Apple Now Issues Mac-iOS Device Syncing Updates Via Software Update

[MacRumors]

Late last month, Apple issued an unusual standalone software update to macOS users called "Device Support Update," which it said was to "ensure proper updating and restoring for iOS and iPadOS devices with Mac."

While no other details were provided, it was assumed that the update added support for recently released devices, including iPhone 13 models, the new iPad mini, and the ninth-generation iPad. Still, the update was the first of its kind to come through System Preferences -> Software Update, which made some users curious about it.

Usually when you connect an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to a Mac, a dialog pops up from an app called MobileDeviceUpdater that says "A software update is required to connect" to your iOS device. This normally happens when the device has been independently updated with a newer version of iOS or iPadOS that the Mac doesn't recognize, indicating that the download is required for your Mac to communicate with the device.

It looks as if Apple has now chosen to reduce the reliance on MobileDeviceUpdater by automatically delivering these downloads when they are ready via Software Update, so users no longer have to wait until they plug in an iOS device to get what is now referred to as a "Device Support Update." The change is likely an effort to reduce the frequency of the MobileDeviceUpdater dialog popping up upon connecting a device, which may strike some users as some sort of malware.

The change was helpfully confirmed by Tidbits' Adam Engst, who sat on the mysterious Device Support Update for a week or two to verify what it was.

I got that chance today when I plugged in my iPad Pro and got the usual MobileDeviceUpdater dialog. I made sure that Software Update was still offering me Device Support Update, and then I allowed the MobileDeviceUpdater dialog to update my Mac. After closing and reopening Software Update, the Device Support Update option was gone, confirming that they're one and the same.

As Engst notes, this isn't an earth-shattering discovery, but it's good to know what happens when installing future Device Support Updates from Software Update: They don't require a reboot, and users will still get a MobileDeviceUpdate dialog the next time they plug in their device if they haven't got around to installing the update.

Article Link: Apple Now Issues Mac-iOS Device Syncing Updates Via Software Update

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Nice! This can come in handy.

 

[Macropanda]

Maybe they can now concentrate on getting the entire Sync function to work correctly like it did Pre Feb 2020.

 

[Mockletoy]

I thought this was unusual the first time I got it. Then I got it again a couple of days later, which seemed even more odd. I let it install the second time and it’s been quiet since.

 

[Shirasaki]

Wonder how far back Monterey can support devices now. First generation iPhone? iPod classic?
Also it seems syncing from iTunes to music app doesn’t pop up “you can only sync with one library“ option anymore.

 

[bobnugget]

Not just Big Sur - also got this on Mojave, which appears to be out of support otherwise.

 

[ghanwani]

Didn't know there were folks that still plug in their iPhones and iPads into their Macs for anything but charging.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

That's all fine that they changed the install method, but it failed repeatedly after I got my Mini. The prompt for installation of the odd update popped up after my third attempt to setup the new Mini. It even happened, and failed, while I was on the phone with Apple support. The 'agent' didn't know what that app was, and why it was failing. Odd that Apple changes the way they distribute those device updates, and their support people don't know what it is too...

It finally installed, and might be why the Mini was able to be setup, but it was all really odd to have the Mini not setting up, and an 'update' that Apple support has no clue of also failing, and no idea how to 'force' the update to install, or have access to a standard install image to get it installed. The popup was rather nebulous as to what that app was for, as I remember, and added an odd twist to the problem I was having, and Apple support didn't know if that was why it wasn't cooperating for the setup. Weird... I would have thought they would know that the 'device support update' was installing, and how to handle it if it wasn't installing correctly. It might be a 'better way' to distribute the updates in the future, but it failed for me for some reason...

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Didn't know there were folks that still plug in their iPhones and iPads into their Macs for anything but charging.

I did to do a restore after two attempts to set it up. I couldn't get past the iCloud Account verification step. Nothing worked. Even three restores were unsuccessful, until the support agent tried a bunch of other stuff.

 

[Phil77354]

I hadn't even noticed this particular update and had to check my iMac to see if it had been installed - looks like it was included in latest Big Sur update.

