This article applies to desktop versions of the Webex App. The following articles are about managing mobile versions of Webex:

Webex App customers have the opportunity to access desktop app update controls which will allow you to choose how often Webex App is updated for your users, providing you with the option to update the app monthly or quarterly. By default, Webex App desktop updates are published every month. This will allow the number of updates presented to users to be reduced if desired.

We're also enabling you to defer the deployment of these updates by up to 4 weeks for the monthly cadence or up to 2 weeks for the quarterly cadence to enable your business to complete any required validation of the software update. This deferral window will allow the administrator to pass any required internal validation checks and also allow for the creation of any collateral to support a company wide update or roll out of Webex.

This balanced approach empowers administrators to meet the needs of stakeholders such as their Security Team, but at the same time realize the benefits of managed continuous delivery.

In Control Hub, administrators can review when any updates are scheduled to roll out to their organization, according to the cadence and deferral options which have been chosen. As normal, end users will receive the standard update icon in Webex and the app will continue to auto update on restart.


 

These features give you control over your regular Webex software updates. Please note that we occasionally need to apply critical patches to all users with immediate effect. We consider such patches to be outside the scope of normal upgrades, and they cannot be controlled by your upgrade schedule or deferral preference.

Updated Software updates for Webex App settings in Control Hub.

The desktop app update controls for the Webex App has moved from the Messaging section to Organization settings. In addition, these are the changes to how the controls work:

  • 1 month frequency is now called Latest (cadence).

  • 3 month frequency is now called Slow (cadence), and the behavior changed from 3 months to a 4 months frequency. Organizations that need to control updates due to security or change controls in their environment can utilize this channel to manage updates within their environment. This change is in line with how the current slow channel works for Webex Meetings sites.

    • Slow channel (cadence) is only available by request. If you want to request access to slow channel (cadence) for Webex App updates for your organization, reach out to your Cisco representative or Cisco support.

       

      Changes you make in this configuration will take effect immediately. If an update is available, clients will begin getting the update configuration over the next 24 hours.

      For example, if you select the latest Cisco controlled channel and a newer client version is available than what your organization is on, then the client updates will be triggered within 24 hours.

  • Partners can now configure the desktop app update controls for all of their customers or for specific customers.

  • Partners can now block or allow their customers from making changes to desktop app update controls.

  • Administrators can now configure specific users to always receive the latest automatic updates (with no deferral) from Cisco, regardless of the organization configuration. This setting does not apply until after the software update configuration has moved to the Organization settings tab. If the setting is still in the Messaging tab, then the new setting doesn't apply to your organization yet.

Known issues

The current version and updated dates are only correctly reflected if the same channel (automatic, latest, or slow) is selected at the time of the last update. Those values should be ignored if a different channel is selected.

  1. Sign in to Control Hub and go to Organization Settings > Software updates for Webex app.
  2. Choose from the following:
    • Automatic software updates (Controlled by Cisco)—Your users are automatically updated each month when the desktop app update becomes available.
    • Custom update schedule—You can decide when your users are updated using the following options:
      • Frequency—Choose from the options available, your users are updated using this frequency.

        • Latest—1 month.

        • Slow—4 months.

      • Deferral period—You can optionally choose a deferral period. When the desktop app update is available, your deferral window begins and your users are automatically upgraded when the deferral window ends.

    The next scheduled upgrade is calculated and shown in Control Hub.

  3. Click Download Webex builds to see the desktop app updates that are available.

 

The Webex Meetings experience in the Webex App is controlled by the Meetings site version. Meetings site updates are configured separately.

If this setting is still in the Messaging tab, then the update schedule changes mentioned earlier in this article doesn't apply to your organization yet and you must continue to follow these steps.

Before you begin

  • The desktop app update schedule is for every user in your organization.

  • Desktop app updates are supported for up to 3 months and 2 weeks.

  • There is no option to revert users to earlier desktop app updates.

1

Sign in to Control Hub and go to Messaging > Webex app software release management.

2

Choose from the following:

  • Automatic software updates (Controlled by Cisco)—Your users are automatically updated each month when the desktop app update becomes available.
  • Custom update schedule—You can decide when your users are updated using the following options:
    • Frequency—Choose from the options available, your users are updated using this frequency.

      • 1 month

      • 3 months

    • Deferral period—You can optionally choose a deferral period. When the desktop app update is available, your deferral window begins and your users are automatically upgraded when the deferral window ends.

The next scheduled upgrade is calculated and shown in Control Hub.
3

Click Builds available for download to see the desktop app updates that are available.


 

The Webex Meetings experience in the Webex App is controlled by the Meetings site version. Meetings site updates are configured separately.