# How to supervise managed devices without data loss?

Last updated: July 24, 2026

This guide explains how to supervise iOS devices already in use without losing their data, since normal re-enrollment for supervision erases device content. It requires the device to be supervised, a temporary device to hold a backup, and Apple Business Manager or Apple Configurator. The workflow backs up the device, restores it to a temporary device, re-enrolls the original device through ABM or Apple Configurator, then restores the backup, after which apps need to be redistributed.

## Description

Supervision of iOS mobile devices provides IT admins using an [iPad/iPhone management](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/apple-ios-management.html) solution additional control over them. Supervision of devices can be performed while enrolling them in Mobile Device Manager Plus using ABM Enrollment and Apple Configurator. There are cases when the devices are brought under management without supervising them and when these devices are in use, supervising them by re-enrolling leads to loss of the data present in the device. This document provides the steps to supervise devices that are in use without losing the data present in the devices.

**NOTE:** Apple recommends that the device to be supervised be reset and re-enrolled but as this may not be feasible in most cases, the following method serves as a workaround.

## Requirements

- Device to be supervised (main device)
- A temporary device to back up data (This device may or may not be enrolled with MDM)
- Apple Configurator/ABM

## Steps

**Using ABM for supervision**

**NOTE:** Devices must be eligible to be added in ABM. Do not skip **Restore from Backup** and **Sign into iCloud** options during device activation.

- Ensure that the settings **Remove apps on profile removal** and **Restrict App data backup** are unchecked when the apps were distributed. If they weren't disabled, uncheck the options by selecting Modify App from the App Repository. You will have to redistribute the apps to the devices once the settings have been disabled.
- Ensure that **Find My iPhone** is off to avoid problems during enrollment.
- Back up the main device using iTunes or iCloud.
- Restore this content on a temporary device which can be either supervised or unsupervised.
- Ensure that **Find My iPhone** is off and back up the temporary device using iTunes or iCloud.
- Add the device to ABM using the [steps given here](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/enrollment/device_enrollment_program_ios_devices.html) and activate the device to enroll it.
- From the Apps & Data screen, restore the backup of the temporary device into the enrolled device.
- All the app data is restored in the enrolled device and the MDM profile is installed with the new ABM profile.
- The enrolled device will be awaiting user assignment and profile distribution. The apps will have to be brought under management again.

**Using Apple Configurator**

- Ensure that the settings **Remove apps on profile removal** and **Restrict App data backup** are unchecked when the apps were distributed. If they weren't disabled, uncheck the options by selecting Modify App from the App Repository. You will have to redistribute the apps to the devices once the settings have been disabled.
- Ensure that **Find My iPhone** is off to avoid problems during enrollment.
- Back up the main device using iTunes or iCloud.
- Restore this content on a temporary device which can be either supervised or unsupervised.
- Ensure that **Find My iPhone** is off and back up the temporary device using iTunes or iCloud.
- Restore the backup of the temporary device into the device to be supervised.
- After restoration, when the device shows the Welcome screen on activation, connect the device to Apple Configurator and enroll it using the [steps given here](https://www.manageengine.com/mobile-device-management/help/enrollment/enroll_ios_devices_using_apple_configurator.html#Prepare_Apple_Configurator_2.0).
- All the app data is restored in the enrolled device and the MDM profile is installed with the new Apple Configurator profile.
- The enrolled device will be awaiting user assignment and profile distribution. The apps will have to be brought under management again.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why does supervising an already-enrolled device normally wipe its data?

Supervision is typically applied by re-enrolling the device as new, and Apple recommends resetting the device before doing so. Since resetting isn't practical for a device that's already in use, this workaround backs up and restores the device's data instead of erasing it.

### What do I need before I can supervise a managed device without losing its data?

You need the device to be supervised, a temporary device to hold a backup of its data (this temporary device doesn't need to be MDM-enrolled), and either Apple Business Manager or Apple Configurator to re-enroll the device.

### Will I need to redistribute apps after supervising the device this way?

Yes. Once the device is re-enrolled and its backup restored, the apps have to be brought under management again. You should also confirm that "Remove apps on profile removal" and "Restrict App data backup" were left unchecked when the apps were originally distributed, since apps redistributed with those settings enabled will need to be redistributed again.