Trouble w/ VPP in Apple Configurator

Hi all - hope you had a great Thanksgiving! I am working a small (80 device) iPad rollout at Ovid-Elsie Area Schools in Michigan and although it seems to be working perfectly for us otherwise, I am experiencing some issues with Apple Configurator when it is working with VPP redemtion codes.
used an initial Apple ID to download and add free apps into Apple Configurator. This worked perfectly and I had no issues with adding these apps to the devices to be managed, which involves putting check marks next to all apps before pressing Prepare.
Using a second (program manager) Apple ID I purchased 2 apps (40/ea) through volume.itunes.apple.com/us.store on the same Mac Mini that runs Apple Configurator.
Using the Apple ID initially used to purchase free apps (not the ID of the VPP program manager used to purchase apps through the volume purchase site) I took the first redemption code in my downloaded spreadsheet to purchase one of the apps in iTunes. That spreadsheet went in the trash and I re-downloaded the spreadsheet, added the app to Apple Configurator (trying both the + button in the app panel and the dragging app from iTunes methods) and imported the new spreadsheet into Apple Configurator for the first time.
When the import was all take care of, the paid apps showed in the app dock along with the free apps and also displayed the number of redemption codes remaining. HOWEVER, the two rows for just the two paid apps appeared dim (grayed out) and were inactive. Meaning I was unable to select that app to be included in the Preparation of devices.
I also made sure that the Mac Mini used throughout this process was an authorized iTunes Store computer for the initial, non-VPP Apple ID. I did not select the devices to be supervised because after having so much trouble & running short on time, I wanted to be able to install the apps manually as a plan B. (which I wasn’t able to do either….) Note: I am working with Mountain Lion & iPad 6.0 software. We are using an Ergotron cart to sync with Apple Configurator.
Any thoughts? I have two elementary schools dying to use these apps immediately so any help would be greatly appreciated….
Thanks again everyone,
Kali
<Email Edited By Host>

Hi,
You can only enter one code per iTunes account for the same app. So if you were not to use Configurator, you would enter one code into iTunes and sync the all the iPads to that iTunes account manually keeping track of your codes for any audit purposes. You could create a backup and restore to each of the iPads. I use encrypted backup. I have only used Configurator at this time to update iOS, it works very well for that and cuts down on update time greatly. I am leery of configurator with VPP because of all of the issues posted. I would have used VPP/Configurator exactly as you had stated.
I thought from your post you were able to get all of your apps loaded except for the two that were greyed out. I was curious if you would be able to go into the App store on the one iPad that did not get the two apps because they were grayed out and sign in to the apple ID where those two apps resided ( the iTunes account you used for Configurator) and download them. I am not sure if once you associate an iTunes account to Configurator if that marks the paid apps in itunes so they can not be used. I think that it would not.
I would also call the Apple Store support for Education. They may be able to help and or they will know your area rep.
Good luck, Please post your outcome, I am sure there are many who would benefit.

Similar Messages

VPP and Apple Configurator

We started our iPad deployment with just a few iPads. We bought some VPP and use them to install apps on a few devices. Now we have added to the group of iPads to make it a cart of 20. We are going to start using configurator to setup and manage them. Is it possible to take the codes we have used on the first iPads and move them over to Apple Configurator so we can deploy the apps that way?

My understanding is you need to have deployed in supervisor mode on the ipad to get the code back. You may want to talk to your apple salesperson to discuss alternative ways of getting the codes back.
These pages will not answer your question.
Excellent guide. See announcment post -- https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4256735?tstart=0
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SMBgyzONxcx6_FswgkW9XYLpA4oCt_2y1uw9ceMZ9F4/ edit?pli=1
good tips for initial deployment:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/18942350#18942350
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3804209?tstart=0

I am a teacher with 7 iPads for my room with no VPP or Apple Configurator. May I use the same Apple ID for each of the devices with a separate password for each device?

