Office for Mac Issues

How to Disable Automatic Updates in Microsoft AutoUpdate for Mac

Olivia Miller Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to stop Microsoft applications from updating automatically on their Mac, especially when the standard toggle is locked.

How to Disable Automatic Updates in Microsoft AutoUpdate for Mac

Product: Microsoft AutoUpdate / Microsoft 365
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Attempting to disable the 'Automatically keep Microsoft apps up to date' setting to regain control over application updates.
Observed behavior: The option to disable automatic updates is grayed out or unavailable due to organizational IT policies or corrupted preference settings.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged into an administrator account on your Mac, as making system-level changes via Terminal requires administrative privileges.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure Manual Updates via Mac Terminal

Use a simple Terminal command to manually force Microsoft AutoUpdate to stop checking for updates automatically, which bypasses grayed-out visual settings on unmanaged Macs.

If you are using a personal Mac and the automatic update toggle is unresponsive or unavailable, you can manually override the application's behavior using macOS Terminal. This modifies the preference file directly.

Open Terminal

Launch the Terminal application on your Mac. You can find it by pressing Command + Space to open Spotlight Search, typing 'Terminal', and pressing Enter.

Execute the override command

Copy and paste the following command into the Terminal window exactly as written: defaults write com.microsoft.autoupdate2 HowToCheck -string 'Manual'

Apply and verify

Press Enter to execute the command. Close Terminal and restart your Mac or relaunch Microsoft AutoUpdate to confirm that the update checks are now set to manual.

Configure Manual Updates via Mac Terminal

Reverting the Change: If you wish to re-enable automatic updates later, open Terminal again and run: defaults write com.microsoft.autoupdate2 HowToCheck -string 'Automatic'

Solution 2

Contact Your IT Administrator

Resolve the issue on company-managed devices by requesting an update policy change from your organization's IT department.

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Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Mac Experience

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1. Download the Mac Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free version for macOS.
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Lightweight installation with no intrusive background auto-updaters.Seamless compatibility with Microsoft Office formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Free to use with an intuitive, all-in-one interface designed for Mac.Reliable performance on macOS without complex IT policy restrictions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the automatic update option grayed out in Microsoft AutoUpdate?

The option is typically grayed out because your Mac or Microsoft 365 license is managed by an IT department that uses configuration profiles to enforce centralized update policies, preventing local users from altering them.

Is it safe to disable Microsoft AutoUpdate on my Mac?

Yes, it is safe to disable it, but you assume the responsibility of checking for updates manually. It is highly recommended to periodically check for updates to ensure your applications have the latest security patches and features.

How do I manually check for Office updates after disabling AutoUpdate?

To manually check for updates, open any Microsoft application like Word or Excel, click on 'Help' in the top macOS menu bar, and select 'Check for Updates' from the dropdown menu.

Will disabling AutoUpdate affect the performance of my Office apps?

No, changing the update setting to manual will not negatively impact your app's performance. In fact, it prevents the updater from running in the background, which may slightly reduce system resource usage.

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