---
name: "automount"
section: "8"
platform: "macos"
package: "autofs"
version: "322"
release: "macOS 26.5"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/automount"
---

# automount(8)

mount autofs on the appropriate mount points

## NAME

**automount** – mount autofs on the appropriate mount points

## SYNOPSIS

**automount** \[**-v**\] \[**-c**\] \[**-u**\] \[**-t** *timeout*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**automount** reads the */etc/auto\_master* file, and any local or network maps it includes, and mounts autofs on the appropriate mount points to cause mounts to be triggered. If the auto\_master file does not exist or is empty and a Directory Service is configured, the service will be queried for an auto\_master map. It will also attempt to unmount any top-level autofs mounts that correspond to maps no longer found.

## OPTIONS

- **-v**

  Print more detailed information about actions taken by **automount**.

- **-c**

  Tell [automountd(8)](/automountd/8.md) to flush any cached information it has.

- **-u**

  Unmount all non-busy automounted mounts. Top-level triggers are preserved.

- **-t** *timeout*

  Set to *timeout* seconds the time after which an automounted file system will be unmounted if it hasn't been referred to within that period of time.  The default is 1 hour (3600 seconds).

## FILES

- */etc/autofs.conf*

  configuration file for automount and automountd.

- */etc/auto\_master*

  The master map contains a list of directories to be controlled by autofs and their associated direct map or indirect maps.

## SEE ALSO

[auto\_master(5)](/auto_master/5.md), [automountd(8)](/automountd/8.md), [autofs.conf(5)](/autofs.conf/5.md)