---
title: "Autoupdate and Sparkle Updater on Mac: what they are · Kilobat Guides"
url: "https://kilobat.app/guides/what-is-sparkle-autoupdate.html"
description: "Autoupdate and Updater.app come from Sparkle, an update framework that many Mac apps use. Learn which part downloads and how to control it."
---

macOS processes

# What is Autoupdate (Sparkle) on Mac?

`Autoupdate` is part of Sparkle, an open source update framework that many Mac apps use. In most apps, the app itself downloads the update.

Process: `Autoupdate` · Process: `Updater` · Process: `Downloader` · Applies to: Apps that use Sparkle, on all current macOS versions. Seen on macOS 27.2. · Checked: 29 October 2026

## Where you see it

- `Autoupdate` is in the list in Activity Monitor › Network, in `nettop` or in Kilobat.
- A firewall or network monitor asks if `Autoupdate` can connect.
- Its signing identifier starts with `Autoupdate` or `org.sparkle-project`.

## What it is

Sparkle's documentation says that it checks for updates in the background once every 24 hours by default. The app reads a feed of versions, called an appcast.

Sparkle's installer tools, such as Autoupdate, install the update after the download. Sandboxed apps can use a separate Downloader service.

## Why it uses the network

- **Update checks and downloads.** The app checks its appcast and downloads new versions. This traffic usually shows under the app itself.
- **A Downloader service.** Sparkle says that sandboxed apps without network access use a Downloader XPC service.

## Is it normal?

Yes. Each app that uses Sparkle checks for its own updates.

## See how much it uses

1. Open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities. Click Network.
2. Type `Autoupdate` in the search field. The Sent Bytes and Rcvd Bytes columns show what it moved.
3. In Terminal, watch only this process. Press d to show the change per second, and q to quit.

   ```
   nettop -p Autoupdate -P
   ```
4. Look at the app itself in the same list. Most of the update traffic is there.

## Reduce or pause it safely

1. Open the app's settings. Many apps that use Sparkle have options to check for and download updates automatically.
2. Turn off automatic downloads while you are on a hotspot. Update later on your usual network.

## With Kilobat

1. Open the Kilobat app list and search for `Autoupdate`. Its row shows the live rate and the bytes it moved.
2. `kilobat updaters` lists the apps that update from inside their own process. Kilobat cannot pause those separately.
3. In Terminal, see the same live list. Press / and type the name to search.

   ```
   kilobat status --watch
   ```
4. Show its traffic over one day. Names match `kilobat report --summary`.

   ```
   kilobat bandwidth Autoupdate day
   ```
5. Through MCP, an AI agent gets the same history with `get_app_bandwidth` and the name `Autoupdate`.
6. With Pro and the network filter, Kilobat pauses this updater on metered networks. The app keeps working. See [Stop updates from using hotspot data](https://kilobat.app/guides/recipes/stop-updates-on-hotspot.html).

   ```
   kilobat updaters
   ```
7. The live view is free. History in the app needs Pro. Kilobat records history only while the app runs.

## Questions

**Is Autoupdate from Apple?**

No. It comes from Sparkle, an open source framework. Each app that uses Sparkle includes its own copy.

## Sources

- [Sparkle documentation: Basic setup](https://sparkle-project.org/documentation/)
- [Sparkle documentation: Sandboxing](https://sparkle-project.org/documentation/sandboxing/)
- nettop(1), man page installed with macOS 27.2
- [Kilobat docs: Pausing updaters on metered networks](https://kilobat.app/docs.html#updaters)

Sources checked on 29 October 2026. Man pages are the ones installed with macOS; open one with `man <name>` in Terminal.

## Related guides

- [What is ShipIt on Mac?](https://kilobat.app/guides/what-is-shipit.html): ShipIt comes from Squirrel.Mac.
- [Stop updates from using hotspot data](https://kilobat.app/guides/recipes/stop-updates-on-hotspot.html): On a metered network, Kilobat can pause the helpers that download updates.
- [What is GoogleUpdater on Mac?](https://kilobat.app/guides/what-is-googleupdater.html): GoogleUpdater updates Chrome and other Google apps in the background.
- [What is Microsoft AutoUpdate on Mac?](https://kilobat.app/guides/what-is-microsoft-autoupdate.html): Microsoft AutoUpdate (MAU) keeps Office, Teams and other Microsoft apps up to date.