# Disabling Automatic Updates in Ubuntu (LTS Versions)

This guide provides a comprehensive technical procedure for disabling automatic updates on **Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04, and 26.04** (both Server and Desktop editions). These steps ensure that the system does not download or install packages without manual intervention.

## Disabling Automatic Updates in Ubuntu (LTS Versions)

On modern Ubuntu systems, automatic updates are managed via `unattended-upgrades`, APT periodic configs, and `systemd` timers. To fully stop them, follow the steps below.

### 1. Disable the Unattended-Upgrades Service

First, stop and disable the main service responsible for automatic background installations.

Bash

```
sudo systemctl stop unattended-upgrades
```

```
sudo systemctl disable unattended-upgrades
```

### 2. Configure APT Periodic Settings

Modify the APT configuration to stop the system from updating package lists and running upgrades automatically.

1. **Edit the config file:**
    
    Bash
    
    ```
    sudo nano /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/20auto-upgrades
    ```
2. **Set the values to "0":**
    
    Plaintext
    
    ```
    APT::Periodic::Update-Package-Lists "0";
    APT::Periodic::Unattended-Upgrade "0";
    ```
    
    *(Note: This is the official and most reliable method recommended by Ubuntu.)*

### 3. Disable and Mask systemd Timers

Even if the service is disabled, systemd timers might attempt to trigger APT tasks.

1. **Disable the timers:**
    
    Bash
    
    ```
    sudo systemctl disable --now apt-daily.timer
    sudo systemctl disable --now apt-daily-upgrade.timer
    ```
2. **Mask the services (Hard Disable):**
    
    Masking prevents these services from being started by any other process or manually by mistake.
    
    Bash
    
    ```
    sudo systemctl mask apt-daily.service
    sudo systemctl mask apt-daily-upgrade.service
    ```

### Desktop GUI Settings

If you are using a Desktop environment, you should also disable the GUI notifications:

1. Open **"Software & Updates"**.
2. Navigate to the **"Updates"** tab.
3. Set **"Automatically check for updates"** to **Never**.

## Verification

To ensure everything is correctly disabled, run the following checks:

- **Check Timers:** `systemctl list-timers | grep apt` (No active APT timers should appear).
- **Check APT Config:** `apt-config dump APT::Periodic` (Should show both values as "0").

## Reverting Changes (Enable Updates)

If you need to re-enable automatic updates in the future, run:

Bash

```
sudo systemctl unmask apt-daily.service apt-daily-upgrade.service
sudo systemctl enable --now apt-daily.timer apt-daily-upgrade.timer unattended-upgrades
```

*Don't forget to set the values back to `"1"` in `/etc/apt/apt.conf.d/20auto-upgrades`.*

## ⚠️ Important Security Notice

By disabling automatic updates, you assume full responsibility for the security of your system.

- **Kernel security fixes** will not be applied automatically.
- **Vulnerabilities** in critical packages like OpenSSL or SSH will remain open.
- **Containers** (Docker) may remain unpatched.

**It is highly recommended to manually update your system at least once a week:**

Bash

```
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
```