diff -up OpenBoard-1.7.3/resources/etc/OpenBoard.config.orig OpenBoard-1.7.3/resources/etc/OpenBoard.config
--- OpenBoard-1.7.3/resources/etc/OpenBoard.config.orig	2024-12-17 15:05:15.000000000 +0100
+++ OpenBoard-1.7.3/resources/etc/OpenBoard.config	2025-12-03 12:20:18.746189834 +0100
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 [App]
-HideCheckForSoftwareUpdate=false
+HideCheckForSoftwareUpdate=true
 HideSwapDisplayScreens=true
-EnableAutomaticSoftwareUpdates=true
-EnableSoftwareUpdates=true
+EnableAutomaticSoftwareUpdates=false
+EnableSoftwareUpdates=false
 EnableStartupHints=true
 FavoriteToolURIs=openboardtool://openboard/mask, openboardtool://ruler, openboardtool://compass, openboardtool://protractor, openboardtool://triangle, openboardtool://magnifier, openboardtool://cache
 IsInSoftwareUpdateProcess=false
diff -up OpenBoard-1.7.3/src/core/UBPreferencesController.cpp.orig OpenBoard-1.7.3/src/core/UBPreferencesController.cpp
--- OpenBoard-1.7.3/src/core/UBPreferencesController.cpp.orig	2024-12-17 15:05:15.000000000 +0100
+++ OpenBoard-1.7.3/src/core/UBPreferencesController.cpp	2025-12-03 12:22:08.221644251 +0100
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ UBPreferencesController::UBPreferencesCo
     mPreferencesWindow = new UBPreferencesDialog(this,parent, Qt::Dialog);
     mPreferencesUI = new Ui::preferencesDialog();  // deleted in destructor
     mPreferencesUI->setupUi(mPreferencesWindow);
+    mPreferencesUI->softwareUpdateGroupBox->hide();// disable check for software update
     adjustScreensPreferences();
 
     connect(UBApplication::displayManager, &UBDisplayManager::availableScreenCountChanged, this, &UBPreferencesController::adjustScreensPreferences);