Enrolling an iOS device using Apple Configurator 2

Apple Configurator 2 is a macOS application that allows for mass configuration of iOS 9+ devices when they are physically connected to a Mac computer. Mobile Guardian provides administrators the ability to enrol and supervise devices using this application.

 

What You Will Learn

• How to use Apple Configurator 2 for device enrollment
• The benefits of using Mobile Guardian for managing iOS devices

 

#Note: If your iOS devices are not in Apple's DEP, you can use this manual enrollment method (Apple Configurator 2) with the enrollment URL provided by Mobile Guardian.

 

Why Use Both Apple Configurator and Mobile Guardian?

Schools may choose to use both Apple Configurator and Mobile Guardian due to the extended functionality and ease of use. Here’s why:

 

• Physical Connection Requirement: Apple Configurator requires devices to be physically connected to the Mac computer for configuration. Once unplugged, the configurator cannot communicate with the device, presenting significant limitations and time-consuming processes for IT administrators.

 

• Over-the-Air Management: Mobile Guardian allows IT administrators to manage devices over the air, eliminating the need for physical connections. This includes installing applications, performing updates, and executing device actions such as locking the device and applying location-based configurations.

 

The benefits of Mobile Guardian become evident when considering the limitations of physically connecting devices for each change. For a school with over 1,000 devices, managing them solely through Apple Configurator would be impractical. Mobile Guardian streamlines this process, making it manageable and efficient.

 

By combining Apple Configurator for initial setup and Mobile Guardian for ongoing management, schools can achieve a comprehensive and efficient device management solution.

 

 

The following guide will show you how to enrol your devices using Apple Configurator 2:

 

Step 1:

Open your Mobile Guardian Dashboard and log in. 

On the left-hand side panel select “Devices”

On the drop-down menu below, select “Add new school device”

 

 

Step 2:

Select the iOS(Configurator) option on the new screen.

 

 

Step 3:

Ensure you copy the URL below to your clipboard so you can paste it into the appropriate field during the Apple Configurator 2 preparation step.

 

 

Step 4: 

Download the Apple Configurator 2 application from the Mac App Store if you haven't already. You can do this by clicking here. Once the app is downloaded, open it.

 

Step 5: 

• Open Apple Configurator 2 on your Mac.
• Connect the iOS devices to the Mac using a USB cable.
• In Apple Configurator 2, select the connected device/s which appears on the "All Devices" screen

 

 

Step 6:

You would then need to prepare Apple Configurator for your devices by clicking on the "Prepare" in the top bar within the Apple Configurator app.

 

 

#Note: This article demonstrates the manual process, so you should select the manual configuration option.

Step 7:

• Select "Supervise Devices" (important for setting up a supervised iOS device).
• Choose "Allow the device to pair with other computers" (optional but highly recommended).
• Click "Next" to proceed.

 

 

Step 8:

Select the “New server…” option in the dropdown. Then click Next.

 

 

Step 9:

Define a server by entering a name of your choosing.

We recommend using "Mobile Guardian" or “School Name” as the name so that you can easily identify the server's purpose. Then, paste the URL you copied from the Mobile Guardian dashboard in Step 3. Click "Next" to proceed.

 

 

Step 10:

Ensure you select the trust anchor certificate for the MDM server, *.mobileguardian.com and click Next

 

#Note: This certificate is essential for establishing a secure communication channel between the devices and the MDM server.

 

 

Step 11:

Choose "New Organization" only if you have not set up an organization before. If you already have an organization set up, you can proceed by clicking "Next."

 

 

Optional: Creating an Organization

To create an organization, you only need to fill in the name of your organization. The other fields are optional and can be left empty. Once you have entered the name, proceed to the next page by clicking "Next."

 

Step 12:

Configure steps you would like the iOS initial setup assistant to present to the user. Then Click “Prepare”

 

 

Once you’ve completed the previous steps, Apple Configurator will begin setting up the devices you selected initially or any you plug in subsequently. As these devices are configured, they will automatically appear on your Mobile Guardian dashboard.

Apple Configurator will now download and install the latest iOS version from Apple on the connected devices. Be patient during this process. All devices will be prepared with the specified settings, which include a factory reset. Your devices will then be at the iOS initial setup assistant "Hello" screen. You will need to configure each iOS device from this point and connect to Wi-Fi to receive the enrollment profile.

 

Follow these steps:

 

Initial Setup:

After the reset, you will see the "Hello" screen. Press the home button to start.

 

Configure Device:

Complete the necessary setup steps until you reach the Wi-Fi configuration.

 

Connect to Wi-Fi:

Select and connect to your Wi-Fi network. It's important to connect to an unfiltered network or one that does not block access to Apple's DEP server.

 

Apply Configuration:

You will see a screen asking if you want to accept the automatic configuration. Choose "Apply Configuration" to enroll the device in Mobile Guardian.

 

You can monitor the enrollment process in the Device List screen within Mobile Guardian.

 

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Thanks for reading! 😊