Who This Jamf Now Setup Guide Is For

This guide is written for:

• Small businesses without a full‑time IT team.
• Schools or organizations just starting with Apple mobile device management (MDM).
• Tech‑savvy parents who want to manage kids’ devices.

If you can follow a normal online signup flow, you can follow this Jamf Now setup — no deep IT background required.

What You’ll Learn in This Jamf Now Tutorial

This Jamf Now setup tutorial will help you with:

• How to create a Jamf Now account.
• How to set up APNs (Apple Push Notification service).
• How to connect Apple Business Manager for Automated Device Enrollment.
• How to configure Volume Purchasing (Apps & Books).
• How to create Jamf Now Blueprints with Wi‑Fi, apps, and restrictions.
• How to enroll devices using Auto‑Enrollment and Open Enrollment.

Step 1: Watch the Best Jamf Now Overview Videos

Before you start clicking around, it helps to see the full workflow in action. Embed or link these videos near the top of your page so readers can watch while they follow the steps below.

Step 2: Prepare What You Need for Jamf Now

Before signing up, make sure you have the following ready:

• A Mac or PC with an up‑to‑date browser (Safari, Chrome, or Edge).
• A work email address that will become the Jamf Now admin login.
• A dedicated Apple ID for the organization (not a personal one).
• A list of devices you want to manage (serial numbers, models).
• An approved Apple Business Manager (ABM) or Apple School Manager account (recommended).

If you don’t have Apple Business Manager yet, sign up at https://business.apple.com. Approval can take several days, so it’s smart to start this early.

Step 3: Create Your Jamf Now Account

This step is straightforward and matches the “Setting up Jamf Now Account” section of the official Jamf video.

1. Go to https://signup.jamfnow.com in your browser.
2. Enter your work email, choose a strong password, and submit.
3. Fill in your company name, country, and other basic details.
4. Open your email inbox, find the message from Jamf Now, and click the Activate or Verify link.
5. After activation, log in at https://login.jamfnow.com.

For a visual walkthrough, watch 7:00–10:00 in “How to Setup Jamf Now”.

Step 4: Set Up APNs (Apple Push Notification Service)

Jamf Now uses Apple’s APNs service to send commands and configuration to Apple devices. Without a valid APNs certificate, no MDM solution can manage iOS, iPadOS, or macOS devices.

1. In Jamf Now, click APNs or Apple Push Notification service in the sidebar.
2. Click Download APNs certificate request to download the .csr file.
3. Use the link provided to open the Apple Push Certificates Portal and sign in with the Apple ID you will keep long‑term for MDM.
4. In the portal, click Create a Certificate, accept the terms, and upload the .csr file.
5. Download the newly created APNs certificate.
6. Back in Jamf Now, upload that APNs certificate file and save.

You must renew the APNs certificate annually using the same Apple ID. If you change Apple IDs or let it expire, you may lose management of existing devices.

Step 5: Connect Apple Business Manager for Automated Device Enrollment

Automated Device Enrollment (ADE) via Apple Business Manager connects new Apple hardware directly to Jamf Now for zero‑touch setup. This is essential for scalable and repeatable deployments.

1. Confirm your Apple Business Manager account is active at https://business.apple.com.
2. In Jamf Now, go to Auto‑Enrollment → Get Started.
3. Download the server token or key file Jamf Now provides.
4. In another tab, sign in to Apple Business Manager.
5. Go to Settings → Device Management Settings → Add MDM Server.
6. Name the server (for example “Jamf Now MDM”) and upload the file from Jamf Now if prompted.
7. Download the MDM server token from Apple Business Manager.
8. Return to Jamf Now and upload that token under Auto‑Enrollment.

For renewal later, see Jamf’s short video “How to Renew a Device Enrollment Token in Jamf Now”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51n6WYwC83A .

Step 6: Configure Volume Purchasing (Apps & Books)

Apple’s Volume Purchasing (Apps & Books) lets you buy or assign App Store apps and distribute them through Jamf Now without using personal Apple IDs.