Who can help me with the above question? Multiple iPads in one classroom: may I use the same Apple ID (which is my work email) for each iPad, and construct a separate password for each device? My school does not have VPP or Apple Configurator

Password to what, exactly? If you're referring to the screen lock, each iPad can have a separate passcode, since that's not tied to an Apple ID. If that's not what you mean, please post back and clarify what password you're referring to and what you wish to accomplish.
Regards.

Explain to Me: Supervision within Apple Configurator

I do not fully understand the "Supervise" aspect of Apple Configurator.
Does supervising a device give you Over the Air capabilities you do not have without supervision? Can you then push apps to supervised devices accross the country that you could not otherwise do without supervision?
The Apple Configurator Manual reads:
"Set Supervision to Off if you want to configure a device once with Apple Configurator. Set Supervision to On if you intend to maintain control of a device on an ongoing basis by reapplying a configuration regularly."
What does it mean by "intend to maintain control of a device on an ongoing basis"? I plan on centrally configuring many iPads and shipping accross the country. I want to have the ability to track them and it would be nice if I could have them install apps from afar if need be...
But I also read "when you configure a supervised device, you can't supervise it or sync it with any other computer running Apple Configurator or iTunes."
Does this mean that if I supervise a device and send it thousands of miles away to a teacher only to discover it is missing a few apps, the teacher will not be able to download the necesary apps?

Thank you very much. So far I've been asking about MDM in the context of a prolonged program. However, right now I am also confronted with a short term problem that I could really use your knowledge for:
I deployed 28 iPads yesterday to one location. We configured them manually and only installed 3 apps on each one, all of which were free. We did not use VPP or Apple Configurator with it, because we do not have a mac yet and are only at the beginning steps of the program.
However, those 28 iPads will now need to have potentially 300+ apps on them, and we need to send them redemption codes via the VPP.
Sending them URLs via email and requiring them to click each one would be devastatingly burdensome.
Is it possible for me to create a meraki account on my PC, have my teacher "enable Systems Manager on his devices" allowing him to "securely connect to Meraki’s cloud, enabling me to deploy applications."? In other words, will Meraki be able to use VPP codes and send entire packages of apps to all 28 devices without Apple Configurator? What would the teacher have to do on his end on his iPads?

I have set up our school ipads to be supervised by Apple Configurator and am using VPP to buy apps. I now find the supervised ipads do not allow the pupils to download photos or movies etc. Any suggestions would be great please.

I have set up our school ipads to be supervised by Apple Configurator and am using VPP to buy apps. I did this initially as our school internet connection was stopping us from being able to update the IOS and our County was offering a managed system, Lightspeed, which took control of every device in school which proved very expensive. I now find the supervised ipads do not allow the pupils to download photos or movies etc. As we frequently use the ipads as cameras this is causing us a problem. We have a school imac that I use to keep the devices updated with Apple Configurator (not connected to our network), and this doesn't seem to offer any solution to download them either. I was told there was a setting in Apple Configurator to allow other computers to download from supervised devices, but I can't see it anywhere. I am very new to this so any advice or help would be greatly appreciated please.

I assume you are wanting to take the photos and movies off the iPads?
Connect the iPad to a Apple computer. Open "Image Capture". Any photos or video can me imported to the desktop or other location on your computer.
I had this same problem last year and as we have no wifi I asked lots of people at Apple what I could do - no one provided this answer (a little unbelievable!). If you have wifi using something like dropbox would be an easier solution.
Hope this helps

Trouble using apple configurator

I have been trying to setup 20 iPads using Apple configurator for the last couple of days. I purchased all of my codes for each of the apps I want to install on the iPads. I have everything setup, but for some reason whenever I try to put the apps on the iPads using the codes through Apple configurator, I get an error saying that the code could not be redeemed and that I need to put my Apple ID and password in. I have authorized the computer with itunes and have done everything that I can think of, but I continue to get the same error. I am clearly missing something and any help would be greatly appreciated.

