How to Turn Off Automatic Updates Overnight on an iPad

With Automatic Updates on, an iPad downloads new iPadOS versions in the background and installs them overnight while it charges. Turning that off keeps the iPad on its current version until you choose to update.

Open Software Update

Open Settings, General, Software Update.

Tap Automatic Updates

Tap Automatic Updates at the top of the screen. On iPadOS 18 the screen has two sections, Automatically Install and Automatically Download. On iPadOS 17 and earlier the toggles are named Download iPadOS Updates and Install iPadOS Updates.

Turn off automatic install

Under Automatically Install, turn off iPadOS Updates. This is the toggle that installs overnight. With it off, a downloaded update sits on the iPad and waits for you.

Turn off automatic download

Under Automatically Download, turn off iPadOS Updates. This stops the iPad from fetching the update file at all, which saves storage and data on a limited connection. The iPad still checks for updates and shows a badge on Settings when one is available.

Decide about Security Responses & System Files

The last toggle, Security Responses & System Files, installs small security fixes and system files without a full version update. Leave it on for the quickest protection, or turn it off if you want nothing installed until you say so. It can occasionally prompt for a restart.

Install updates when you are ready

Go back to Settings, General, Software Update whenever you want to update. Tap Update Now (or Download and Install if the file was not downloaded yet), enter your passcode, and the iPad installs it on the spot. Update Tonight is offered as well; it schedules the install for the coming night as long as the iPad is plugged in and on Wi-Fi.

If you only want to stop the overnight install. Leave Automatically Download on and Automatically Install off. The update downloads in the background and the iPad asks before installing, so you get the file ready without the surprise restart. Apple only installs overnight when the iPad is charging, connected to Wi-Fi, and automatic install is on.

Screen Time does not control updates. There is no Content & Privacy Restriction for software updates. Only a device management profile from a school or employer can delay or block updates, so on a personal iPad the Automatic Updates screen is the only place this is set.