updating to iOS 16

Apple’s annual iOS update can bring fantastic new features on your iPhone, but if you have an older iPhone that might not be able to take advantage of all those features, or would rather wait a few weeks to give Apple a chance to fix the inevitable bugs and issues, you might not be happy to find your iPhone has downloaded the update without asking.

iPhones are set to automatically download the latest version of iOS, and install it once you plug in your iPhone in and join a Wi-Fi network. This can be a useful feature from a safety standpoint: by making it easy to update their iPhones Apple is able to ensure that users have the most up-to-date software, including security patches to protect from malware and hacks.

Shortly after Apple issues an iOS update, iPhones will automatically download the installer from Apple’s servers. Users will then see a pop-up alert on their iPhone telling them that software is available to be installed. While Apple isn’t installing the iOS update on your iPhone without gaining permission, some people would rather that Apple didn’t download the installer onto their iPhone in the first place—especially if they don’t want to update to the next version of iOS.

Nor are people necessary happy to have the installers for a software update taking up valuable space on their device. And few things are as annoying as having your iPhone constantly displaying “Install Now” and “Remind Me Later” messages as it nags you to install an iOS update that you don’t want.

You can take back control of your updates by simply turning off “Automatic Updates” and never have your iPhone download an iOS update again unless you tell it to.

If you do want to update your iPhone and you are looking for advice on how to install it read: How to update iOS on your iPhone. If you want to know whether to update to iOS 16 read: iOS 16: Should you update now or wait?

How to turn off Automatic Updates

Automatic Updates are enabled by default, but you’ll can turn them off.

This won’t help if your iPhone has already downloaded the current update, but it will stop you from getting these messages in future. So the first thing you should do is dive into settings and turn Automatic Updates off:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Software Update.
3. Tap Automatic Updates.
4. Deselect Download iOS Updates.

This will prevent iOS from downloading iOS updates in future.

Once you have deselected Download iOS Updates the option to Install iOS Updates will also turn off. As an alternative you could choose to download iOS Updates, but not install the update. The update will only be installed when you are charging and connected to Wi-Fi. However, you will see those annoying nagging notifications that you need to update your iPhone.

How to delete the downloaded update you don’t want to install

If your iPhone has already downloaded an update you don’t want to install read on to find out how to delete that.

Once you remove the installer your iPhone will stop reminding you to update the iPhone.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap iPhone Storage.
4. Scroll down to see a list of apps and the amount of storage they each take up. Look for latest iOS update or use tap the magnifying glass icon in the top right and search for “iOS”.
5. Tap the update to see more details, and then select Delete Update.
6. Tap Delete Update again to confirm.

Turning off Automatic Updates and deleting the latest update from your storage will prevent you from getting the alert windows in the future. If the ‘Install Now/Remind Later’ alert re-appears, check in your Storage & iCloud Usage and delete the update again. You’ll still get alerts from the App Store when Apple releases a new version. But these only come along every few months; not daily.

How block Apple updates from your Wi-Fi router

A nuclear option for those who never want to see another update again is to block the Apple Software Update Domains on your router.

The process varies depending on the router. Typically you’ll have to open your router’s web-based interface, find a service called “Domain Blocking” or “Domain Block” and enter the following domains:

appldnld.apple.com
mesu.apple.com

Each router is different. Here are the instructions for a Virgin Broadband router.

1. Open the Safari web browser and enter the MAC address from the admin site. (Ours is http://192.168.0.1.) You’ll often find this listed on the back of the router.
2. Enter the password for the router. Again, you’ll often find the default password on the back.
3. Click Advanced Settings.
4. Click Domain Blocking (underneath Parental Controls).
5. Add appldnld.apple.com into Domain To Block and click Add Domain.
6. Add mesu.apple.com and click Add Domain.
7. Click Apply and Yes.

You’ll no longer be able to download updates. Note that this prevents software update from working completely. When you click Software Update on your iPad or iPhone, you’ll see “Unable to Check For Update.”

It’s a slightly extreme way to prevent software updates, but some users may be determined to keep the latest version. We think it’s wiser to tap Update Later and accept the update to the latest version of the software.