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Set time server and time zone on Mac using configuration profile

Accurate time is crucial for a variety of functions on your computer, including ensuring that your files are properly stamped with the correct date and time and synchronizing events with other devices. Setting the correct time server and time zone ensures that SSL certificates are properly validated, and secure connections are established. Also, having accurate time and date settings can help ensure that all Macs in your organization use the same time and date information, which is important for tasks such as scheduling appointments, managing deadlines, and more.
However, setting the time server and time zone manually for each device can become a cumbersome process. Using custom configuration profiles for macOS devices, you can do so easily from your Hexnode UEM portal.

Disclaimer:

The sample configuration profiles provided below are created using various profile creator applications.

Set time zone and time server

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> 
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> 
<plist version="1.0"> 
    <dict> 
        <key>PayloadContent</key> 
        <array> 
            <dict>
                <key>PayloadDescription</key>
                <string>Configures Time Server settings</string>
                <key>PayloadDisplayName</key>
                <string>Time Server</string>
                <key>PayloadIdentifier</key>
                <string>MacBook-Air.2C5A9723-BDD1-4A62-9088-56CCE6AF6B93</string>
                <key>PayloadOrganization</key>
                <string>Organization Name</string>
                <key>PayloadType</key>
                <string>com.apple.MCX</string>
                <key>PayloadUUID</key>
                <string>5BD459A1-8E73-45FC-AD5E-D93690D7BEBA</string>
                <key>PayloadVersion</key>
                <integer>1</integer>
                <key>timeServer</key>
                <string>time.apple.com</string>
                <key>timeZone</key>
                <string>Australia/Sydney</string>
            </dict>
        </array>
        <key>PayloadDescription</key>
        <string>Sets the time server and time zone</string>
        <key>PayloadDisplayName</key>
        <string>Set Time Server and Time Zone</string>
        <key>PayloadIdentifier</key>
        <string>MacBook-Air.2C5A9723-BDD1-4A62-9088-56CCE6AF6B93</string>
        <key>PayloadOrganization</key>
        <string>Organization Name</string>
        <key>PayloadScope</key>
        <string>System</string>
        <key>PayloadType</key>
        <string>Configuration</string>
        <key>PayloadUUID</key>  
        <string>4298B8DF-B500-4966-B494-EC0A4B7FE23F</string>  
        <key>PayloadVersion</key>  
        <integer>1</integer>  
</dict>  
</plist>

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

<dict>

<key>PayloadContent</key>

<array>

<dict>

<key>PayloadDescription</key>

<string>Configures Time Server settings</string>

<key>PayloadDisplayName</key>

<string>Time Server</string>

<key>PayloadIdentifier</key>

<string>MacBook-Air.2C5A9723-BDD1-4A62-9088-56CCE6AF6B93</string>

<key>PayloadOrganization</key>

<string>Organization Name</string>

<key>PayloadType</key>

<string>com.apple.MCX</string>

<key>PayloadUUID</key>

<key>PayloadVersion</key>

<key>timeServer</key>

<string>time.apple.com</string>

<key>timeZone</key>

<string>Australia/Sydney</string>

</dict>

</array>

<key>PayloadDescription</key>

<string>Sets the time server and time zone</string>

<key>PayloadDisplayName</key>

<string>Set Time Server and Time Zone</string>

<key>PayloadIdentifier</key>

<string>MacBook-Air.2C5A9723-BDD1-4A62-9088-56CCE6AF6B93</string>

<key>PayloadOrganization</key>

<string>Organization Name</string>

<key>PayloadScope</key>

<string>System</string>

<key>PayloadType</key>

<string>Configuration</string>

<key>PayloadUUID</key>

<key>PayloadVersion</key>

</dict>

</plist>

In the above configuration profile,

Set the <key>timeServer</key> key to any valid Network Time Protocol (NTP) server that is used to set the time on macOS devices. For example, time.apple.com (Apple NTP server), stime.windows.com (Microsoft NTP server), etc.
Set the <key>timeZone</key> key to any valid time zone that you want to use on macOS devices. For example, Asia/Kolkata, Europe/London, etc.

Notes:

To create and customize configuration profiles, you can use tools like Apple Configurator, Profile Manager or manually create them using text editors.
Use non-encrypted .mobileconfig, .xml, or plist files to deploy profiles across devices.
Ensure that you do not associate conflicting configurations with the devices.
Use wildcards to fetch key values from the portal.
It is recommended to manually validate the configuration profile on a system before executing it in bulk.
Hexnode will not be responsible for any damage/loss to the system on the behavior of the configuration profile.

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