Use configuration profiles to standardize settings on Mac computers
Configuration profiles let you standardize settings for Mac computers. For example, an administrator can set up profiles that configure Mac computers to interact with servers on a school or workplace network.
A configuration profile can contain settings for a user’s Mail account, Wi-Fi settings, VPN settings, and more. Configuration profiles can work on Mac computers, iOS and iPadOS devices, Apple Watch, and Apple TV.
Your network administrator might provide you with one or several profiles, or provide you with a profile that, once installed, allows your administrator to install additional profiles automatically.
If you have a Mac with Apple silicon and you receive an enrollment profile, it’s a good idea to contact your network administrator for instructions on how to install it. If you’re a network administrator and need information about setting up managed computers and installing enrollment profiles, see the Deployment Reference for Mac.
For information about Apple’s privacy policy, see the Apple Privacy Policy website.
Install a configuration profile you’ve received
On your Mac, to open the profile in Profiles preferences (where you can review information about it), do one of the following:
If the profile is attached to an email, open the attachment.
If the profile is posted on a website, download the profile from the website and open it.
Click Install to install the profile on your Mac.
You may be asked to supply your password or other information during installation.
If an earlier version of a profile is already installed on your Mac, the settings in the updated version replace the previous ones.
View an installed configuration profile
On your Mac, choose Apple menu
If you haven’t installed any configuration profiles, Profiles preferences isn’t available.
Select a profile in the Profiles list to view information about it.
Remove a configuration profile from your Mac
On your Mac, choose Apple menu
If you haven’t installed any configuration profiles, Profiles preferences isn’t available.
Select a profile in the Profiles list, then click the Remove button
.
When you remove a profile, all of its settings and information are deleted. For example, if the profile set up your email account, removing the profile deletes the account information from your Mac.
If you can’t remove a configuration profile, ask for help from the person who provided the profile.
If you’re a Mac app developer looking for information about provisioning profiles, see Create a development provisioning profile.