Disable Microsoft AutoUpdate (MAU) + OneDrive auto-update

disable_ms_mau_steps.txt

# === Disable Microsoft AutoUpdate (MAU) + OneDrive auto-update ===
# === macOS cheat sheet ===
# My profile: Mac only / Office 365 (Word, Excel, PPT, OneDrive) / Teams in browser

# STEP 1: Add blocklist to /etc/hosts
sudo vi /etc/hosts

# Add this block:
127.0.0.1 officecdn.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 officecdn.microsoft.com.edgesuite.net
127.0.0.1 officecdn.msocdn.com
127.0.0.1 officecdn.microsoft.com.c.footprint.net
127.0.0.1 omextemplates.content.office.net
127.0.0.1 go.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 config.office.com
127.0.0.1 store.office.com
127.0.0.1 licensing.mp.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 officeapps.live.com
127.0.0.1 www.office.com
127.0.0.1 wns.windows.com
127.0.0.1 ctldl.windowsupdate.com

# OneDrive for Business update / telemetry
# <https://docs.j7k6.org/onedrive-macos-11-7-big-sur-eol-workaround/>
127.0.0.1 oneclient.sfx.ms
127.0.0.1 g.live.com

# STEP 2: Flush DNS cache (important!)
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

# STEP 3: Optional - Tell MAU not to check for updates
defaults write com.microsoft.autoupdate2 HowToCheck -string 'Manual'

# --- Below are deeper steps — I will skip this time --- #

# STEP 4: Disable MAU LaunchAgents/Daemons
# Check first:
launchctl list | grep microsoft

# If found:
launchctl bootout gui/$(id -u) ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.microsoft.update.agent.plist
sudo launchctl bootout system /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist

# Rename .plist to disable permanently:
sudo mv /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist.disabled
mv ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.microsoft.update.agent.plist ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.microsoft.update.agent.plist.disabled

# STEP 5: Block MAU.app launch (if very strict)
sudo chmod 000 /Library/Application\ Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0/Microsoft\ AutoUpdate.app
sudo chflags uchg /Library/Application\ Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0/Microsoft\ AutoUpdate.app

# --- End of cheat sheet ---
# Note: All steps are reversible. If Office apps complain about updates, ignore (safe).
# Future Office major update → may reinstall MAU, repeat steps if needed.