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Schedule an OS Update for a MacOS Device

Keeping your macOS devices up to date is important for security. In addition to allowing you to install updates on all your org’s devices, JumpCloud also allows you to update, or even force to update, a single macOS device in your org from the Admin Portal. You can choose the timeframe during which the update will install on the device and choose how much flexibility the user has in delaying or canceling the update.

Prerequisites 

  • The device must be running macOS 11 or later (11.5 and later to support major upgrades between versions).
  • The device must be enrolled in JumpCloud MDM.

To schedule a software update for a macOS device enrolled in JumpCloud MDM:

  1. Log in to your JumpCloud Admin Portal: https://console.jumpcloud.com
  2. Go to DEVICE MANAGEMENT > Devices.
  3. Select the device to update. 
  4. Select MDM. 
  1. Under OS Updates, select the OS version you wish to install.
  2. Under Installation Schedule, select when you want your users to install the minor OS update. The options are:
    • Install Later Today – The system will download the update and install it at a system-determined time while the user is inactive. The user will receive a system notification indicating that their admin has requested an OS Update that will occur later in the day.
    • Install ASAP – The system will download and install the update as soon as the device acknowledges the command. The user will receive a system notification indicating that their admin has requested an OS update that will begin in 60 seconds. The user can cancel this update and will not be prompted again. In addition, the operating system will not interrupt any applications that are actively being used.  
    • Install Now (Force Update) – The system will download and install the update as soon as the device acknowledges the command and the user will not be able to stop the update. The user will receive a system notification indicating that their admin has requested an OS Update that will start immediately. 

Important:
  • JumpCloud recommends using the Install Later Today command to ensure the best update process. Using Install ASAP can result in a good end-user experience if used with good communication. Install Now (Force Update) should only be used when the risk of data loss is outweighed by the risk to security. 
  • If you select Install Now (Force Update) the user will not be able to stop the update, and active applications with unsaved work will be forcibly closed without user participation, which could result in data loss.
  1. If you selected Install Later Today or Install ASAP, select Schedule Update in the window that appears. If you selected Install Now (Force Update), select Update Now in the window that appears. 

If the command is sent to the device successfully, you’ll see a message indicating this in the top right of your screen. 

Note:

Using MDM Commands to enforce macOS updates can occasionally result in unexpected behavior. End users may be prompted to allow the update process to begin, which can give them time to save work and close active applications. However, this may result in the user canceling an update and the update never installing. 

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