---
title: "SCPreferencesCreate(_:_:_:)"
framework: systemconfiguration
role: symbol
role_heading: Function
path: "systemconfiguration/scpreferencescreate(_:_:_:)"
---

# SCPreferencesCreate(_:_:_:)

Initiates access to the per-system set of configuration preferences.

## Declaration

```swift
func SCPreferencesCreate(_ allocator: CFAllocator?, _ name: CFString, _ prefsID: CFString?) -> SCPreferences?
```

## Parameters

- `allocator`: The allocator to use to allocate memory for this preferences session. If the value is not a valid CFAllocator, the behavior is undefined. Pass NULL or doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/CoreFoundation/kCFAllocatorDefault to use the current default CFAllocator.
- `name`: The name of the calling process.
- `prefsID`: The name of the group of preferences to be accessed or updated. A name that starts with a leading “/” character specifies the absolute path to the file containing the preferences to be accessed. A name that does not start with a leading “/” character specifies a file relative to the default system preferences directory. To access the default system preferences, pass in NULL.

## Return Value

Return Value A reference to the new preferences session. You must release the returned value.

## See Also

### Creating a Preferences Session

- [SCPreferencesCreateWithAuthorization(_:_:_:_:)](systemconfiguration/scpreferencescreatewithauthorization(_:_:_:_:).md)