Adding non macOS devices to business.apple.com (ABM) and Apple School Manager (ASM) using Apple Configurator 2.5+
What
With iOS 11 and Apple Configurator 2.5+, it is possible to add non macOS devices to ASM and ABM. This means that devices which were not acquired via your Apple Purchasing Account tied to DEP can be now added manually by preparing the device using Configurator.
Requirements
- device running iOS 11.0 or greater
- device was never part of any Device Enrollment Program or device that got released/disowned from Device Enrollment Program
- ASM or ABM account with Administrator rights
For 30 days after device is added to DEP with Apple Configurator 2.5 a user has an option to "Leave Remote Management" on the device. Clicking this option will wipe the device and disown/release device from DEP. For this reason, try to keep the device for 30 days before deployment; this will mitigate the problem of users un-enrolling the device during that 30 day period.
Step-by-step guide
- Plug your device to machine running Apple Configurator 2.5+. Right click the device and press "Prepare". Check checkboxes as on the picture below. Press 'Next'.
- Select your MDM server. Press 'Next'.
- Select your organization. If you haven't configured one, you'll be asked to configure one (enter your ABM / ASM account credentials and sign in). Press 'Next'.
- Choose which steps will be presented to the user in Setup Assistant. Your DEP profile will overwrite what you select in this tab. Press 'Next'.
- Choose WiFi profile. Press 'Prepare'. If device is already activated you'll be asked for permission to erase the device.