1. In Apple Business Manager, go to Apps and Books.
2. Search for the app you want and click Get to obtain licenses (even for free apps).
3. In Jamf Now, open the Volume Purchasing section.
4. Connect it to your ABM instance by uploading the appropriate token if prompted.
5. After the sync, confirm your apps and license counts appear in Jamf Now.

Once Volume Purchasing is configured, you can silently push apps as part of a Blueprint for a smoother user experience.

Step 7: Create Your First Jamf Now Blueprint

Blueprints are at the heart of Jamf Now. They bundle Wi‑Fi, apps, and restrictions so every device assigned to a Blueprint gets the same configuration.

1. In Jamf Now, click Blueprints in the navigation.
2. Click Create New Blueprint.
3. Name the Blueprint (for example “Sales iPhones”, “Staff iPads”, or “Kids iPad – Home”).
4. Add Wi‑Fi: enter the SSID and password so devices auto‑connect.
5. Add Apps: attach apps from Volume Purchasing to install automatically.
6. Open Restrictions and choose settings (disable App Store, block explicit content, prevent account changes, etc.).
7. Click Save to finalize the Blueprint.

Step 8: Enroll Devices with Automated Device Enrollment (Recommended)

With Apple Business Manager in place, Automated Device Enrollment is the cleanest way to bring devices into Jamf Now — ideal for zero‑touch deployments.

1. In Apple Business Manager, go to Devices.
2. Search for devices by serial number or order number.
3. Select the devices and choose Edit MDM Server → assign them to your Jamf Now MDM server.
4. In Jamf Now, open Auto‑Enrollment and confirm the devices appear under your server.
5. Assign the appropriate Blueprint as the default for these devices.
6. Hand the devices to users and have them power on. During Setup Assistant, they will see that the device will be configured by your organization and will auto‑enroll into Jamf Now.

Step 9: Enroll Devices with Open Enrollment (Manual)

If you don’t have Apple Business Manager yet or are dealing with existing devices, you can use Open Enrollment to bring them under management.

1. In Jamf Now, open the Open Enrollment or Enrollment section and copy your organization’s enrollment URL.
2. On the iPhone, iPad, or Mac you want to manage, open Safari and go to that URL.
3. Sign in with Jamf Now credentials if prompted.
4. Follow the prompts to download the MDM profile.
5. On iOS/iPadOS: go to Settings → Profile Downloaded → tap Install and accept remote management.
6. On macOS: open System Settings / System Preferences → Profiles → select the MDM profile → Install.
7. Back in Jamf Now, confirm the device shows as Managed under Devices and assign the correct Blueprint.

Step 10: Verify Blueprints, Apps, and Restrictions

Once devices are enrolled, verify that Jamf Now is applying your settings correctly.

1. In Jamf Now, go to Devices and click a device to open its details.
2. Check that the status is Managed / Enrolled and a Blueprint is attached.
3. Confirm apps and configuration profiles from the Blueprint show as Pending or Completed.
4. On the device, confirm:
   • Wi‑Fi connects automatically (if configured).
   • Apps from the Blueprint are installed or installing.
   • Restrictions behave as expected (App Store hidden, content filters active, etc.).

If items are stuck as Pending, ensure the device is online and plugged in, then trigger a refresh or check‑in from Jamf Now.

Step 11: Ongoing Jamf Now Maintenance Best Practices

To keep your Jamf Now environment healthy and avoid surprises, build a simple maintenance routine.

• Renew APNs annually using the same Apple ID to avoid losing management.
• Renew the ABM Device Enrollment token when Jamf Now prompts you. Use Jamf’s video “How to Renew a Device Enrollment Token in Jamf Now”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51n6WYwC83A .
• Review Blueprints regularly to update Wi‑Fi, apps, security settings, and restrictions as policies change.
• Reclaim app licenses by unassigning apps from retired devices in Volume Purchasing.
• Remove old devices from Jamf Now to keep your dashboard clean and accurate.

For more depth, you can also link to Jamf’s official Jamf Now quick start guide: https://www.jamf.com/resources/infographics/jamf-now-quick-start-guide/ .