Late final month, Apple issued an unusual standalone Computer software replace to macOS clients referred to as “System Assist Update,” which it said was to “enconstructive right updating and restoring for iOS and iPadOS mannequins with Mac.”
Whereas no completely different particulars have been provided, it was assumed that the replace added support for recently launched mannequins, collectively with iPhone 13 fashions, The mannequin new iPad mini, and the ninth-period iPad. Nonetheless, the replace was The primary of its type To return by way of System Preferences -> Software Update, which made some clients by it.
Typically Everytime you join an iPhone, iPad, or iPod contact to a Mac, a dialog pops up from an app referred to as MobileSystemUpdater That says “A Computer software replace is required To join” to your iOS device. This usually occurs when the device has been independently up So far with A extra moderen mannequin of iOS or iPadOS that the Mac Does not acknowledge, indicating that the acquire is required In your Mac To converse with the device.
It appears as if Apple has now chosen To Scale again the reliance on MobileSystemUpdater by mechanically delivering these acquires As quickly as they’re ready by way of Software Update, so clients Not Want to attend till they plug in an iOS device to get What’s now Usually acknowledged as a “System Assist Update.” The change Is in all probability going an effort To Scale again the frequency of the MobileSystemUpdater dialog popping up upon joining A device, Which might strike some clients as some Kind of malware.
The change was helpfully confirmed by Tidbits’ Adam Engst, who sat on the mysterious System Assist Update for Every week or two to confirm what it was.
I acquired that probability right now As quickly as I plugged in my iPad Professional and acquired The regular MobileSystemUpdater dialog. I made constructive that Software Update was still offering me System Assist Update, After which I allowed the MobileSystemUpdater dialog to replace my Mac. After closing and reopening Software Update, the System Assist Update selection was gone, confirming That they are one and The identical.
As Engst notes, That might not an earth-shattering discovery, However It is good to know what occurs when placing in future System Assist Updates from Software Update: They do not require a reboot, and clients will still get a MobileSystemUpdate dialog The subsequent time they plug Of their device In the event that they’ve not acquired round to placing in the replace.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2021/10/21/device-support-update-macos-software-update/