Change MDM server with Apple ADE

ADE or Automated Device Enrollment is Apple’s enrollment method to enroll organization-owned Apple devices into MDM. ADE utilizes the capabilities of Apple Business allowing organizations to assign, reassign, or unassign devices into their MDM. If you are planning to migrate your devices from any MDM solutions to Hexnode, you can reassign device licenses to the Hexnode server. Also, Apple Business allows you to assign licenses to different servers within the same MDM solution. In this way, an organization can change the MDM server associated with their devices in just a handful of steps.

Default MDM Server Assignment

Through Apple Business, you can assign default MDM servers to Apple devices based on their device type. For instance, you can configure all newly added iPads to be automatically assigned to a default MDM server, while directing all Macs to another.
Here’s how you can assign the devices of different types to default MDM servers:

1. Log in to your Apple Business portal.
2. Go to Devices > Management Services.
3. Select Default Device Assignment.
4. You can use the drop-down menu next to each device type to assign a default MDM server for that specific device category.

Edit MDM server of devices

In Apple Business, you can edit the MDM server assignment to manually assign or reassign devices to a different MDM server. Note that the server to which the devices are to be assigned or reassigned should be already linked with Apple Business using a secure token. In order to assign/reassign licenses,

1. Log in to your Apple Business account.
2. Click Devices > Inventory. Search and select the required devices from the list. You can filter devices based on their source, order numbers, device types, etc.
3. Then, click on Assign corresponding to the Assign Device Management option.
4. Next, from the Device Management Service dropdown, and choose the required MDM server to which the devices are to be assigned.

Unassign/Release devices from MDM Server

You can unassign devices from an assigned MDM server by following the steps below,

1. Go to Devices > Inventory in your Apple Business portal and click on the device you want to unassign.
2. Then, select the ‘Unassign from the current MDM’ option (this option will not be available if you’re choosing a device that is not assigned to any MDM servers).

You can also release devices in Apple Business if they have been lost, sold, or repaired,

1. Go to Devices > Inventory and select the device(s) you want to release from Apple Business.
2. Then, select Release from Organisation.
3. Read the warning, check the I understand box, and click Release.
4. Select Done once it is complete.