Content types supported by content caching in macOS
Find out how content caching speeds up Apple software and iCloud downloads.
Content caching speeds up the Apple software downloads that are distributed over the internet. Content caching stores local copies of the software on your Mac, so the downloads are faster for connected clients.
Content types supported by the caching service
macOS includes built-in support for caching the following software.
macOS
macOS updates and Internet Recovery images*
System firmware and recovery updates
macOS installers downloaded from the App Store or
softwareupdate --fetch-full installer
Apps and app updates from the App Store
GarageBand downloadable content
iCloud data caching (photos and documents)
Apple Books content
Xcode downloadable components such as simulators (Xcode 10.2 or later)
Rosetta
Aerial screen savers and wallpaper
iOS, iPadOS, tvOS and visionOS
OS updates (over the air)
Aerial screen savers on Apple TV
Apps and app updates
On-demand resources support
iCloud data caching (photos and documents)
Apple Books content
Certain mobile assets, such as Siri high quality voices, language dictionaries and more
Schoolwork content, including file attachments and multimedia files added to assignments
watchOS
watchOS apps and app updates
iCloud data caching
Country and region restrictions
Not all content is cached in all regions.
App downloads are not cached in Brazil, Mexico, China mainland or Portugal. Apple Books downloads are not cached in Canada.
When macOS content caching is enabled, the IP address and region of a Mac computer are registered with Apple. To cache App Store content, the registered region of the macOS content cache must match the region of the client Apple Account.
Find out more
Find out more about content caching.
*After starting up from macOS Recovery over the internet, clients can use the cached image to install macOS and take other actions in Recovery.
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