---
title: "albert.apple.com: what it is and what breaks if you block it · Kilobat"
url: "https://kilobat.app/hosts/albert-apple-com"
description: "albert.apple.com is Apple's device activation host. When a Mac contacts it, and what breaks if you block it."
---

Security and accounts

# albert.apple.com

`albert.apple.com` is an Apple host for device activation. Apple lists it in Device setup, for every platform, on port 443.

Run by Apple · Ports: 443 TCP · Checked: 1 November 2026

## Short answer

Apple's device activation host, needed during setup and when installing, updating or restoring the operating system.

Don’t block

Don't block it. Setting up, restoring and some updates need device activation.

Matches

`albert.apple.com`

A name with `*.` covers every name under it: `*.push.apple.com` matches `1-courier.push.apple.com`.

## What it serves

Apple's enterprise host list names `albert.apple.com` for “Device activation”. It supports proxies.

Apple says that devices need the Device setup hosts during setup, and when installing, updating or restoring the operating system.

macOS has a daemon named `mobileactivationd`, started from `com.apple.mobileactivationd`. Apple publishes no man page for it and doesn't link it to this host.

## What breaks if you block it

Don’t block

Don't block it. Setting up, restoring and some updates need device activation.

What breaks if you block it

- Setting up or restoring a Mac may fail at activation.
- Installing or updating macOS may fail, since Apple lists it for those too.

With Kilobat Pro and the network filter, you can block a host for every app or for one app: in Connections, select a connection and choose Block. Apple’s own services are never blocked by Kilobat’s [Protection](https://kilobat.app/docs/blocking#protection) lists.

## Apple’s rules for its hosts

Apple’s list, [Use Apple products on enterprise networks](https://support.apple.com/en-us/101555), says that devices open these connections, not Apple’s servers. Apple services fail any connection that uses HTTPS interception, so a proxy that inspects TLS should leave Apple’s hosts alone.

If a firewall allows hosts by name, allowing `*.apple.com` covers most Apple services, Apple says. A firewall that works only with addresses can allow `17.0.0.0/8` for IPv4, and `2403:300::/32`, `2620:149::/32` and `2a01:b740::/32` for IPv6.

To see which app on your Mac opened a connection to this host, use Kilobat’s Connections tab, or the [agent network log](https://kilobat.app/docs/agents#agent-network-log) for AI agents.

## Sources

- [Apple Support: Use Apple products on enterprise networks](https://support.apple.com/en-us/101555)
- launchd property list com.apple.mobileactivationd, macOS 27.2

Checked on 1 November 2026.

## Related

- [gs.apple.com](https://kilobat.app/hosts/gs-apple-com): An Apple host that devices need during setup and for operating system updates. Apple lists it in both sections of its host list.
- [captive.apple.com](https://kilobat.app/hosts/captive-apple-com): Apple's internet connectivity check for networks with sign-in pages (captive portals). Kilobat uses it too.