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IntuneMacAdmins

How to deploy Files on a Mac

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.

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
  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 > Add
    • Select Line-of-business app
    • 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