How to disable iTunes updates on Mac?

Factual Questions
1

I don’t want iTunes software to update, but it does so without telling me (version 11.4 was added 9/20, even though I never saw a prompt to update).

I can’t find anything under Preferences that would disable iTunes updates. A Google search turns up suggestions, but they seem to be a least a couple years old or more and the steps to follow are not feasible given current software.

Any ideas?

2

Thanks for asking this.

I am constantly worried that I will update iTunes inadvertently (or it will just happen as you describe). Too many people have complained how updating iTunes totally screwed up their music ‘collection’.

3

Have you tried disabling automatic updates in the App Store? As of Mavericks (OS 10.9), most Mac software (including iTunes) is downloaded & updated via that program. (It replaces the old “Software Update” program that previous OSXes had.)

4

iTunes > Preferences > Advanced > Uncheck “Check for new software updates automatically”

5

Uncheck “Check for new software updates automatically” - this option is not available in my software.

I’ll look into MikeS’s suggestion, thanks for the responses.

6

What do you mean by this option is not available? Do you mean there is no checkbox with that name under the “Advanced” tab of iTunes preferences, or do you mean the checkbox is there, but you cannot uncheck it?

7

Correction: I found the box (which is unchecked), but Apple evidently ignored that fact and updated the software anyway, without asking me first.

Also - the box in the App Store to allow automatic installation was unchecked, which again didn’t stop the auto install. I’ve now unchecked another box which permitted automatic installation of “data files and security updates”. Allegedly this should compel Apple to ask me first about any proposed updates. We’ll see.

8

In my case the unavailability of the option is because I dragged the entire iTunes app to the trash, once I found usable Terminal-based alternatives in cmus and cdparanoia. Nevertheless, Software Update (where MikeS said I should look since I’m still running 10.6.9) continues to download the latest iTunes without asking me first, and I find nothing in its preferences that allows me to specifically exclude iTunes from automatic downloads. I’d be fine with Software Update automatically downloading patches for the rest of the operating system, but it makes no sense for Apple to push patches for an app that I’ve dragged to the trash.