Device workflow in Apple School Manager
Overview
Apple School Manager provides a fast, streamlined way for you to deploy Apple devices that your organization purchases directly from Apple, a participating Apple Authorized Reseller, or an authorized cellular carrier. You can automatically enroll devices in a device management service without having to physically touch or prep the devices before users get them. And with your device management service, 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 five steps to complete before you can start managing devices.
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 Vision Pro, Apple Watch. See Manage device suppliers.
Step 2: Link to an external device management service
You need to link to at least one external device management service 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 a device management service
After a device appears in Apple School Manager, you need to assign it to a device management service. You can manually assign a device to a device management service or set up automatic assignment. See Assign, reassign, or unassign devices.
Step 5: Enroll a device in a device management service
Organizations can enroll devices in a device management service and apply management policies to them. You can automatically enroll devices you own, or users can enroll their devices manually. When a user enrolls their device, the device management enrollment configuration assigns it to a device management service and adds it to the device list in Apple School Manager.