Apple School Manager is a service that allows educational institutions to manage Apple devices, apps, and accounts. It provides a centralized platform for IT administrators to deploy and manage Apple products efficiently. This article will guide you through the process of setting up and managing Apple School Manager.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Apple School Manager

1. Sign Up for Apple School Manager

• Visit the Apple School Manager website.
• Click on "Enroll now" and follow the on-screen instructions.
• Provide the necessary information about your institution and agree to the terms and conditions.

2. Create Managed Apple IDs

• Log in to Apple School Manager with your administrator credentials.
• Navigate to the "Accounts" section.
• Select "Create Apple IDs" and fill in the required details for students and staff.
• You can also import user data via a CSV file to create multiple accounts simultaneously.

3. Configure Device Management

• Go to the "Settings" section and select "Device Management Settings."
• Choose your Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution from the list of supported providers.
• Follow the instructions to link your MDM server with Apple School Manager.

4. Assign Devices to MDM

• In the "Devices" section, you can see all the devices associated with your institution.
• Select the devices you want to manage and assign them to your MDM server.
• This ensures that the devices are automatically enrolled in your MDM solution during setup.

5. Deploy Apps and Books

• Navigate to the "Apps and Books" section.
• Purchase the necessary apps and books for your institution.
• Assign these apps and books to specific devices or users through your MDM solution.

Examples

Example 1: Creating Managed Apple IDs via CSV Import

1. Prepare a CSV file with the following headers:

   FirstName,LastName,Email,Role

   Example CSV content:

   John,Doe,john.doe@school.edu,Student
   Jane,Smith,jane.smith@school.edu,Teacher

2. Log in to Apple School Manager and navigate to "Accounts."

3. Click on "Import" and upload your CSV file.

4. Follow the prompts to complete the import process.

Example 2: Assigning Devices to MDM

1. Log in to Apple School Manager and go to the "Devices" section.
2. Select the devices you want to assign.
3. Click on "Edit Device Management" and choose your MDM server from the list.
4. Confirm the assignment.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Issue: Unable to sign in to Apple School Manager.

  • Solution: Ensure that you are using the correct Apple ID and password. If you have forgotten your password, use the "Forgot Apple ID or password" link to reset it.

• Issue: Devices not appearing in Apple School Manager.

  • Solution: Verify that the devices are purchased through an authorized Apple reseller and are associated with your institution's Apple Customer Number.