Background Security Improvements support
A Background Security Improvement is a type of software release for applying security fixes to users more frequently by not requiring a full software update. These responses are included in any ensuing minor update (not upgrade).
Background Security Improvements deliver important security improvements—for example, improvements to the Safari web browser, the WebKit framework stack, or other critical system libraries. They may also be used to more quickly mitigate some security issues, such as those that might have been exploited or reported to exist in everyday situations.
New Background Security Improvements are delivered only for the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
Background Security Improvements that involve the operating system require the device to restart. For a Mac, the applied operating system content may be made available to Safari and its associated processes with just a relaunch of those processes, though a restart is required to make this content broadly available to the rest of the operating system.
Background Security Improvements also don’t adhere to the managed software update delay; however, because they apply only to the latest minor operating system version, if that minor operating system update is delayed, the response is also effectively delayed. If necessary, the user can also remove the responses.
By default, a device automatically applies Background Security Improvements. If necessary, a prompt appears asking to restart the device.
When a Background Security Improvement has been applied, a letter appears after the software version number, as in this example: macOS 13.3.1 (a).
If the user chooses to turn off this setting or not to apply Background Security Improvements when they’re available, the device receives relevant fixes or mitigations when they’re included in a subsequent software update. When device management is used to manage software updates, it can also manage Background Security Improvements. Background Security Improvements don’t adhere to the managed software update deferral. Because they apply only to the latest minor operating system version, if that update is deferred, the Background Security Improvement is also effectively deferred.
Organizations can define whether Background Security Improvements are automatically applied and specify whether users are allowed to remove them after they’ve been applied.
How to turn on and view any Background Security Improvements
On iPhone or iPad:
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Background Security Improvements, and make sure that Automatically Install is turned on. If installed, the latest Background Security Improvement will appear on that screen.
On Mac:
Choose Apple menu > System Settings Privacy & Security > Background Security Improvements, and make sure that Automatically Install is turned on. If installed, the latest Background Security Improvement will appear on that screen.
How to remove a Background Security Improvement
If a recent Background Security Improvement might be causing an issue, you can help users remove it. When you remove a Background Security Improvement, you remove all Background Security Improvements that have been applied since the last software update.
User’s can apply or reapply available Background Security Improvement until the next software update is released.
On iPhone or iPad:
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Background Security Improvements, tap the Info button next to the version number, tap Remove and Restart, then tap to confirm.
On Mac:
Choose Apple menu > System Settings Privacy & Security > Background Security Improvements, click the Info button next to the version number, click Remove and Restart, then click to confirm.