We have iPads supervised through Apple Business Manager and enrolled in Intune as their MDM. We appear to be using Apple's newer Declarative Device Management approach for operating system updates, but only one iPad has updated during the past year. The rest are significantly behind even though they check in with Intune at least weekly. The update option has also disappeared from Settings, so users cannot start updates manually. What configuration or device conditions should I check? I'm fairly new to managing iPads, but this seems abnormal.
4 Answers
Make sure the devices are in the correct update group or ring and compare the DDM policy assigned to a working iPad with one that is stuck. It is also worth checking whether an older software-update policy is still assigned alongside the DDM policy, because conflicting or legacy settings can interfere with the newer update process.
For shared iPads, updates generally need the device to be connected to power and Wi‑Fi, with every user signed out. A device can check in successfully and still not install an update if it is actively in use or has no external power.
Check whether the DDM policy is targeting a specific OS version instead of the latest available version. Also verify the enforcement date—if that date has already passed, you may need to select the desired OS again and set a new enforcement time. Review the update settings as well, since an option may be configured as disallowed rather than allowed.
Storage and hardware compatibility can also be the issue. Some 32 GB iPads may need roughly 15–18 GB of temporary free space for an over-the-air update, which is difficult if the device has a large app or system footprint. Confirm that each model supports the target iPadOS version and check available storage; devices that cannot free enough space may need to be updated manually from a Mac.
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