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macOS > Device Data & Configuration

Delaying system and application updates on macOS

Updated on October 10th, 2022

Miradore 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.

Why you should control the 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.

Check the system update inventory on a device

Miradore 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 (Management > Devices > Device).

Showing the updates available for macOS

Force 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 Miradore, go to Management > Configuration profiles, press Add, and choose the platform macOS.

Configuring Mac restriction profile

Delay settings are part of the restrictions for Macs: select Restrictions and go to the Update rules tab.

System update rules for Macs

  1. 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.

Force 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.

Update rules for application updates in Macs

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

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