Updating macOS by Sending a Mass Action Command

Jamf Pro Documentation 11.16.0

Solution

Application

Content Type

Technical Documentation

Utilities & Services

version

11.16.0

ft:locale

en-US

vrm_version

11.16.0

When you use a mass action command in Jamf Pro to update the operating system for computers not using the desired macOS target version, a workflow is initiated where multiple commands are used to query the device for available updates before a specific macOS update is scheduled in a separate command.

Target computers are instructed to scan for available software updates. Between 5-7 minutes after the scan is initiated, an AvailableOSUpdates command is queried. Then, Jamf Pro sends a ScheduleOSUpdate command.

For more information about how Jamf Pro manages software updates, see About software updates for Apple devices in Apple Platform Deployment.

Important:

Scheduling a macOS update with a mass action command overrides any deferral restrictions that may have been enforced by a configuration profile.

Requirements

Target computers with macOS 11 or later, supervised or enrolled via a PreStage enrollment in Jamf Pro
A valid push certificate in Jamf Pro

Note:

To have the update for computers with Apple silicon (i.e., M1 chip) installed automatically without user interaction, a Bootstrap Token for target computers must be escrowed with Jamf Pro. macOS will automatically request the Bootstrap Token from Jamf Pro to authorize updates that were scheduled to install.

In Jamf Pro, click Computers in the sidebar.
Click Search Inventory in the sidebar.
Select the name of the advanced computer search you created earlier.
Note:
If you created a smart computer group or a static computer group instead, navigate to the applicable group in the side bar.
Click View.
Click Action.
Select Send Remote Commands.
Click Next.
Under Remote Commands, select Update OS version and built-in apps.
Select one of the following for Target Version:
- To schedule updates for the latest non-major macOS version a computer reports as available, select Latest version based on device eligibility. To schedule updates for the latest major macOS version a computer reports as available, select the Include major updates, if available checkbox.
- To schedule updates for a specific macOS version, select Specific version and select the version from the pop-up menu.
  Note:
  Updating to a specific macOS version requires computers with macOS 10.15 or later. The version selected must be available and compatible for the target computers to install successfully.
Select one of the following for Install Action:
Important: When deploying a macOS upgrade that uses a full macOS installer (i.e., a major OS upgrade), select the Download and install the update, and restart computers after installation install action. Selecting a different install action will cause an error when sending the mass action command.
- To download the update on computers for users to install, select Download the update for users to install.
- To allow macOS to download and schedule an automatic update, select Download and allow macOS to install later. To specify the number of times a user can defer the update from being scheduled, enter an integer between 0–99 in the Max User Deferrals field.
  Important:
  When you configure the number of times a user can defer the update from being scheduled, enforcing the macOS update requires macOS 12 or later. Earlier versions of macOS will attempt to schedule an update without deferral options to enforce it.
- To download and install the update on computers automatically, select Download and install the update, and restart computers after installation.
To issue the remote command, click Next.
Important:
Computers may not install an update if there is not enough storage space to complete the update. Additionally, a scheduled update may not initiate until a computer is connected to power with at least 50 percent of battery power available.
Click Done.