This behavior is usually related to the Automated Device Enrollment profile assigned to the Mac.
Check the following settings in the ADE profile:
1. Skip the Software Update pane
– Open the ADE/DEP enrollment profile.
– Go to the Setup Assistant section.
– Under Skip Setup Items, make sure Software Update is selected.
If Software Update is not selected, macOS may show the software update pane during Setup Assistant and expect the user to interact with it.
2. Review Await Device Config
– If Await Device Config is enabled, the Mac can remain on the Remote Management or configuration screen until initial MDM configuration is completed.
– If there are required apps, profiles, or update-related commands queued during enrollment, this can make onboarding feel delayed.
– If faster access to the desktop is the priority, try disabling Await Device Config so users can proceed while configurations continue installing in the background.
3. macOS 14 and later limitation
On macOS 14 and later, Apple may still require a Critical Software Update during enrollment if the device firmware or system software needs an important security update. This is enforced by macOS at the system level and cannot be bypassed by Hexnode or any other MDM.
Regards,
Mary Romero