Apple Configurator 2...?

[Brimstone]

Yet another question, hopefully an easy one. What do I need to do in Apple Configurator so that the iPads can still be plugged in to any computer and have people access the internal storage?

 

Under the blueprint I'm applying, in the 'prepare' options I've made sure that the option for pairing with other computers is ticked. Also in the profile I'm applying I've ticked the option for 'allow pairing with non configurator hosts'

 

However, when a user plugs the iPad into a computer they get the message 'This iPad is supervised with another computer' (in iTunes). On a Windows computer, I can see the iPad is connected, I can browse to its internal storage, but it appears empty (and there is no prompt on the iPad to allow access to the storage). On a non-supervised iPad, if I plug it in to a Windows computer the internal storage appears empty also, but on the iPad you get a prompt to allow access and once you've said yes to that you can see the contents of the iPad.

 

All I want to do is allow teachers to easily get content off the iPads.

 

 

 

Plenty of cloud options without connecting to a desktop...

 

Google Drive, DropBox, One Drive, iCloud Drive I could go on....

[Baron_Von_Tito]

You should just be able to connect the iPads and apply the updated blueprint, though. You'll need to confirm overwrites, but that should 'just work'?

 

Nope. Attempted that, tells me the iPads have already been prepared, asks me whether I want to restore. If I do that, it then starts completely from the beginning, downloading iOS etc. This takes over an hour for each set of iPads. Absolute pain in the arse if I'm just trying to add one new app!

[bnew]

Plenty of cloud options without connecting to a desktop...

 

Google Drive, DropBox, One Drive, iCloud Drive I could go on....

 

Yes there are, and we are using Google Drive. However our internet link here isn't great, so being able to access something like a video file locally rather than going via 'the cloud' makes a lot of sense.

[dry]

Am I being thick or is it really such a pain to add additional apps to iPads after they've been prepared/blueprinted once?

 

I've added maybe 4 apps to our base blueprint, and I'm then plugging iPads into our macbook and applying said blueprint to get the new apps and homescreen layout etc applied. It's reinstalling every app on the iPad when I do this and taking an age!

 

Surely there's a way to just add new apps to the iPads without reinstalling every other app? Is it a case of making a new blueprint for every round of new apps that I need to add, and applying that? Can you even apply multiple blueprints to one iPad?!

[Garacesh]

Try not to consider blueprints like profiles. Instead, consider them nothing more than a combined set of install/configuration instructions. If the blueprint says "Install X, Y, Z apps", then it will do just that, regardless of if they already exist or not.

[Strawdog]

This is because you're adding the apps to a blueprint and then reapplying that blueprint (i.e. it then applies everything within that blueprint).

 

If you just want to add a few extra apps, to iPads that have already had a master blueprint applied, use the Actions->Add->Apps menu option.

[dry]

Try not to consider blueprints like profiles. Instead, consider them nothing more than a combined set of install/configuration instructions. If the blueprint says "Install X, Y, Z apps", then it will do just that, regardless of if they already exist or not.

 

This is because you're adding the apps to a blueprint and then reapplying that blueprint (i.e. it then applies everything within that blueprint).

 

If you just want to add a few extra apps, to iPads that have already had a master blueprint applied, use the Actions->Add->Apps menu option.

Thanks both. I'll add the apps via 'Actions>Add>Apps'. Is it possible to apply a home screen config without reapplying the entire blueprint in this case? How do you mitigate against kids rearranging app locations on the homescreen, creating folders etc? Thanks.

[Strawdog]

Unfortunately you can't lock down the home screens, we have the same problem (apparently endlessly renaming folders with emoji is the most entertaining thing to happen in education for years - along with taking photos of yourself, the person sat next to you, the inside of the case, the table, etc.)

 

You can use Actions->Modify->Home Screen Layout to modify them on the fly but I generally just wait until a set has been really hammered and then just flatten the lot and reapply a blueprint.

 

Just be glad they've finally locked down setting passcodes as that was a massive pain in the ass.

[dry]

Unfortunately you can't lock down the home screens, we have the same problem (apparently endlessly renaming folders with emoji is the most entertaining thing to happen in education for years - along with taking photos of yourself, the person sat next to you, the inside of the case, the table, etc.)

No joke, I've just found about 6 iPads with emojji folders and ALL apps put into that folder. What do these kids do all lesson?!

 

Thanks for the tip about editing each home screen individually.

[Strawdog]

I think the better question is - what do the teachers do all lesson?

[dry]

Posting this incase anyone experiences similar.

 

Added a couple of apps and installing the latest iOS to a couple of iPads today and got an error message stating "An unexpected error has occurred with these 2 iPads. The operation couldn't be completed. (AMRestoreErrorDomain error 14 - Failed to handle message type StatusMsg) [AMRestoreErrorDomain - 0xE (14)]". Interestingly, looking at the screenshot of the error message that I got at this point, the WiFi icon looks normal, showing connected.

