Updates and downloads

gdmf.apple.com

gdmf.apple.com is an Apple host for the software update catalog. Device management services use it to find which updates are available. gdmf-ados.apple.com does the same for additional components.

Run by ApplePorts: 443 TCPChecked: 1 November 2026

Short answer

Apple's software update catalog host. Device management services also ask it which updates are available.

Don’t block

Don't block it. Software Update and device management can't see which updates exist.

Matches
gdmf.apple.com gdmf-ados.apple.com

A name with *. covers every name under it: *.push.apple.com matches 1-courier.push.apple.com.

What it serves

Apple's enterprise host list names gdmf.apple.com in its Software updates section, as the “Software update catalog”, for iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS and macOS.

In its Device management section, Apple says that management services use it to find which software updates are available to managed devices.

gdmf-ados.apple.com is listed as the “Software update catalog for additional components”, for iOS, iPadOS and macOS, and it supports proxies.

Processes that use it

softwareupdatedPart of macOS. It checks for and downloads macOS updates, security responses and system files.Process →

What breaks if you block it

Don’t block

Don't block it. Software Update and device management can't see which updates exist.

What breaks if you block it

  • macOS may not find software updates.
  • On a managed Mac, the management service may not see or enforce updates.
  • Updates for additional components may not be found.

With Kilobat Pro and the network filter, you can block a host for every app or for one app: in Connections, select a connection and choose Block. Apple’s own services are never blocked by Kilobat’s Protection lists.

Notes

To delay updates on a hotspot, turn off automatic downloads in Software Update. Blocking the catalog stops all updates.

Apple’s rules for its hosts

Apple’s list, Use Apple products on enterprise networks, says that devices open these connections, not Apple’s servers. Apple services fail any connection that uses HTTPS interception, so a proxy that inspects TLS should leave Apple’s hosts alone.

If a firewall allows hosts by name, allowing *.apple.com covers most Apple services, Apple says. A firewall that works only with addresses can allow 17.0.0.0/8 for IPv4, and 2403:300::/32, 2620:149::/32 and 2a01:b740::/32 for IPv6.

To see which app on your Mac opened a connection to this host, use Kilobat’s Connections tab, or the agent network log for AI agents.

Sources

Checked on 1 November 2026.