DoIT Departmental Tech Support - Nudge Overview (macOS)

Beginning with macOS 10.14 "Mojave", Apple has made a series of changes to macOS's managed update platform which have introduced inconsistencies in how macOS updates can be applied centrally by IT administrators. These changes make it difficult to create a uniform macOS update strategy across UW’s diverse fleet of Macs. To help address this, DoIT Departmental Support has implemented "Nudge", an application that delivers user-facing update prompts, to encourage users to keep their Departmental Support-managed Macs up-to-date and to provide users a more consistent macOS update experience.

How does it work?

Nudge applies to Departmental Support-managed Macs running macOS 11 "Big Sur" or later. On the third Tuesday of each month, if an update to macOS is required, users will receive a notification prompting them to update their device. The notification will detail what action is needed from the user to begin the update process on the particular version of macOS that is installed on the system. This notification will always include the UW-Madison crest. This process only applies to operating system updates; updates to third-party applications, such as Firefox or Excel, can still be delivered in the background without user intervention needed.

Monterey Nudge Notification Example

What do I have to do?

Once the Nudge notification appears, users may defer installing the update for a maximum of 7 days, after which Nudge will blur the Mac's background screen until the user clicks "Update Device" and chooses to install the update specified in the Nudge notification. macOS updates take 15 to 30 minutes to apply and will require a reboot. If Nudge indicates that an update is required but that update version doesn't appear in System Preferences after clicking "Update Device", try rebooting your Mac and attempt to install the update again.

Exception Requests

If Nudge notifications impact your ability to perform work duties, please contact the Help Desk to request an exception from the Nudge software. Please include your computer name and business justification for exemption to expedite evaluation of your request.

See Also