 

Tried restoring the iPads instead (as they'd got stuck on installing iOS and I knew the installation was screwed regardless of what I did) to no avail. Restarted the Macbook and tried again. No luck. Noticed the WiFi icon on the MBP looked funny and hovering over it revealed the message 'WiFi: No hardware installed'. Followed this guide over on How-To Geek which solved that problem.

 

I then updated Configurator 2 (which also required an update to iTunes) and hey presto, I was back in business.

 

Hope this helps if anyone else gets stuck.

Edited September 14, 2016 by dry

[fredbayker]

[emoji106]

[Joanne]

QUESTION!!

 

I wanna wipe my devices (with Apple Configurator) will it automatically pull the app licenses off them? I tried to remove apps without wiping devices, but it didn't work. I need to start from scratch using the VPP account and then they don't constantly come up asking for an itunes password!

[PR-UK]

As long as you wipe them using Apple Configurator (and not from the iPad or iTunes) it will pull the license back into Apple Configurator.

[Joanne]

As long as you wipe them using Apple Configurator (and not from the iPad or iTunes) it will pull the license back into Apple Configurator.

 

That's what Apple said, but I was dubious!!

 

Gonna take the plunge soon.

[Brimstone]

QUESTION!!

 

I wanna wipe my devices (with Apple Configurator) will it automatically pull the app licenses off them? I tried to remove apps without wiping devices, but it didn't work. I need to start from scratch using the VPP account and then they don't constantly come up asking for an itunes password!

 

If you've not been using VPP to install the apps and just a personal Apple ID, or dare I say it a single iTunes account then they belong to the Apple ID used to install them, not the school and will dissapear.

[Joanne]

If you've not been using VPP to install the apps and just a personal Apple ID, or dare I say it a single iTunes account then they belong to the Apple ID used to install them, not the school and will dissapear.

 

I've been using VPP managed distribution

[Joanne]

Right I've done a test iPad with my KS1 blueprint. It has installed 4 apps and then the others are 'greyed' out and if you press them it says "waiting..." and doesn't install it. I definitely have licenses (they are all free) tried rebooting to no avail.

 

Used Apple Configurator 2.

 

Any ideas?

[Joanne]

is it because I'm not signed in with an apple ID?

[Jehanzeb]

Few queries on Apple Configurator 2, it is driving me nuts with setting up iPad Mini wallpaper and Device name on the iPad wallpaper. Firstly the perspective zoom automatically switches on so regardless of what resolution/size wallpaper I chose, it shows all pixelated on iPad Mini after supervised. Apple Configurator 1.7 was perfect but since the stupid MacOS update I no longer able to use it, it crashes when I click on it.

 

1. How can I disable the perspective zoom when supervising iPads? So that the wallpaper and device name appear properly. The wallpaper is too pixelated and the device name is so small that it doesn't look proper.

2. How can I unsupervise iPads? There is no reference to unsupervise devices?

3. When the School supervised Apple Certificate is pushed, it says it is expired on 16/02/16. How can I update the certificate?

4. Most iPads were supervised but some complain the School configuration cannot be setup (reason: invalid profile).

5. When preparing AppleTV, When I click on update/change name it does not work on AppleTV name setup. The only way I found that works is, connect the AppleTV click restore then unplug and plug then change the AppleTV name and then click prepare device.

Lastly, where can I get the Apple Configurator 1.72 version and if there isn't any, how can I make the 1.7 to work on MacOS?

 

Many thanks for your kind assistance in advance.

 

Kindest regards

 

J

[Garacesh]

1. How can I disable the perspective zoom when supervising iPads? So that the wallpaper and device name appear properly. The wallpaper is too pixelated and the device name is so small that it doesn't look proper.

No idea what you're talking about. Maybe your wallpaper isn't a high enough resolution and it's being stretched, giving it a pixellated effect? That's just a guess, though. The text on the lock screen ("Managed by $Organisation" etc) is tiny. I haven't found a way to change that. I don't think such a way exists.

 

2. How can I unsupervise iPads? There is no reference to unsupervise devices?

Connect them to your Configurator machine, right click, Restore. This returns them to their unsupervised 'factory' state.

 

3. When the School supervised Apple Certificate is pushed, it says it is expired on 16/02/16. How can I update the certificate?

Generate a new one and push that out the same way you did the first?

I presume we're going to have to do that when the certificate for our proxy expires. If there's a better way, I'd love to hear it.

 

4. Most iPads were supervised but some complain the School configuration cannot be setup (reason: invalid profile).

Not a clue. Sorry. My guess would be Restore them, then try Supervising them again. See what happens.

 

5. When preparing AppleTV, When I click on update/change name it does not work on AppleTV name setup. The only way I found that works is, connect the AppleTV click restore then unplug and plug then change the AppleTV name and then click prepare device.

See: "It's a feature."

