Prerequisites: Choosing an Enrollment Path for Device Supervision
Depending on the types of devices you have available, device enrollment may look different.
Before skipping ahead to start backing up your data, you will need to determine how you will enroll your iPhone.
Step 1: Verify that You Have a Computer Available
It's possible to perform most of these steps without needing a separate computer, however, when it comes time to actually enroll your iPhone as a Supervised Device, you will need to plug your iPhone into a separate computer.
Step 2: Check Whether your Computer can Run the Required Software
If you have a Mac computer, you will be using a tool called Apple Configurator. It's free and easy to install on most Mac devices from the App Store.
If you have a Windows computer, you will need to use an alternative tool, since Apple Configurator is not available for Windows. The tool we recommend is called iMazing. It does require a one-time payment of around $50 to activate the software.
We've had a couple of people with Windows computers borrow a friend's Mac in order to enroll in Device Supervision to avoid paying for iMazing. In many cases, this should be fine, since you will only need Apple Configurator to initially to supervise.
Step 3: Ensure you can Connect the iPhone to your Computer
You will need to plug the iPhone into your Mac or Windows computer using the iPhone charging cable. Make sure that you have a compatible cable.
Step 4: Allocate Time for the Supervision Process
Expect to devote at least 1 hour to completing the supervision process from start to finish.
Next Up: Back Up Your iPhone's Data
tutorial
Backup the iPhone
Back up your iPhone's data to prevent data loss during this process.