When do iPads update by default?

[dletkeman]

This is sort of in regards to the issue of being unable to upgrade Shared iPads seemlessly to iPadOS 17 as per https://support.apple.com/en-ca/105058.

I'm looking into how iPads by default receive and apply updates.

I understand there is a restriction profile that can be applied to defer software updates for up to 90 days according to https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/deployment/depd30715cbb/web.  The way I read it is that the 90 days takes effect from when the software update, in this case iPadOS 17, is released and not from when the deferral policy is pushed out.

iPadOS 17 was released September 18, 2023 so 90 days from that date would be December 17, 2023.  So I'm wondering what's going to happen in regards to our Shared iPads updating.  After December 17, 2023 will iPads automatically start updating on their own?  What will happen if I apply a deferral restriction configuration profile?  Will it even make a difference?

We are sitting down this coming Wednesday to plan out how to address this.  I figured Apple would have had a fix for this by now.

My focus here is not so much on the bug itself, but I'm interested in the exact mechanism for software updates on iPads, with the interest of delaying things for as long as possible until we can either come up with a solid plan or Apple can fix the issue (whatever comes first).

[Nicholaus]

iPads require a certain amount of battery percentage and for the passcode to be entered in order to update. If automatic updates aren't set by default, it won't update without doing so manually or via Jamf Pro. You are correct that the deferral config applies to when the update was released by Apple. Once that 90-day deferral is up, users will be able to authorize the update.

[dletkeman]

Not that it matters but it’s Jamf School we use.  I am focused at the moment on Shared iPads.  So generally speaking if a user doesn’t specifically initiate the update and I don’t send a remote command to update the iPad they shouldn’t attempt to upgrade, is that correct?

[dletkeman · Accepted solution]

Jamf success got back to me and gave me this article:
https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/deployment/dep6fa9dd532/web

It clearly states that "Updates to apps on Shared iPad can be initiated only by the MDM solution that the Shared iPad is enrolled in."

Life saving.  😊

[Nicholaus]

Just for clarification since you were asking about iPadOS rather than app updates, these are the methods listed in the article for OS updates:

• The mobile device management (MDM) solution that the Shared iPad is enrolled in

• When physically connected to a Mac using Apple Configurator for Mac

• When physically connected to a Mac using the Finder