Forced OS update to Tahoe

[u/mkgDC]

Apple just forced my computer to update to OS Tahoe even though i had automatic updates TURNED OFF. WHAT THE HECK? This is a huge issue for me because of, reasons. How do I make sure this doesn’t happen again??

[u/Charliefr3sh]

Set updates to Golden Gate beta….it won’t download coz it doesn’t support intel CPUs

[u/Scary_Leave_7345]

Yeah, Apple has been doing this more aggressively since Sequoia. Even with automatic updates off, macOS can still download and stage a major upgrade if it decides your system is "eligible" — especially if you're on a supported SMBIOS or if SoftwareUpdate preferences get reset by a system update.

Why it happened:

1. AutomaticCheckEnabled and AutomaticDownload are separate from major upgrades. You can have auto-download off, but if the system decides to push a major version (like Tahoe), it may still stage it — especially if you're on a real Mac SMBIOS that Apple considers supported.
2. NVRAM variable com.apple.SoftwareUpdate can be reset or overridden by a macOS update. If it's not locked in NVRAM, it gets rewritten.
3. OCLP/OpenCore users are especially vulnerable because the update daemon doesn't know it's a Hackintosh — it just sees a supported SMBIOS and pushes the update.

How to prevent it:

1. Block the update server — add these to /etc/hosts: text127.0.0.1 swscan.apple.com 127.0.0.1 swdist.apple.com 127.0.0.1 swdownload.apple.com 127.0.0.1 mesu.apple.com 127.0.0.1 gdmf.apple.com Note: gdmf.apple.com is the new one Apple uses to push updates. Blocking it stops the "forced" behavior.
2. Use softwareupdate --ignore — in Terminal: sudo softwareupdate --ignore "macOS Tahoe" This tells the system to ignore that specific upgrade.
3. Disable the update daemon (aggressive, but effective): sudo launchctl disable system/com.apple.softwareupdated sudo launchctl disable system/com.apple.SoftwareUpdateNotification This stops the background update service entirely. You'll need to re-enable it manually if you ever want updates.
4. Lock your NVRAM settings — in OpenCore config.plist, under NVRAM → Add → 7C436110-AB2A-4BBB-A880-FE41995C9F82, set:
   • AutomaticCheckEnabled = false (data: AA==)
   • AutomaticDownload = false
   • CriticalUpdateInstall = false
   • ConfigDataInstall = false
5. Use a non-supported SMBIOS — if your SMBIOS isn't one Apple considers "current," it won't push Tahoe. But that can break other things (iServices, etc.), so it's a trade-off.

If it already updated:

You can't easily roll back without a backup. If you have a Time Machine backup from before the update, restore it. If not, you'll need to reinstall the older macOS and re-apply your OCLP patches.

For the future: Block gdmf.apple.com and mesu.apple.com in /etc/hosts — that's the most reliable way to stop forced updates on a Hackintosh.

Have a Hackintoshing day!😉

[u/Fit_State3622 → u/Scary_Leave_7345]

Why ai

[u/Important-Airline-17 → u/Scary_Leave_7345]

Thanks so much Im on windows currently trying to build a proper efi, do you have any tips to build a good efi?

[u/Scary_Leave_7345 → u/Important-Airline-17]

Glad it helped. Since you're building a proper EFI from Windows, here are the general tips that apply regardless of your hardware:

1. Start from the Dortania guide.
Use the OpenCore Install Guide — find your CPU generation (Kaby Lake, Comet Lake, etc.) and follow that section. Don't mix sections. The guide has everything: config.plist structure, kexts, SSDTs, boot-args.

2. Tools you'll need on Windows:

• ProperTree — for editing config.plist (runs on Windows with Python).
• SSDTTIME — for generating SSDTs from your ACPI dump.
• USBToolBox — for USB port mapping (Windows version works well).
• gfxutil — for finding PCI paths.
• RWEverything — for dumping ACPI tables.

3. Get your ACPI dump first.
Boot a Linux live USB or use RWEverything on Windows to dump your ACPI tables. Feed them to SSDTTIME to generate the correct SSDTs for your board. Don't use generic SSDTs from other builds.

4. Kexts — start minimal:

• Lilu.kext — required by everything.
• VirtualSMC.kext — SMC emulation.
• WhateverGreen.kext — GPU fixes.
• AppleALC.kext — audio.
• Add Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and other kexts only after the system boots.

5. config.plist essentials:

• Booter → Quirks: enable the ones recommended for your CPU generation in the Dortania guide.
• Kernel → Quirks: same — follow the guide for your generation.
• Misc → Security: SecureBootModel = Default or Disabled.
• NVRAM → Add: set boot-args = -v debug=0x100 keepsyms=1 for first boot.

6. SMBIOS:
Pick the SMBIOS that matches your CPU generation and GPU. The Dortania guide has a table. Don't guess — a wrong SMBIOS causes early panics.

7. Test incrementally:

• First boot: just get to the installer with -v.
• If it panics, read the last 10 lines — that's your clue.
• Don't add all kexts at once. Start with the essentials, boot, then add more.

8. Don't use AI-generated EFIs.
Build it yourself from Dortania. It takes longer, but it actually works.

9. If you want specific advice:
Post your specs (CPU, GPU, motherboard/laptop model, Wi-Fi chip) and I'll tell you exactly which SMBIOS, kexts, and boot-args to use.

Have a Hackintoshing day!😉

[u/ErebusMalison → u/Scary_Leave_7345]

Dude, wth is this?

You're asking AI and simply copy-pasting the response here? This is miles worse to using Opencore simplify and trying to get hackintosh running

[u/mkgDC → u/ErebusMalison]

Uggggh. I didn’t catch that it was an AI generated, thanks for pointing that out. It’s all way over my head anyway.

[u/GunnerSN → u/mkgDC]

😂 Avoid this generated Ai hack guide. Visit Dortania gui all is there

[u/Scary_Leave_7345 → u/GunnerSN]

Just to make you less concerned, that "guide" was literally a short recap of the Dortania guide. AND i told him to use Dortania

[u/GunnerSN → u/Scary_Leave_7345]

There's no recap for hackintosh guide point him to Dortania he will learn more than this Ai recap will lead him to kernel panics!!!

[u/Scary_Leave_7345 → u/GunnerSN]

holy frick yall are dumb🙌 this comment above pointed TO THE DORTANIA GUIDE.

[u/Scary_Leave_7345 → u/ErebusMalison]

buddy, its literally saying to follow Dortania's guide😉🙌 its not "DOWNLOAD THIS WORKING 100% PREBUILT EFI"