WTSS17
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: mobile accounts on Sierra

I installed Sierra on a MacBook Pro with a mobile account. In the System Preferences/Users & Group, the mobile account settings button does not show. Furthermore it blocks the Macbook from reaching the home folder. All other functions seem to work fine. Tests with an alternate Mac computer on El Capitan works fine. 

MacBook Pro, OSX 10.12

Posted on Oct 20, 2016 11:47 AM

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WTSS17

Q: mobile accounts on Sierra

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  • by think.different,

    think.different think.different Oct 20, 2016 11:58 AM in response to WTSS17
    Level 4 (1,019 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 20, 2016 11:58 AM in response to WTSS17

    What to do mean by your installed it using a "mobile account". Do you mean you downloaded it from the Mac App Store by logging in with your Apple ID?

     

    The settings in System Preferences > Users & Group has nothing to do with your Apple ID, this is found under System Preferences > iCloud. The settings under Users & Group and the users that you have created accounts for on that specific computer, not people will only have one account there, but other like me will have accounts for other family members.


    If your Macbook can boot to the desktop, then it is reaching the home folder for the account that you are logging into.


    The Apple ID and user account are not tied together and are used for different things.

  • by WTSS17,

    WTSS17 WTSS17 Oct 20, 2016 12:21 PM in response to WTSS17
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 20, 2016 12:21 PM in response to WTSS17

    Our network is a Microsoft network. All of our computers are both Mac and PC are installed with a remote profile. In Mac terminology it is called a mobile account. The mobile account is a setting available when setting up accounts. The computer is first joined to the domain. Then option in that process turn on the mobile account function. When the account is created there is a button on the user account window to create the mobile account. That button should change to "Mobile Account Settings" when it is created. The settings button never shows up.  In setting there are selections for when to sync with the account server and what folders to sync with the account server.

  • by think.different,

    think.different think.different Oct 20, 2016 1:52 PM in response to WTSS17
    Level 4 (1,019 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 20, 2016 1:52 PM in response to WTSS17

    Thanks for the clarification and explanation – very useful, so the home folder is not the one of the MacBook but a home folder on the network. I've used mac's for 24 years but never in a corporate network environment and thus have never come across the term "Mobile account". In essence a mobile account lets you hot desk and your profile & settings can follow you around from computer to computer.

     

    Sadly on this occasion you have ended up teaching me something and not the other way around, sorry I couldn't have been more help. ;-)