How to deploy Files on a Mac

Learn how to deploy files on macOS devices using Intune.

Deploying files to Intune-managed macOS devices can be challenging. This guide will walk you through the process of creating a .pkg application to securely deploy your files on macOS devices.

This method is particularly useful for deploying files like fonts, Teams backgrounds, and license files.

Why Use This Method?

There are several advantages to using a .pkg application for file deployment:

• No need to host files remotely or in the cloud
• No need for secrets in scripts
• Increased security compared to public endpoints or Azure Blob Storage

The main potential disadvantage is the initial setup time, which takes about 10 minutes, and the requirement of a macOS device for packaging.

Creating the PKG Application

1. Create the folder structure

   • Organize your folders into two main directories: Content and Scripts
   • The Content folder will contain the files you want to deploy
   • The Scripts folder will contain the postinstall script
2. Create the postinstall script

   • Place the script in the Scripts folder
   • Make it executable with: chmod a+x postinstall
   • Remove any file extensions (e.g., .sh)
   • View the full postinstall script example
3. Execute pkgbuild to create the .pkg file

   • Run the following command in the terminal:

     pkgbuild --root Content --scripts Scripts --identifier com.yourdomain.yourapp --install-location /var/tmp --version 1.0 YourApp.pkg

   • Replace com.yourdomain.yourapp with your organization's identifier
   • Replace YourApp.pkg with the desired name for your .pkg file
4. Upload the .pkg file to Intune

   • Go to the Microsoft Intune portal
   • Navigate to Apps > All apps > Create
   • Select macOS app (PKG)
   • Upload your .pkg file
   • Configure the app settings as needed
   • Assign the app to your desired groups or users
5. Deploy the app to your devices

   • The app will be installed on the devices in the assigned groups or users
   • The files will be deployed to the specified location on the devices

You can also use this method to deploy other types of files, such as scripts or configuration files.