Supervised mode for iOS devices
This article explains what iOS Supervised mode is, how the supervised mode differs from unsupervised, why to supervise your devices, and how to do it. Supervision is a special mode that helps schools and businesses to better manage their iOS devices giving administrators more control over the device's configuration and restrictions. By default, iOS devices aren't supervised.
Unsupervised vs. supervised - why supervise your devices?
Supervised mode enables the extra features for devices owned by the organization or institution. Without supervision, an administrator has limited management of company-owned devices. It is not possible, for example, to install apps silently, and some important settings like Bluetooth and GPS can be overwritten on a device by the user.
The supervision, instead, enables administrators to deny and bypass the Activation Lock, set the device into Kiosk mode, and turn on the Lost mode, among other configurations and restrictions.
The next table lists some important features that only the supervised mode enables.
| Management capabilities available only for supervised devices |
| Activation lock |
| Blocking and allowing applications |
Deny MDM unenrollment |
| Kiosk mode |
| Multiple restrictions are available only for supervised devices, such as,Deny FaceTimeDeny AirDropDeny system app removalDeny application installationDeny erasing all content and settingsMore restrictions |
| Wallpaper (deployment & modification) |
| Web content filter |
When you create a new configuration profile, GoTo Resolve MDM clearly shows the features requiring supervision.
Find out more from our Knowledge Base:
How to set the iOS device into Supervised mode
The device isn't Supervised by default, so the mode must be defined when setting up a new or factory reset device. When using Apple Business/School Manager (ABM/ASM) and automated device enrollment (ADE), you can set the Supervised mode for the device while enrolling them in GoTo Resolve MDM.
Important information
In GoTo Resolve MDM, you may see which devices are in Supervised mode from the Management > Devices page.
You can find out what configurations require supervision from the and also when you add a new configuration with the wizard.
If you need to remove the Supervised mode from the device, please see the instructions from our Knowledge Base article.