Background updates on your Mac device running macOS Mojave automatically install system data files and security updates. It works silently and never restarts your system automatically.

Background updates include:

  • Security-configuration updates, which help make your Mac more secure by identifying malicious software and preventing its installation. When you restart your Mac, these updates also remove any malicious software that is identified but already installed.
  • System data files, which provide new word lists, speech-recognition assets, voice assets, better suggestions for contacts and events, and more. Some system data files are installed only when you turn on or use features that require them.

On Mac devices running macOS Mojave, Background Updates are enabled by default. If you’d like to disable it, here’s a quick guide:

  1. Go to System Preferences.
  2. Select Software Update, then click Advanced.
  3. Untick the checkbox for “Install system data files and security updates.”
  4. Click Ok.

That’s it. macOS 10.14 Mojave will no longer install security updates and system data files automatically on your Mac.