Mojave update now pestering to upgrade to Catalina

[B4U]

Good idea. Does a normal user have the ability to install security updates though?

 

[gogreen1]

I'm a bit embarrassed to say that I fixed the problem completely--by upgrading. I re-examined the main application I use that previously had problems in Catalina, and I discovered that those problems had been solved.

 

[alphascorp]

Hi all,
Following the modification made by Apple by the Mojave 2020-003 security update and especially the depreciation of "softwareupdate --ignore"

The temporary solution to get rid of the red badge after each update search (with the appearance of the notification for Catalina) is: (copy/paste this command line in Terminal)

sudo defaults delete /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist LastRecommendedMajorOSBundleIdentifier && defaults delete com.apple.preferences.softwareupdate LatestMajorOSSeenByUserBundleIdentifier && defaults write com.apple.systempreferences AttentionPrefBundleIDs 0 && killall Dock

The permanent workaround so that the Catalina notification no longer appears during an automatic update search or through system preferences is: (replace the "SoftwareUpdate.framework" file with version 18G4032) the link of the framework is here (you can also take the framework from Mojave 18G4032 not updated to 18G5033 or from a Time Machine)

1) Make a backup of "SoftwareUpdate.framework" existing in /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/
2) Copy the file "SoftwareUpdate.framework" (uncompressed) in the folder /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/ (overwrite the existing one, DO NOT MERGE)
3) With terminal:

sudo chmod -R 755 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SoftwareUpdate.framework
sudo chown -R 0:0 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SoftwareUpdate.framework

4) Restart

REMINDER:
After replacing "SoftwareUpdate.framework" to remove the red badge from the System Preference icon in the Dock you must execute these command lines and press Enter:

sudo softwareupdate --ignore "macOS Catalina"
sudo defaults delete /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist LastRecommendedMajorOSBundleIdentifier
defaults delete com.apple.preferences.softwareupdate LatestMajorOSSeenByUserBundleIdentifier
defaults write com.apple.systempreferences AttentionPrefBundleIDs 0
killall Dock

EDIT: I think SIP must be disabled in order to replace the system file. (mine is permanently disabled so I didn't have to disable it)

I can confirm that after replacing the framework, the update works perfectly because Safari was only at version 13.1
After replacing the framework I ran an update from the system preferences and the result is there, "an update is available: Safari 13.1.1" but no notification for Catalina!!!

 

[Gregg2]

Do what I do:
Just choose to ignore prompts for upgrades one does not want.
Works for me.

Yep, no choice. After a restart, the notification came back.

 

[bogdanw]

Wouldn't work the Disable Software update notification profile? suggested by bogdanw
I forgot I had it done for High Sierra and now that I've upgraded to Mojave it's still working, at least it seems so far

That profile configures App Store, so it doesn't work for stopping the Software Update notification in System Preferences.

 

[katbel]

That profile configures App Store, so it doesn't work for stopping the Software Update notification in System Preferences.

Couldn’t be adapted to System preferences as well?
since I upgraded no notifications so far, and I have 1 app and 1 security update ready to nag.....

 

[bogdanw]

Couldn’t be adapted to System preferences as well?
since I upgraded no notifications so far, and I have 1 app and 1 security update ready to nag.....

And you don't have the red 1?

I had a little time today and I updated to Security Update 2020-003 my Mojave installation with the profiles installed. I don't get a notification in the Notification Centre, but I have the red bubble on System Preferences and it shows up here

According to Apple's documentation, there is no value for notifications in SoftwareUpdate profiles
https://developer.apple.com/documentation/devicemanagement/softwareupdate
Maybe in your case it has to do with the upgrade from High Sierra, where system software updates are delivered through the App Store. Lucky you

 

[katbel]

And you don't have the red 1?
View attachment 920628
I had a little time today and I updated to Security Update 2020-003 my Mojave installation with the profiles installed. I don't get a notification in the Notification Centre, but I have the red bubble on System Preferences and it shows up here
View attachment 920629
According to Apple's documentation, there is no value for notifications in SoftwareUpdate profiles
https://developer.apple.com/documentation/devicemanagement/softwareupdate
Maybe in your case it has to do with the upgrade from High Sierra, where system software updates are delivered through the App Store. Lucky you

Thanks for the infos: I still have the red badge, that I do not mind because, in case of updates I like, there are important . But no other notifications so far...System preferences doesn't even show it after a restart 😊
Then if I check it, it does, but without pestering


😈

 

[wellander1]

I have seen that in 10.13 this does not give me that nag to update to 10.15.
Maybe I should downgrade all my systems to 10.13?

 

[avz]

Temporary solution is working for me and surviving the restart. The best I can say, it seems that the system does not check for updates very often even though I have "check for updates automatically" checked. The only time the nagging badge comes back if I manually check for updates.

 

[Dayo]

I can confirm that after replacing the framework, the update works perfectly ... but no notification for Catalina!!!

Thanks. I followed your steps and everything works as it was before.
I have kept a copy of the file for future use.

 

[katbel]

(replace the "SoftwareUpdate.framework" file with version 18G4032)

Where do you read the version in SoftwareUpdate.framework?

