Delaying system and application updates on macOS
LogMeIn Resolve MDM has restriction configurations for remotely managing macOS devices. This article explains how you can control the end-user visibility of system updates with update delay settings. You can also find out how to set the delay for the installation of application updates.
Important information
This feature is part of restriction configurations for macOS. Administrators may control the visibility of the system and application updates with a delay. After the delay time, the update is available for the end-user to install.
Force-delayed system updates is available for macOS 10.13 and later.
Force delayed minor and major system updates require macOS 11.3 or above, and delayed application updates macOS 11 or above.
The importance of controlling updates
Keeping the organization's devices up-to-date is important in securing the devices and maintaining their functionality. However, it is often beneficial not to apply the update immediately when they become available. Using time to test the update can show if there are any issues and prevent troubles later on.
When you set the delay, the new update does not appear as available on macOS devices before the time is past.
Checking the system update inventory on a device
LogMeIn Resolve MDM collects inventory from macOS devices regularly. Among others, you can see the information about available system-related updates from the Inventory tab of the Device page ( Device).
The layout of the screen may look different in the product.
Forcing delayed system updates
From macOS version 10.13, it has been possible to set delay time in a set amount of days for system updates. On devices having macOS 11.3 or above, one can define a separate delay time for minor and major system updates.
To configure the update delays with LogMeIn Resolve MDM, go to Management > Configuration profiles, press Add, and choose the platform macOS.
The layout of the screen may look different in the product.
Delay settings are part of the restrictions for Macs: select Restrictions and go to the Update rules tab.
The layout of the screen may look different in the product.
- Force delayed system updates
With this setting, you may delay the visibility of system updates for devices with macOS version 10.13 or above. In addition, you can set a separate delay time for minor system updates on devices with macOS 11.3 or above. The delay starts from the day Apple makes the update available, and the values for the delay are in days from 1 to 90.
2. Force delayed major OS updates
On devices with macOS version 11.3 and above, you can define the delay time for the visibility of major system updates.
Forcing delayed application updates
From macOS version 10.13.14, it has been possible to configure the automated software updates for macOS. In case you want to delay the end-users visibility to application updates, you can configure the restriction for it. Add a new configuration profile for macOS, and choose the type restriction. From the Update rules tab, you can also define the delay time for application updates on devices.
The layout of the screen may look different in the product.