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Return to Service blocking Software Update

  • June 24, 2026
  • 5 replies
  • 129 views
J
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We’re using Return to Service to wipe a group of iPads with the Return to Service option enabled under ‘PreStage enrollments’.  Now seeing iPads that have Software Update blocked with this message.

   Unable to Check for Update

   These settings are not available while this device is configured for Return to Service

This message shows on iPads even after an erase using Apple Configurator.

Two questions.

  1.  This now the default for all devices that support Return to Service even if not used on all iPads?
  2. How do we install any Software Updates if blocked? 

Jamf’s AI answers are telling me the fix is to unmanage these devices.

Best answer by PaulHazelden

Yep you need DDM/Blueprints to update them.
The setting in the Prestage does not warn you that RtS will block Software Updates. Come on Jamf, you could add this in to the details in the Prestage.
As it is a Prestage setting, it will affect all devices that have that Prestage applied to them, regardles of RtS being on the device or not.

    5 replies

    Chubs
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    • Chubs
    • Jamf Heroes
    • June 24, 2026

    Haven’t seen that before - only when attempting to set a minimum OS requirement at enrollment and using RtS. 
     

    DDM Updates work just fine on RtS devices during “normal usage” from my testing. 

    I find your lack of faith disturbing
      PaulHazelden
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      • PaulHazelden
      • Jamf Heroes
      • Answer
      • June 24, 2026

      Yep you need DDM/Blueprints to update them.
      The setting in the Prestage does not warn you that RtS will block Software Updates. Come on Jamf, you could add this in to the details in the Prestage.
      As it is a Prestage setting, it will affect all devices that have that Prestage applied to them, regardles of RtS being on the device or not.

        Chubs
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        • Chubs
        • Jamf Heroes
        • June 24, 2026

        Yep you need DDM/Blueprints to update them.
        The setting in the Prestage does not warn you that RtS will block Software Updates. Come on Jamf, you could add this in to the details in the Prestage.
        As it is a Prestage setting, it will affect all devices that have that Prestage applied to them, regardles of RtS being on the device or not.

        In all fairness, Apple has abandoned MDM updates.  RtS is a “new” feature, so it makes sense that it only works with DDM stuffs.

        Then again, this is me trying to make sense...which may or may not be logical 😂

        I find your lack of faith disturbing
          PaulHazelden
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          • PaulHazelden
          • Jamf Heroes
          • June 24, 2026

          If you have a Prestage without RtS enabled, you can apply Software updates from in the System settings > General > Software Updates.
          In the Prestage there is a description for RtS, and it could say if this is enabled you will need to use DDM to manage updates. Most people only find this out when they try to update a device after it is set up with a RtS Prestage. I know I did.
          Plus Looking at an iPad running an older version of IOS, that is too old for Blueprints, You have a problem. Because the Software Update section is missing completly. RtS Prestage Setting Kills it, and DDM Updates are not available.
          A little pre warning of this would help out a lot.

            J
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            • Just_Jack
            • Author
            • Contributor
            • June 24, 2026

            Sure enough looking at Prestage setting under: ‘Allow use of the Return to Service option during device reset’  There is nothing say that Software Update is locked down.

            Look at Jamf Pro documentation also nothing saying the Software Update is locked.

            https://learn.jamf.com/r/en-US/jamf-pro-documentation-11.27.0/Return_to_Service_for_Mobile_Devices

            Might have to look into creating two Prestage groups.  One for RtS and one without.

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