Issue
An administrator wants to understand where Automox obtains third-party application updates and how those updates are applied — including why some applications, such as Microsoft Office, update through a different mechanism than others.
Environment
- Automox (current agent release)
- Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Third-party software titles
Overview
Automox delivers third-party application updates using each software vendor's own official installer, and always will attempt to target the latest supported version of a title. How an update is applied depends on the application: for most titles Automox deploys the vendor's package directly, while for some — such as Microsoft Office — Automox works with the application's own built-in update mechanism.
Where updates come from
Automox obtains third-party updates from the software vendor's official source and applies them using the vendor's own installer, complying with that installer's requirements. This is why an updated title on a device matches the vendor's official release.
How updates are applied
The update mechanism depends on the title:
- Automox deploys the vendor's package. For most titles, Automox installs the vendor's update package directly. For example, Google Chrome for Windows is patched directly by Automox rather than through Google's built-in updater. The package formats supported per operating system are listed on the Third-Party Software Support page.
- Automox works with the application's own updater. Some applications update through their own mechanism rather than a standalone installer. On Windows, Microsoft Office / Microsoft 365 uses Click-to-Run; on macOS, Office updates run through Microsoft AutoUpdate. For these titles, Automox initiates the application's built-in update process instead of deploying a separate installer.
Some applications can only be updated when they are not in use, or must be closed for the update to complete. For that behavior, see How Automox Patching Handles Communication Apps and Active Calls
Automox always targets the latest supported version
Automox aims to deliver the latest supported version of a title, subject to the installed architecture and edition (for example, 32-bit versus 64-bit builds can differ). If a newer version is publicly available from the vendor but is not showing as available in Automox:
- Confirm the device has completed a recent scan and that the title is not set to Ignored.
- Review the device's Details → Software section to see the version currently offered (Installed Version vs Available Version).
- If the newer public version still does not appear, raise a support ticket with Automox so the catalog entry can be reviewed and updated. Include the title, the version expected, and a sample device name/ID.
Notes
- Automox delivers the vendor's own installer and honors its requirements; some titles require specific install parameters or can only update when closed. See the Third-Party Software Support and Patching Third-Party Applications – Tips & Tricks pages for per-title notes.
- On Linux, third-party software is updated through the device's own package manager or configured repositories rather than a package delivered by Automox.