Caching Service

Mac OS X Sierra Server

Provide caching service

After you start caching service, you can:

  • Customize the service for your network

  • Customize the cache file location

  • Choose the maximum cache size

  • Cache iCloud content

  • Clear the cache

You can decide what network the caching clients can connect from. See Server access overview.

To learn more about how caching service works, and best practices, see About caching service.

You can find the current list of supported content types in the Apple Support article Content types supported by the caching service.

If you provide caching service for clients with public IP addresses, you need to add or edit a DNS TXT record for your Caching Server. See Enable caching service discovery across multiple public IP addresses.

Now available in macOS High Sierra and later, and can be found in System Preferences

What is content caching?

Content caching is a macOS service that helps reduce internet data usage and speed up software installation on Mac computers, iOS and iPadOS devices, and Apple TV. 

Content caching speeds up downloading of software distributed by Apple and data that users store in iCloud by saving content that local Mac computers, iOS and iPadOS devices, and Apple TV devices have already downloaded. The saved content is stored in a content cache on a Mac, and is available for other devices to retrieve without going out over the internet.

Content types supported by content caching in macOS

Learn how content caching speeds up Apple software and iCloud downloads.

Content caching speeds up the Apple software downloads that are distributed over the Internet. Content caching stores local copies of the software on your Mac, so the downloads are faster for connected clients.

Content types supported by the caching service

macOS includes built-in support for caching the following software.

macOS

  • macOS updates and Internet Recovery images (macOS 10.13.5 or later)

  • Apps and app updates from the Mac App Store

  • GarageBand downloadable content

  • iCloud data caching (photos and documents)

  • Apple Books content

  • Xcode downloadable components such as simulators (Xcode 10.2 or later)

iOS 7 and later and Apple TV

  • iOS updates (over the air)

  • Apple TV updates (over the air)

  • Apple TV screensavers (tvOS 12.2 or later)

  • iOS apps, Apple TV apps, and app updates

  • On-demand resources support for iOS 10 and later and tvOS 10 and later.

  • iCloud data caching (photos and documents) for iOS 9 and later

  • iTunes U course materials from the iOS App Store and Apple Books, as well as uploaded instructor materials such as audio, video, iWork, and iBooks Author files

  • Apple Books content

  • Certain mobile assets, such as Siri high quality voices, language dictionaries, and more

R.W. Sanders