Restarting Apple Configurator and/or redownloading and reimporting the VPP codes will often cure this issue.
You should receive a pop up prompt, within Apple Configurator, asking you to sign in with your Apple ID* when trying to deploy apps that are using VPP codes to any iPads. Sometimes this prompt doesn't appear but disconnecting all the iPads and restarting Apple Configurator normally cures it.
*This should be the Apple ID you used to download the app within iTunes before you imported the app into Apple Configurator - not the VPP account used to purchase the VPP codes.

HT5188 iTunes/ VPP /Apple Configurator

I previously used iTunes to redeem and install apps purchased through the VPP for Education and would like to start using Apple Configurator with these iPads. How can I get Apple Configurator to accept the redemption codes already used by iTunes?

Go to your VPP account and download the spreadsheets for these apps and see how many codes are unredeemed. If they are all redeemed through various individual itunes accounts you are probably out of luck. If there a unredeemed codes left you can use these with Configurator.

Will Apple configurator work when Ipads already have paid apps on them via VPP redemption code

HI - we have 60 ipads under our care, and until very recently we bought apps using the VPP redemption code method, and loaded them on manually - there was something in the Ts&Cs which allowed you to load a code onto one ipad, then as long as you had enough codes, you could auto install apps on multiple ipads using the same apple id. We have a master backup on the icloud.
We have now got a Mac and I was looking into using Apple Configurator, but I'm not sure how that will work with existing paid apps already on the ipads. Can anyone give me some pointers?

Wait unti the app is done downloading in your iTunes. Then go back to your VPP account and down load the spreadsheet again and upload into configurator. The process is a pain, but the only way it works for you to get all of your codes into configurator.

Apple Configurator won't install a purchased VPP app

I'm trying to install Puffin Browser on 20 iPads through a sync cart using Apple Configurator. I purchased it through VPP and imported it in ok, but when I go to add the apps, the check mark is grayed out (see pic below).
Help!!!

Hi joemoorhead,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities. This article has instructions for downloading your previous purchases on Apple TV:
Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519
If you've purchased it and still can't get it to download, I would also report the issue to the iTunes Store:
How to report an issue with your iTunes Store, App Store, Mac App Store, or iBookstore purchase
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1933
Cheers,
- Ari

HT6029 Having trouble restricting the restore function on an iPad through Apple Configurator

Having trouble restricting the restore function on an iPad through Apple Configurator
I cannot find the setting the allow/disable this feature.

Configuration profiles do not allow you to apply a static IP address to a device.
Instead, it would be highly recommended to configure static IP addressing within the DHCP server itself. This would accomplish what you want without worrying about which proifle goes on what device, etc. Configurator can also export the MAC addresses to make life easier in setting this up.
Right click the 'All Devices' in the Supervise tab, click Export Info > Device Information > WiFi MAC Address.

Apple Configurator VPP Australia

Hello,
I am using Apple Configurator to install free apps to 38 iPads for use in a primary school in Australia. The VPP is not available in Australia (as of writing), and I wish to distribute apps that we purchase to the iPads. Can Apple Configurator be used to do that? If not, what is the recommended approach? If just some of the iPads were to access the iTunes account to purchase apps outside of using the Configurator program, would the paid apps remain on the iPads when reconnected to the MacBook originally used to install free apps to the iPad?
Education dollars are hard to come by, but in the interim, I will just have to spend the money to download onto each iPad and install the apps required.
Any help with this Apple Configurator program, VPP, and paid apps install appreciated.
Many Thanks,
Richard

The database in which Apple Configurator records the use of redemption codes is your only record of the valid use of those codes. Be sure to maintain a backup of the Mac on which you use Apple Configurator.
If you lose the Apple Configurator database, your users will retain rights to use the apps already installed on devices, and you can reimport any spreadsheets to install additional apps on devices using unredeemed codes. But if an app is deleted from a device after you lose the database, Apple Configurator will be unable to determine the device’s rights to that app, and you will need to redeem another code in order to reinstall the app.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5188

Apple configurator and paid apps without VPP codes?