Anyway the substitution was successful : I tried first on an external disk with Mojave and then having the original SoftwareUpdate.framework from the non updated Mojave I did it on the other one too!
It works flawlessly and so easy to do it!!! Didn't need to run any "ignore " command because I guess both disks knew it already from before 😈
Thanks so much for sharing it : merci beaucoup 😊

 

[alphascorp]

Hi @katbel

Great if it works for you!

Sorry for the late response but it may be useful for others:
If you want to take the framework from a Time Machine, to know the version (of the saved system), just go take a look at the file: "SystemVersion.plist" in /System/Library/CoreServices/ (in Time Machine...)
You must have:
...
<key>ProductBuildVersion</key>
<string>18G4032</string>
...

Indeed if the command software --ignore has been used before it is not necessary to use it again. I specified it for those who would never have used it because it would not work without it.

 

[katbel]

file: "SystemVersion.plist" in /System/Library/CoreServices/ (in Time Machine...)
You must have:
...
<key>ProductBuildVersion</key>
<string>18G4032</string>
...

Thanks, I got it now: it's related to the system not the SoftwareUpdate.framework.🙂

 

[damaltor]

Hi @katbel

Great if it works for you!

Sorry for the late response but it may be useful for others:
If you want to take the framework from a Time Machine, to know the version (of the saved system), just go take a look at the file: "SystemVersion.plist" in /System/Library/CoreServices/ (in Time Machine...)
You must have:
...
<key>ProductBuildVersion</key>
<string>18G4032</string>
...

Indeed if the command software --ignore has been used before it is not necessary to use it again. I specified it for those who would never have used it because it would not work without it.

Thanks for the workaround alphascorp, works great!

 

[katbel]

I've just dowloaded , not installed yet, the new security update 2020-04 for Mojave
and of course there is a new SoftwareUpdate.framework for the System library.
Could the trick used with the sec. update 2020-03 going to work with this too?

I compared the previous-working SoftwareUpdate.framework to the newer
Difference is in size 6.6 mb the working old one, 1.7mb the new
It's missing all the localizations and it has a new SoftwareUpdateNotificationManager much smaller
No idea without trying it what does it mean.

I do not have an extra system to experiment it. Has anyone tried it yet?

 

[stevenaaus]

Can anyone explain to me why Apple no longer lets me update Mojave... or makes it impossible - instead trying to make me update to buggy Catalina ?

Totally unacceptable. I have Mojave 10.14.2 and nowhere in the software update will the Mac tell me that a 10.14.6 update is available. What the h*ll. Trying to force feed me the Catalina crap like windows force fed everyone Win10.

I finally figured out to google "Mojave combo 10.14.6 update", and found it that way,
but why is it no longer the default to just go for the point/security updates.
And there is no place to find the Mojave installer anymore, except going to Dosdude.

Just total microsoft-worthy abuse imho.

EDIT - Ok, I can't run the update anyway. File system is not APFS. Time to clone disks.
Question - Why not just provide the old Mojave 10.14.6 installer Apple ?
Answer- because everyone will be downgrading from the POS they're currently supplying 😡

Tim Cook's Apple has been a disgrace imho. He's just a slick frontman to the shareholders running the last quick dollar out of the company. Sorry to be a broken record 🙂

 

[chrfr]

EDIT - Ok, I can't run the update anyway. File system is not APFS. Time to clone disks.
Question - Why not just provide the old Mojave 10.14.6 installer Apple ?

You're not being offered the updates because you're running an unsupported configuration with the HFS+ disk.
There's no conspiracy. I used Google to search for Mojave download and found this: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210190

 

[davidlv]

You're not being offered the updates because you're running an unsupported configuration with the HFS+ disk.
There's no conspiracy. I used Google to search for Mojave download and found this: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210190

Did you try that link? It prompts you to open iTunes and then says that file is no longer available.
Dosdude's link still works, so you can still get the Mojave installer.

 

[chrfr]

Did you try that link? It prompts you to open iTunes and then says that file is no longer available.
Dosdude's link still works, so you can still get the Mojave installer.

The Apple link works fine for me on a 2017 and 2018 13" MacBook Pro but errors on a 2019 16" which cannot run Mojave. Are you trying to download it on a computer which can run Mojave?

 

[davidlv]

The Apple link works fine for me on a 2017 and 2018 13" MacBook Pro but errors on a 2019 16" which cannot run Mojave. Are you trying to download it on a computer which can run Mojave?

Yes, of course. I tried that link running Mojave on a late 2012 iMac as shown in my signature. I have an old copy of the Mojave installer on an internal HD. Will try again with that disk ejected.
OK, tried again, with the installer invisible, no go. iTunes says "Sorry, that item is not available." I am in Japan, the iTunes store is the USA store, so that may be related. Ugh, no it is not available in the Japanese iTunes store either.

 

[katbel]

Hi @katbel

Great if it works for you!

Have you updated to the latest Security update 2020-04?
I checked on a friend's computer where he updated to the latest Mojave Security Update 2020-004 with the standalone installer downloaded from Apple , and the older SoftwareUpdate n.6 is still in the system after updating to the latest (I did the changes on his computer as you suggested), but I do not know if he will be nagged to install Catalina and now Catalina upgrade is visible if you open Software update, before it wasn't .

I'm still holding on from updating