I have noticed some installed profiles in Apple Menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security > Profiles on my MacBook Air used for work, What are these configuration profiles? Can I delete them and is it safe to remove them?
Is your Mac device managed by a company, school, or other organizations? Those profiles are used to configure Mac computers to interact with servers on a school or workplace network.
An essential part of every device management strategy are configuration profiles. Simply put, they are XML files that let administrators send configuration data to Apple devices. Think of these profiles as the behavior and attribute blueprints for your device.
When you begin to deploy configuration profiles, you’ll often find that the different adjustable parameters available in System parameters (or System Preferences on previous OS) are directly correlated with the components of configuration profiles. For instance, you can upload an image to set as your wallpaper in System Settings. Similarly, you can make a wallpaper configuration profile, upload an image, and then (under supervision) distribute that profile across several devices.
A configuration profile related to a service you have stopped using, out-of-date, or interfering with other profiles can be removed. But note that eliminating a profile also eliminates all of its settings. If your email or wireless connection settings were set up using the profile, deleting it will also erase those settings and prevent you from using those services.
Here’s how to change Profiles settings on Mac:
- On your Mac, open the Apple menu > System Settings.
- Scroll down the left sidebar and choose Privacy & Security, then click Profiles on the right.
- Click the Add button and add a profile, or, click the Remove button to delete a profile.
You might have a managed Mac if you are unable to remove a profile. To find out more, contact a system administrator at the school or organization that gave you the computer. Only your Mac’s system administrator is able to delete some profiles.
Profiles are configuration files that allow IT administrators or users to control various settings on a Mac. These files can include network settings, VPN configurations, Wi-Fi access, email settings, and specific system permissions. Profiles are typically used in business or educational environments, but they can also be useful for personal use to ensure consistent configurations across devices.
The common types of configuration profiles that serve different purposes includes network profiles, security profiles, and software settings profiles, you can manually install them or use an MDM solution. Mostly, these profiles are used for enterprise and school environments, remote workers, and paternal controls.
Administrators can, for instance, create profiles that set up Mac devices to communicate with servers on a network at work or school. One or more profiles can be made available to users. Users can also have a profile installed, which gives you the option to install more profiles automatically.
Thanks for all the kind explanations! I am going to the unused profiles on my Mac.