what is a device support update? MacBook Pro running Big Sur

Apple has released an update for Macs running Big Sur relating to updating and restoring iPhones and iPads using Finder. The update is called a "Device Support Update" and weighs in at approximately 200MB. Rather than a fix, this update likely adds support for new devices such as the iPhone 13 and iPad mini.Sep. 30, 2021

sistersue1967 wrote:

this comes up on my update search with an update under it. Do I need this and what is it's purpose?

It is typically advised to stay current with the updates...

P. Phillips has a better idea then me what it was...

I do see from the Terminal.app it is in the my list:

softwareupdate --history

Display Name Version Date

------------ ------- ----

Safari 14.0 09/16/2020, 16:23:27

HP Printer Software Update 5.1 10/24/2020, 11:08:53

macOS 11.0.1 11.0.1 11/24/2020, 17:47:37

macOS Big Sur 11.1 Update 11.1 12/14/2020, 14:30:32

macOS Big Sur 11.2 Update 11.2 02/01/2021, 22:51:23

macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 02/10/2021, 03:17:45

macOS Big Sur 11.2.3 11.2.3 03/11/2021, 04:11:53

macOS Big Sur 11.3 11.3 04/27/2021, 11:38:15

macOS Big Sur 11.3.1 11.3.1 05/04/2021, 05:43:23

macOS Big Sur 11.4 11.4 05/24/2021, 19:14:37

macOS 11.5 11.5 07/22/2021, 02:46:04

macOS Big Sur 11.5.1 11.5.1 07/26/2021, 19:39:48

macOS Big Sur 11.5.2 11.5.2 08/11/2021, 17:16:08

macOS Big Sur 11.6 11.6 09/13/2021, 16:01:34

Safari 15.0 09/20/2021, 14:51:44

Device Support Update 09/30/2021, 09:13:01

macOS 12.0.1 12.0.1 10/25/2021, 15:14:14

it may not be mission critical to your workflow, but the update may haunt you until you install it.