Apple allows you to fully automate the MDM enrollment process for most of their devices using Automated Device Enrollment (ADE). In combination with the MDM, ADE allows you to customise and automate the device activation process without the need for an administrator to ever touch the device. To use ADE with your MDM of choice, the devices have to be purchased through an authorized reseller. The reseller can then add the devices to your Apple Business Manager (ABM) instance. There you can then assign them to your MDM servers. For devices that you already own or which were not purchased through a reseller that can add the devices to your ABM instance, there is a manual way to add them. The manual approach requires the use of Apple Configurator – either on an iPhone or Mac. The following steps describe how you can add an iPhone to ABM using another iPhone. It works exaclty the same when you want to add an iPad. I find these steps much easier than using a Mac to add a device to Apple Business Manager.
What you need to prepare and have ready before you begin
- An iPhone where you can install Apple Configurator
- An account in your Apple Business Manager with device enrollment manager permissions
- The factory reset iPhone or iPad you want to add to ABM
Before you begin, make sure to install Apple Configurator on your iPhone and login with your ABM account. After the login you should be presented with the below view. Notice the view finder in the center of the screen. We will use this view finder later on to scan the enrollment code.

Preparing Apple Configurator
- Tap on the cogwheel in the lower left corner
- Make sure the “Share Wi-Fi” is selected
- Make sure that “None” is selected under “MDM SERVER ASSIGNMENT”
- We will assign the device to the correct MDM server instance later
- Tap on “Done” in the top left corner
Adding the iPhone to Apple Business Manager
- Now get the iPhone or iPad you want to add.
- Turn on the iPhone and swipe up on the “Hello” Screen
- You will be presented with the language selection screen

- Continue the OOBE (out of the box experience) setup until you get to the Quick Start screen. There you will have to tap on Set Up Without Another Device

- Continue with the OOBE setup until you get to the Choose a Wi-Fi Network screen

- Now get the iPhone where you have previously installed Apple Configurator. When iPhone is in proximity, the screen on the device you want to add, should change to the below view.

- Make sure to position the image in the frame of the Apple Configurator to initiate the enrollment process into Apple Business Manager

- The enrollment process will beginn immediately

- Leave the iPhone with Apple Configurator open, unlocked and next to the device you are adding. If you close Apple Configurator to soon, the enrollment process will fail and you will have to repeate the whole procedure.
- When the enrollment process is finished, you will get the below screen showing that the iPhone was added to your ABM instance. Please tap on Erase iPhone to complete the enrollment to your ABM instance

You can now login to your ABM and assign the device to your MDM server instance.