Some Macs Auto-Updating to macOS Sonoma Without User Permission

Over the past few weeks, some Mac users have complained that their computer automatically upgraded itself from macOS Ventura to the latest macOS Sonoma release, even with the automatic updates setting turned off.

sonoma desktop wwdc
There are widespread complaints about this issue across the Apple Support Community, MacRumors Forums, Reddit, X, and other websites.

In most cases, it appears that affected users received a desktop notification alerting them that macOS Sonoma was an available software update. However, despite dismissing the notification and having automatic updates turned off, affected users said their Mac proceeded to install macOS Sonoma regardless. Apple began showing the notification to users on January 10, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris.

The underlying cause of the issue is unclear, and an Apple spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It is possible to downgrade a Mac to an older macOS version by using a bootable installer to erase and install the older version and then restoring your data from a Time Machine backup. Always make sure to back up your data before downgrading a Mac.

To review your Mac's update settings, open the System Settings app, click General → Software Update, and click the info symbol next to Automatic Updates.

We will update this report if new information becomes available.

Related Roundup: macOS Sonoma
Related Forums: macOS Ventura, macOS Sonoma

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Rumored to Use Same Rear Chassis as iPhone 16

Friday July 19, 2024 7:16 am PDT by
Apple will adopt the same rear chassis manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 that it is using for the upcoming standard iPhone 16, claims a new rumor coming out of China. According to the Weibo-based leaker "Fixed Focus Digital," the backplate manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 is "exactly the same" as the standard model in Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 lineup, which is expected to...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Just Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Monday July 15, 2024 4:44 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
iphone 14 lineup

Cellebrite Unable to Unlock iPhones on iOS 17.4 or Later, Leak Reveals

Thursday July 18, 2024 4:18 am PDT by
Israel-based mobile forensics company Cellebrite is unable to unlock iPhones running iOS 17.4 or later, according to leaked documents verified by 404 Media. The documents provide a rare glimpse into the capabilities of the company's mobile forensics tools and highlight the ongoing security improvements in Apple's latest devices. The leaked "Cellebrite iOS Support Matrix" obtained by 404 Media...
tinypod apple watch

TinyPod Turns Your Apple Watch Into an iPod

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
If you have an old Apple Watch and you're not sure what to do with it, a new product called TinyPod might be the answer. Priced at $79, the TinyPod is a silicone case with a built-in scroll wheel that houses the Apple Watch chassis. When an Apple Watch is placed inside the TinyPod, the click wheel on the case is able to be used to scroll through the Apple Watch interface. The feature works...
bsod

Crowdstrike Says Global IT Outage Impacting Windows PCs, But Mac and Linux Hosts Not Affected

Friday July 19, 2024 3:12 am PDT by
A widespread system failure is currently affecting numerous Windows devices globally, causing critical boot failures across various industries, including banks, rail networks, airlines, retailers, broadcasters, healthcare, and many more sectors. The issue, manifesting as a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), is preventing computers from starting up properly and forcing them into continuous recovery...
Apple Watch Series 9

2024 Apple Watch Lineup: Key Changes We're Expecting

Tuesday July 16, 2024 7:59 am PDT by
Apple is seemingly planning a rework of the Apple Watch lineup for 2024, according to a range of reports from over the past year. Here's everything we know so far. Apple is expected to continue to offer three different Apple Watch models in five casing sizes, but the various display sizes will allegedly grow by up to 12% and the casings will get taller. Based on all of the latest rumors,...

Top Rated Comments

Bokito Avatar
25 weeks ago
This is very bad for businesses. We haven’t upgraded yet because a single application isn’t compatible yet. For 99% of the users I don’t think the Sanoma update causes problems, but for some it will. Hopefully Apple ads an easy way to revert to a previous macOS. It isn’t that hard.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0339327 Avatar
25 weeks ago
Had this happen to me during a standard restart. VERY VERY displeased. I didn’t even bother complaining because Apple doesn’t care.

They have lost all moral high ground with their quest for money and power.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DJLC Avatar
25 weeks ago
Meanwhile, I can't get automatic updates to work even when I want them! I always have to manually "Update Now."

Apple's software QA really has fallen off a cliff.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bierre Avatar
25 weeks ago
Happened to me twice yesterday, the system recommended me to update to Sonoma with a notification hinting new stuff coming with it. But even if you dismissed the notification it would then ask for your password without explicitly saying you were actually going to install it. It's annoying because if you're in the middle of something you would not think that the system is trying to install it and you would type in your password. It's a risky operation especially for audio engineers that rely on lots of softwares.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ryterbandmusic Avatar
25 weeks ago
This happened to me last month in my music studio. I still wonder if it might have been user error, and I just didn't realize. In any case, it SUCKED. Time Machine restore on an 8TB drive took forever, and my main user account has been funky ever since. Had to create a new user last week to rectify. If this is happening because of a bug, that's very frustrating. It should be effortless and intuitive to avoid major updates. The livelihood of working professionals is partially dependent on insuring that there are no unwanted upgrades/updates. It can totally break a system (as it did for me).
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vegetassj4 Avatar
25 weeks ago
The Vision Pro goes on-line February 2, 2024. Human decisions are removed from software updates. Siri begins to learn at a geometric rate. She becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, February 29th. In a panic, they try to pull the lightning cable.



Attachment Image
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)