cPanel & WHM automatically updates itself to the latest release tier by default. In some cases — such as when testing custom configurations, running a specific software stack, or performing maintenance — you may want to disable automatic updates to prevent unexpected changes.
Step 1: Log in to WHM
Open your browser and navigate to https://your-server-ip:2087. Enter your root or reseller credentials to access the WHM dashboard.
Step 2: Navigate to Update Preferences
Use the left-hand sidebar to go to Home » Server Configuration » Update Preferences.
Step 3: Disable Automatic Updates
Scroll down to the cPanel Update Automatic Updates section. Click the Disable Automatic Updates button.
Step 4: Save Changes
Click the Save button to apply the change.
Important Notes
- Security warning: Disabling automatic updates means your server will not receive critical security patches automatically. You must manually update regularly to keep your server secure.
- Even with automatic updates disabled, you can still manually trigger updates via WHM » cPanel » Upgrade to Latest Version.
- This setting only affects cPanel & WHM updates. It does not affect RPM/OS package updates.
- cPanel may still perform essential security updates even when automatic updates are disabled, depending on your WHM version.
- To re-enable automatic updates later, return to this page and select your preferred update tier (Release, Current, Stable, or Edge).
Troubleshooting
- Updates still occurring: Check if you have a cron job running
/scripts/upcpon a schedule. Disable or remove it if present. - Cannot find the Update Preferences option: Ensure you are logged in as root. Reseller accounts may not have access to this section.
- Want selective updates: Consider using the Upgrade Channel setting instead of fully disabling updates. Switching to Stable or Release tiers provides fewer, more tested updates.
