iOS Recommendation Cadence: Configure and Manage in Microsoft Intune

When Apple introduces a new major iOS version, typically around mid-September, they continue supporting the previous major version for some time. For example, as of this writing, iOS 18 is about to be released within two weeks. Once available, users can upgrade to iOS 18 or remain on iOS 17 temporarily, ensuring stability and compatibility with essential apps. During this period, Apple provides critical security and stability updates for both versions, allowing users to safely stay on iOS 17 while still receiving updates.

For enterprises, this feature is especially valuable as ensuring the stability of major releases is crucial for maintaining productivity across mobile platforms.

Apple introduced the ability to manage this update cadence in 2022 through a feature called Recommendation Cadence. While simple to configure, this feature has significant benefits.

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Note that devices must be supervised, meaning they need to be enrolled via Apple Business Manager. For more details, refer to this guide.

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Intune Configuration

The settings for Recommendation Cadence can be found in the Settings Catalog found Microsoft Intune Admin Center → Devices → Configuration profiles → Create profile → iOS/iPadOS → Settings catalog.

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Search for "update" in the Settings Picker to locate the "Managed Settings Software Update Settings" section.

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Here, you will find the Recommendation Cadence setting with three options:

• Presents the lower numbered (oldest) software update version: Ideal for allowing users to remain on the older version while receiving patches.
• Presents both options to the user: Allows users to choose between the latest and previous major versions.
• Presents only the highest numbered (most recent) release available for the device: Forces users to upgrade to the latest version.

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Scope and assign this configuration as you would with other Intune policies.

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Device Changes

Visible changes on devices occur when a new major release becomes available and Apple continues supporting the lower version. If only one major version is available, users will see a standard update message.

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Ready to Release

When you are ready to move users to the new major version, update the Recommendation Cadence setting. You can either present both options to users or require them to upgrade to the latest version by selecting the appropriate option in Intune.

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Conclusion

Recommendation Cadence is a valuable addition to Apple’s enterprise OS update management capabilities. It enables organizations to delay adopting a new major iOS release until stability and compatibility are confirmed while ensuring devices remain secure with critical updates.

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