Apple Issues 'Device Support Update' for macOS Big Sur

[MacRumors]

Apple today released a standalone "Device Support Update" for macOS Big Sur. The minor update ensures proper updating and restoring for iOS and iPadOS devices with a Mac, according to Apple, but no further details were provided.

It's likely that the update improves Finder support for newly released devices, including iPhone 13 models, the new iPad mini, and the ninth-generation iPad.

The update can be installed by clicking on the Apple logo in the macOS menu bar in the top-left corner of the screen, clicking on About This Mac, and clicking on Software Update. The update is listed with a file size of 195.6MB.

Article Link: Apple Issues 'Device Support Update' for macOS Big Sur

 

[asdex]

Also issued for Catalina 🙃

 

[Populus]

Hey Joe, is the build number the same as macOS 11.6? I’d like to perform a clean install and I’d like this to be included.

 

[opeter]

So if you don't use these devices, you don't need to install this update, right?

 

[MacinMan]

Are there special requirements to see the update? I have a late 2015 27" iMac running Big Sur 11.6, and it says I'm up to date. After reading the article, it suggests It should just show up on big sur machines.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

Hey Joe, is the build number the same as macOS 11.6? I’d like to perform a clean install and I’d like this to be included.

This is a standalone update showing up in Software Update. It doesn't affect/change the macOS build number as far as I am told.

 

[mwidjaya]

Going by issues with Apple software updates lately (Safari 15, iOS 15, etc), I am scared to apply this update.

 

[Populus]

This is a standalone update showing up in Software Update. It doesn't affect/change the macOS build number as far as I am told.

Thank you Joe

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I wonder if this update is necessary to install?

 

[MacinMan]

I wonder if this update is necessary to install?

It doesn't even show up for me, so that's why i asked if it's even available to everyone running big sur.

 

[mhoutman]

+1 for Catalina implementation. Some devices are shown with a question mark

 

[videosoul]

Since updating to iOS 15 I've had issues connecting to my Mac via AirDrop, and also at first approving Apple Pay payments on Mac via phone wasn't always working either. Let's see if this fixes it!

 

[cute-ladybug-2019]

Apple engineers have a lot of work to do after all this bug news.

 

[troublador]

Going by issues with Apple software updates lately (Safari 15, iOS 15, etc), I am scared to apply this update.

Strap on a pair and do it. I expect you'll survive somehow.

 

[B/D]

For the love of god Apple, just bring updates across the entire ecosystem and start to fix bugs, please,

 

[B/D]

Installed in a few seconds. No reboot necessary.

 

[MacinMan]

When was the Update released? I checked for updates this morning, after seeing the notification for this article. However at about 10 to 10 AM EDT, no updates are showing up for me. DO I already have it? is there a way to tell?

 

[DominikHoffmann]

Will this require a restart?

 

[DominikHoffmann]

Separate comment: I am hoping that this will fix the issue I had already seen in Catalina. What happened was that, when I was updating a device, including during the download of update content, I would be unable to enter any text anywhere from my keyboard. Mouse functionality continued to be available.

I had documented this in Feedback Assistant. It’s FB9434787. No response from Apple this far. I’ll just have to wait for the next iOS or iPadOS update to see, whether this issue is no longer there.

 

[Shirasaki]

So if you don't use these devices, you don't need to install this update, right?

Unlike Windows where Apple kind of still continue to “support” (a.k.a, sync function is still there) somewhat newer devices with old drivers, macOS device support gets cut off very aggressively and driver support tends to be strict.

Plus, there’s a non-zero chance those updates get bundled in a delta update somewhere down the line so you might already get it installed anyways.

 

[usagora]

So if you don't use these devices, you don't need to install this update, right?

Play it safe and just install it like any other update. Then you also don't have to keep seeing it every time you open Software Update

@trusso Really?

 

[usagora]

Will this require a restart?

No.

 

[gank41]

So if you don't use these devices, you don't need to install this update, right?

Well, I guess you don't have to, no. But this is an update to existing software, not a new installation of software. So I'd update just because I wouldn't want buggy software already on my machine...

 

[Bustycat]

So surprised that is not a 3 GB 11.6.1 package.

 

[gank41]

It doesn't even show up for me, so that's why i asked if it's even available to everyone running big sur.

It's still pretty early in the day (not even 9am CST), and sometimes MR & other sites gets informed of these things ahead of time. Sometimes. Plus, it can take some time for Apple's servers to start pushing this out, too.