In the Other changes and Improvements from the release of 11.22 there was a mention that the deferral of updates with some payloads was deprecated with the 26’s and to use Blueprints going forward However in the Configuration Profiles for both devices and computers it is not stated that this setting is deprecated.
Software update deferrals deprecated?
+6Hi bfrench,
Great observation! You've identified a documentation gap that many admins are noticing. Let me clarify the current situation regarding software update deferrals and deprecation status.
What's Actually Being Deprecated
At WWDC 2025, Apple announced that traditional MDM software update management is deprecated and will be removed in 2026. This includes:
- MDM software update commands (ScheduleOSUpdate, etc.)
- The
com.apple.SoftwareUpdatepayload - Legacy restrictions related to software updates
- MDM software update queries
The Confusion Around Configuration Profiles
You're correct that the Configuration Profile UI in Jamf Pro doesn't explicitly mark these settings as deprecated. This is because:
- The underlying payloads still function on current OS versions (iOS/iPadOS 18.x, macOS 15.x)
- Deprecation is forward-looking — these settings will stop working on iOS/iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 (Tahoe), expected in late 2026
- Jamf's UI hasn't been fully updated to reflect Apple's deprecation timeline
What Should You Use Instead?
Apple and Jamf recommend migrating to Declarative Device Management (DDM) via Jamf Pro Blueprints:
Using Blueprints for OS Update Deferrals:
- In Jamf Pro, go to Blueprints in the left sidebar
- Create or open a Blueprint
- Select Software Update Settings
- Click Configure for Deferrals
- Set deferral days (1-90) for major and/or minor updates
Important: Jamf recommends setting major and minor deferral values to the same integer (e.g., 30 and 30) to avoid potential rollback issues.
Requirements for Blueprint Deferrals:
- Enable OIDC-based SSO through Jamf Account
- tvOS 18.4+, iOS/iPadOS 18+, macOS 15+ (supervision required for iOS/iPadOS/tvOS)
Timeline Summary
| Timeframe | Status |
|---|---|
| Now (iOS 18/macOS 15) | Legacy payloads still work, but start migrating to DDM |
| iOS 26/macOS 26 (2026) | Legacy payloads deprecated but may still function |
| iOS 27/macOS 27 (2027) | Legacy payloads expected to be completely removed |
Jamf Pro 11.22 Context
The Jamf Pro 11.22 release notes mention this deprecation in the "Other changes and Improvements" section. The Configuration Profile settings remain available for backward compatibility, but new deployments should use Blueprints.
Key Takeaway
While the settings aren't marked as deprecated in the Jamf Pro UI, they effectively are for Apple's newer operating systems. The recommendation is:
- Start testing Blueprints now for software update management
- Plan migration before iOS 26/macOS 26 release (expected Fall 2026)
- Keep existing profiles for devices running older OS versions that don't support DDM
References:
- Setting OS Update Deferrals using Jamf Pro Blueprints
- Jamf Pro's Managed Software Updates with Apple's MDM & DDM Commands
- Apple WWDC 2025 - What's new in managing Apple devices
Hope this clarifies the situation!
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