I noticed that, too. You can't rename AppleTV's with configurator, even though it gives you the option. Also you can apply a bunch of iPad settings that don't do anything because it's not an iPad. Go figure.

 

Lastly, where can I get the Apple Configurator 1.72 version and if there isn't any, how can I make the 1.7 to work on MacOS?

To what purpose do you need an older version? Configurator 2 works just fine for us. I haven't noticed it missing any features from Configurator 1.

[Jehanzeb]

Thank you Garacesh for your kind and prompt reply. The wallpaper has a high resolution I am using iOS 7 clouds wallpaper http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aat6x-HJTt8/VTXHe4UlrVI/AAAAAAAAAR4/OJLxoUvnXnc/s1600/2572080-101@2x~iphone.png

 

This was not the issue with AC 1.72, the wallpaper was setup perfectly fine with high resolution, I didn't change the wallpaper instead using the same. With regards to the name of iPad it was setup in bigger font size in AC 1.72 but with AC2 it is setup so tiny. Hence my willingness to go back to 1.72.

 

I generated the Apple cert first time, back in '14 can't remember how to re generate. The proxy certificates from RM has a expiry date of 2030 and so as our SW filter but with Apple it's already expired.

 

Thank you for the other responses, as with Apple TV is I found a way of setting up the name first and then hit prepare sets up the name of the device.

 

Kindest regards

 

J.

[Garacesh]

This was not the issue with AC 1.72, the wallpaper was setup perfectly fine with high resolution, I didn't change the wallpaper instead using the same. With regards to the name of iPad it was setup in bigger font size in AC 1.72 but with AC2 it is setup so tiny. Hence my willingness to go back to 1.72.

Huh. I must've missed those options when I was using it. Ah well, can't miss what you never had.

As for the wallpaper, no idea. We use the iOS 10 default beach wallpaper and it looks fine.

 

I generated the Apple cert first time, back in '14 can't remember how to re generate. The proxy certificates from RM has a expiry date of 2030 and so as our SW filter but with Apple it's already expired.

I can't remember exactly how to do it, but I remember with our proxy certificate I needed to use a program to import the certificate into a keychain, and then export it from that keychain, else the iPads wouldn't take it.

[Brimstone]

1. How can I disable the perspective zoom when supervising iPads? So that the wallpaper and device name appear properly. The wallpaper is too pixelated and the device name is so small that it doesn't look proper.

No idea what you're talking about. Maybe your wallpaper isn't a high enough resolution and it's being stretched, giving it a pixellated effect? That's just a guess, though. The text on the lock screen ("Managed by $Organisation" etc) is tiny. I haven't found a way to change that. I don't think such a way exists.

 

This is known issue since iOS7 the best way to do this is use the resolutions below..

 

 

• 1024×768 pixels : iPad, iPad 2, iPad mini (non-retina)
  
• 2048×1536 pixels : iPad Air, retina iPad mini and iPad (3rd–4th generation), all of which have Retina display
  

 

2. How can I unsupervise iPads? There is no reference to unsupervise devices?

Connect them to your Configurator machine, right click, Restore. This returns them to their unsupervised 'factory' state.

 

3. When the School supervised Apple Certificate is pushed, it says it is expired on 16/02/16. How can I update the certificate?

Generate a new one and push that out the same way you did the first?

I presume we're going to have to do that when the certificate for our proxy expires. If there's a better way, I'd love to hear it.

 

Just fire up Configurator delete the cert, quit and launch again...?

 

4. Most iPads were supervised but some complain the School configuration cannot be setup (reason: invalid profile).

Not a clue. Sorry. My guess would be Restore them, then try Supervising them again. See what happens.

 

An invalid profile normally means that you have supervised profile restrictions trying to be applied to an unsupervised iPad

 

5. When preparing AppleTV, When I click on update/change name it does not work on AppleTV name setup. The only way I found that works is, connect the AppleTV click restore then unplug and plug then change the AppleTV name and then click prepare device.

See: "It's a feature."

I noticed that, too. You can't rename AppleTV's with configurator, even though it gives you the option. Also you can apply a bunch of iPad settings that don't do anything because it's not an iPad. Go figure.

 

Known issue, no fix for this

Lastly, where can I get the Apple Configurator 1.72 version and if there isn't any, how can I make the 1.7 to work on MacOS?

To what purpose do you need an older version? Configurator 2 works just fine for us. I haven't noticed it missing any features from Configurator 1.

 

You can't get 1.72 at all and even if you do it will more than likely crash on MacOS

[Jehanzeb]

You can't get 1.72 at all and even if you do it will more than likely crash on MacOS

I found that out after upgrading to annoying MacOS.

 

Would you know how can I migrate the Apple Configurator 1.72 profile onto my old MacBook with El Capitan on please? I have 1.72 on MacBook and I think the only way is to just migrate profile over to it from iMac and start using MacBook.

 

Kindest regards

 

J.