Only really applies to users who connect their iPhone or iPad devices to an iMac or MacBook, either for charging or for some other reason? I seldom do that, these days.

 

[B4U]

Sadly, this broke the Configurator 2 that I have been using.
The iPad Air 4 is no longer showing up correctly after that update. ?

 

[Macropanda]

Didn't know there were folks that still plug in their iPhones and iPads into their Macs for anything but charging.

I still do for photos and music.

Music - I have loads of CDs ripped and dont really listen to new music so not paying Apple Music for what I already have.
Photos - I'll use iCloud Photo Library If/when they they give an option to move photos to an album instead of just a reference to it. I take a lot of photos and the only way of know which pics aren't in an album is to go to a Mac and create a smart album.

I think there aren't many people like me left though. Sync has been broken for 2 years now and its barely mentioned online.

 

[svish]

Good to know about the change in update method

 

[hybrid_x]

Since iTunes/Music is no longer used to manage devices, they obviously have to push out an update to the OS to allow Finder-level device management, instead of pushing out an update to iTunes.

 

[xpxp2002]

This update did also add support for the iPhone 13 models and iPad mini to macOS. The icon that showed in Finder for these devices was a generic "paper" page prior to installing.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Since iTunes/Music is no longer used to manage devices, they obviously have to push out an update to the OS to allow Finder-level device management, instead of pushing out an update to iTunes.

But it was so much easier back then.

 

[hybrid_x]

I just had to connect my phone to my old Mac mini to do a backup, wipe, and restore. The phone was stubbornly not relinquishing local storage space after I archived a whole ton of photos from iCloud, so I had to go scorched-earth.

I thought doing a cable-connected local backup would have saved an image of everything, and spared me the headache of having to download all my apps again from the App Store, but nope… that's apparently how it's done now. Save the data only, then restore fresh copies of the apps directly from the store.

 

[xpxp2002]

I just had to connect my phone to my old Mac mini to do a backup, wipe, and restore. The phone was stubbornly not relinquishing local storage space after I archived a whole ton of photos from iCloud, so I had to go scorched-earth.

I thought doing a cable-connected local backup would have saved an image of everything, and spared me the headache of having to download all my apps again from the App Store, but nope… that's apparently how it's done now. Save the data only, then restore fresh copies of the apps directly from the store.

iTunes stopped backing up apps with device backups 4 years ago. When device backups were moved from iTunes to Finder, that functionality was not reintroduced.

Apple Releases iTunes 12.7, Removes iOS App Backups

Apple rolled out iTunes 12.7 on Tuesday with support for iOS 11, but it also does away with a couple features many users rely on.

www.macobserver.com

 

[jazz1]

Wonder how far back Monterey can support devices now. First generation iPhone? iPod classic?
Also it seems syncing from iTunes to music app doesn’t pop up “you can only sync with one library“ option anymore.

Good question! I just sent an old 30GB iPod for a battery replacement, just for old times sake.

 

[dlopan]

About time

 

[MysticCow]

I wish this update would trickle down to 10.13. Really tired of seeing this crap come up and it never installs fully/correctly.

 

[brunerd]

I found myself wondering what site I was on when I read this! This was like a well written macadmins Slack thread. ? (and I can dig it)

 

[camelia]

I hadn't even noticed this particular update and had to check my iMac to see if it had been installed - looks like it was included in latest Big Sur update.

Only really applies to users who connect their iPhone or iPad devices to an iMac or MacBook, either for charging or for some other reason? I seldom do that, these days.

Hello,

Did you check?
Which version of Big Sur you have installed?

Thanks
Camelia

 

[Ubuntu]

Maybe they can now concentrate on getting the entire Sync function to work correctly like it did Pre Feb 2020.

IKR, I've had to use it a few times and it's just so much worse.

 

[Phil77354]

Hello,

Did you check?
Which version of Big Sur you have installed?

Thanks
Camelia

I have macOS Big Sur version 11.6, which is the latest, I believe.