How to avoid surprise iPad software updates

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Pat Schaefer Author

Level 2

182 points

How to avoid surprise iPad software updates

Apple changed software update settings.

Apple made it more difficult to control when you update your iPad.

Apple created a new update class RSR

Apple now requires automatic update for this software

As part of process, Apple resets your software update settings.

Today Apple downloaded a software update

I did not request it

I did not install it

I reset my software update choices to NO

i took screen shots

will update this when

"somehow" the downloaded update gets installed.

Has anyone had a similar experience?

iPad (10th generation)

Posted on Aug 13, 2025 07:44 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Mac Jim ID

Level 9

54,032 points

Aug 13, 2025 07:49 AM in response to Pat Schaefer

The default behavior after an iPad update to change the Settings to Automatic Downloads is exactly the same as that of the iPhone, in your duplicate post here. After the update, you will need to turn them off again to avoid future updates. All the information including screenshots of the change in the default behavior are also seen in your previous post.

How can I disable automatic updates on my… - Apple Community

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Answer 2

Aug 15, 2025 10:50 AM in response to Pat Schaefer

You will see that screen if automatic updates were off and you manually did an update. Doing any update changes automatic updates on, so in that one instance you will see the Continue. You cannot turn off automatic downloads, only automatically installing. But, as the text says:

Future software updates will be automatically downloaded and installed for you as they are released. You can manage this in Software Update settings.

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Answer 3

Pat Schaefer Author

Level 2

182 points

Aug 13, 2025 08:01 AM in response to Mac Jim ID

And again you point me to a screen shot

I have never seen on my iPad

and it is never more than a foot away from me all day

and I certainly never hit "Continue" * …………

I repeated it here to see if my fellow iPad users knew anything about this.

Not everyone has an iPhone and an iPad.

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Answer 4

Kurt Lang

Level 9

67,632 points

Aug 13, 2025 08:43 AM in response to Pat Schaefer

You mean you didn't find the exact same thing. Yes, Apple changes the layout of the controls every so often, but they're still in the same place: Settings > General > Software Update

So again, the following may not be exactly the same thing you see, but you should be able to figure it out. With my options like this, all iOS point updates and upgrades are disabled. I'll install them when I feel like it. Otherwise, I allow security updates to install unattended.

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Answer 5

Kurt Lang

Level 9

67,632 points

Aug 13, 2025 08:52 AM in response to Pat Schaefer

What about it? It straight out tells you if you want to control future updates so they DO NOT install automatically, you can change the Software Update settings. You know, the ones I just posted an image of.

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Answer 6

Pat Schaefer Author

Level 2

182 points

Aug 13, 2025 09:02 AM in response to Kurt Lang

Apple just downloaded and reset my settings.

I did not see this warning

i have never seen this warning

after yesterday I am sure I would have noticed if I did

and I would have never consisted to "Continue"

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Answer 7

Pat Schaefer Author

Level 2

182 points

Aug 13, 2025 09:41 AM in response to Pat Schaefer

This gets weirder

this is what the RSR page says

"By default, your device automatically applies Rapid Security Responses. If necessary, you'll be prompted to restart your device. To check your device settings:

iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates, then make sure that "Security Responses & System Files" is turned on."

There is nothing about turning all three options on just check to see if SRS is on.

the screen shot is not included on that page and it says

"Future software updates will be automatically downloaded and installed for you as they are released. You can manage this in Software Update settings."

All three options will be turned on

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Answer 8

Pat Schaefer Author

Level 2

182 points

Aug 15, 2025 10:49 AM in response to Pat Schaefer

Whoa read on down

If you choose to turn off this setting or not to apply Rapid Security Responses when they’re available,

your device will receive relevant fixes or mitigations

when they’re included in a subsequent software update.

so much for automatic being "default"

To me it reads like always

IT'S A USER'S CHOICE

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 9

Pat Schaefer Author

Level 2

182 points

Aug 13, 2025 11:00 AM in response to Pat Schaefer

This is what is on Apple support pages

When can users update or upgrade

Without any software update management,

users can decide to update or upgrade their devices

when an update or upgrade becomes available from Apple.

someone show me on the support pages where that has changed.

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Answer 10

Pat Schaefer Author

Level 2

182 points

Aug 13, 2025 12:41 PM in response to Mac Jim ID

About Rapid Security Responses for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS - Apple Support

"By default, your device automatically applies Rapid Security Responses. If necessary, you'll be prompted to restart your device. To check your device settings:

iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates, then make sure that "Security Responses & System Files" is turned on.

[so you can set it to on and proceed with installation]

[OR NOT]

If you choose to turn off this setting

or not to apply Rapid Security Responses

when they're available, your device will receive relevant fixes or mitigations when they're included in a subsequent software update."

There is nothing in here about setting ALL software update choices

and it clearly says the RSR choice is optional and will be part of next iPadOS update.

can you show the community where in the support pages it says different

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Answer 11

Kurt Lang

Level 9

67,632 points

Aug 15, 2025 09:45 AM in response to Pat Schaefer

There is nothing in here about setting ALL software update choices…

Are you really finding it difficult to understand plain English?

Security Responses & System Files is on by default, just as your linked page says. I leave it on, as I showed above, and again here.

The next part of the linked page you quoted is also plain language, and you conveniently clipped off the relative part:

If you choose to turn off this setting or not to apply Rapid Security Responses when they’re available, your device will receive relevant fixes or mitigations when they’re included in a subsequent software update.

What do you not understand about this line? If I were to turn the center option off so everything is disabled, then when there is a RSR update you purposely skipped, it will be included with an iOS update or upgrade when YOU decide to allow them to install.

Every option is off. Nothing will install until you say so.

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