Support tip: Move to declarative device management for Apple software updates

Silver Contributor

Jul 10, 2025

By: Benjamin Flamm – Product Manager | Microsoft Intune

Apple recently announced at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in June 2025 that mobile device management (MDM) software updates are deprecated in the upcoming Apple OS 26 versions. Instead, software updates will need to use declarative device management (DDM). In this blog, we want to provide you with everything you need to know to navigate this transition and easily manage software updates in DDM.

What is DDM?

DDM is an enhancement to Apple’s device management protocol that makes devices more proactive and autonomous, and this is perfectly highlighted by the major improvements that DDM brings to managing software updates. Previously, Intune had to send update commands and repeatedly check for the update status. With DDM, Intune simply tells the device the required OS version and the installation deadline, while the device proactively updates Intune on its progress from download to installation.

Move to DDM for software updates

The MDM software update features in Intune will initially be marked as ‘deprecated’ in the Intune admin center and support will end shortly after Apple OS 26 releases. Devices will ignore MDM update settings when DDM update settings are being enforced, so the only steps you need to do are to create your DDM update policies using the settings catalog. The following table lists the MDM software update features that’ll be unsupported later this year, along with the matching DDM feature that is currently available or coming soon.

Legacy MDM feature	New DDM feature
iOS/iPadOS update policies	Software Update or Software Update Enforce Latest settings, located in the settings catalog under Declarative Device Management (DDM): A screenshot of the Software Update setting in the Intune admin center. A screenshot of the Software Update Enforce Latest setting in the Intune admin center.
macOS update policies
iOS update installation failures report	Apple software update failures (Devices > Monitor) which is expected to release with Intune’s August (2508) service release.
macOS update installation failures report
Software updates report (macOS per-device)	macOS software updates (Devices > All devices, select a macOS device > macOS software updates) which is expected to release with Intune’s August (2508) service release. A screenshot of the new macOS software updates report in the Intune admin center.
macOS Settings catalog > Software Update payload and settings	Software Update Settings located in the settings catalog under Declarative Device Management (DDM): A screenshot of Software Update Settings in the Intune admin center.
Settings in the iOS or macOS ‘Device restrictions’ template

Settings catalog > Restrictions, software update delay settings

How do I manage software updates using Intune?

With Apple deprecating MDM software updates, DDM is the recommended method to manage software updates in your organization. For a thorough guide that highlights the differences between MDM and DDM, along with how to configure DDM software updates review: Managed software updates with the settings catalog.