Device workflow in Apple School Manager
Apple School Manager provides a fast, streamlined way for you to deploy Apple devices that your organization has purchased directly from Apple, a participating Apple Authorized Reseller, or an authorized cellular carrier. You can automatically enroll devices in your mobile device management (MDM) solution without having to physically touch or prep the devices before users get them. And with your MDM solution, you can further simplify the setup process for users by removing specific steps in Setup Assistant, so users are up and running quickly.
After you sign up for Apple School Manager, you have 4 steps to complete before you can start managing devices.
See the Deployment Guide for iPad and Mac in education to learn more about deploying Apple devices successfully in your learning environment for both one-to-one and shared deployments.
Step 1: Link to Apple or to a participating reseller
If you link your Apple Customer Number or Reseller Number to Apple School Manager, after the linking is complete, any orders of the following devices appear automatically in Apple School Manager: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro. See Manage device suppliers.
Step 2: Link to a third-party MDM solution
You must link to at least one third-party mobile device management (MDM) solution in Apple School Manager before you can begin assigning devices.
Step 3: Add your devices to Apple School Manager
Devices purchased with your Apple Customer Number or Reseller Number appear automatically in Apple School Manager. You can also manually add devices you own using Apple Configurator. See Add devices from Apple Configurator.
Step 4: Assign a device to an MDM server
After a device appears in Apple School Manager, you must assign it to an MDM server. You can manually assign a device to an MDM server or set up automatic assignment. See Assign, reassign, or unassign devices.
Step 5: Enroll a device in MDM
Devices can now be enrolled in MDM, so that management policies can be applied. You can automatically enroll devices you own, or users can enroll their devices manually. When users enroll their device, that device is assigned to MDM and added to the device list in Apple School Manager.