Time Machine device management payload settings for Apple devices

You can configure Time Machine settings for users of a Mac that enrolls in a device management service. Use the Time Machine payload to define the location and options for Time Machine backups on managed Mac computers.

The Time Machine payload supports the following. For more information, see Payload information.

Supported payload identifier: com.apple.MCX.TimeMachine
Supported operating systems and channels: macOS device.
Supported enrollment methods: Device Enrollment, Automated Device Enrollment.
Duplicates allowed: False—only one Time Machine payload can be delivered to a device.

You can use the settings in the table below with the Time Machine payload.

Setting	Description	Required
Backup location	URL of the backup destination.	Yes
Back up all volumes	All mounted volumes can be backed up by default. If unchecked, only the Startup Volume is backed up.	No
Back up system files and folders	macOS system files and folders can be backed up.	No
Enable automatic backups	Backups can be handled automatically, instead of having users perform them manually.	No
Enable local snapshots	Time Machine creates local backup snapshots if the backup destination is offline (OS X 10.8 or later).	No
Backup size limit	Enter a limit in megabytes for the size of the backup. Leaving this value blank or entering a zero places no limit on the amount of data backed up.	No
Paths to skip	Enter additional volumes and locations to exclude from the backup.	No

Note: Each device management service developer implements these settings differently. To learn how Time Machine settings are applied to your devices, consult your developer’s device management service documentation.

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Apple Platform Deployment

Time Machine device management payload settings for Apple devices