Is it possible to use the Apple Configurator to install paid apps by using Gifted apps?
We cant use VPP as it is not available outside the US and iTunes support suggested the following:
"Create separate accounts for each Apple ID, and there should be one designated "Purchasing account", which can purchase all of the necessary apps as gifts, and then the redemption codes can be sent to the correct Apple IDs"
Does anyone have other workarounds for this situation in case this is not possible?
Thanks.

Hi Lesli,
You could use an MDM solution like Meraki Systems Manager (free) http://www.meraki.com/products/systems-manager/ . Purchase VPP codes for your 1:1 teachers. Add the VPP codes to Meraki and distribute to teachers. That way the teachers wouldn't have to tie back to the AC computer. Meraki (and other MDMs) can do things wirelessly.
You could also email VPP codes to the teachers and have them redeem the codes with their own Apple IDs.
But to answer your question, yes you should create a separate VPP order for carts vs your 1:1 teachers.
Hope this helps!
~Joe

HT5194 Apple Configurator, VPP code and Hardware failure

We use VPP for many iPads, but the likely hood of one of those being damaged/stolen/lost is high (devices imaged and deployed to multiple, and changing users) and we don't want to loose a VPP code each time one of our devices needs to be replaced due to damage, lost or stolen. Can Apple Configurator handle this situation w/o buying a new VPP code each time a new iPad is brought into the environment? I have read that backing up the configurator database should handle the issue if the MAC managing the devices and running the configurator goes down and needs to be replaced, but what about the actual devices themselves?
Thanks.

Hi cdgoodlett,
Your questions address a feature that many of us want Apple to support...the ability to recover and/or redistribute VPP codes, which is so important especially in schools. However, the process you are asking for is currently unsupported by Apple and most MDM providers. Currently the only way to recover VPP codes is to remove the app from Supervised iPad(s) using Apple Configurator. If you don't have the iPad, you can't recover the VPP code(s). So yes (unfortunately) if the iOS devices is lost/stolen/broken then the VPP redemption codes are lost.
If you were in a situation where a large number of devices were stolen all at once (like a whole cart or multiple carts), you may be able to call Apple Store support for Education at 1-800-800-2775 and explain the situation. I have heard of circumstances where VPP codes have been returned/recovered but that is a rare circumstance.
I know its not the answer you wanted to hear, but I hope this answers your question.
~Joe

Apple Configurator - can we move VPP license?

We purchase using VPP for 73 iPads. Importing the 73 licenses went OK but we need to move 33 to another Mac that will control the 33 iPads. Is there a way to do this?
Basicallly we initially set up the 73 iPads on one Mac. Everything went well and all iPads are working as they should. Now that everything is set up we wanted to move 33 to a Bretford cart that can house the 33. Apple Configurator was installed on the 2nd Mac, all apps imported via iTunes (Mac is authorized) but we can't import the VPP licenses that were originally installed on the 1st Mac.
Any way to move them?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5188
"For supervised devices, if you use Apple Configurator to remove an app from a device, Apple Configurator marks the corresponding redemption code as available. It can be reassigned to a different device supervised by this copy of Apple Configurator for this Mac only. It is not available for redemption by other Macs or iOS devices"
You may be able get a workaround via apple enterprise support.

Vpp Transfert to apple configurator.

I have 20 ipads and 21 vpp code.
When i am importing app to apple configurator, I have exclamation point in the front of apps. And the 21 code is in. but we can't select the apps for installation.
to the ipads. ?????

Hi leboss,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities!
You might find the information in this article helpful:
Apple Configurator: Using Volume Purchase Program (VPP) Redemption Codes
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5188
In the past, I've overlooked this particular step, which is also mentioned in the "Apps and documents" section of Apple Configurator Help:
Authorize iTunes
If the Mac using Apple Configurator isn’t authorized in iTunes, open iTunes and choose Store > Authorize This Computer.
Cheers,
-Jeremy

Trouble w/ VPP in Apple Configurator

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for