To set up an iOS device in supervised mode — where the MDM has full control over the device — it is necessary to use a Mac and perform a device reset.
However, to set up in BYOD mode (when iOS considers the device personal and, therefore, the MDM does not have full control), it is possible to configure the device without needing a Mac and without resetting it. This is a limitation imposed by Apple on all MDM systems, as can be seen in the official documentation below:
Official Apple documentation:
https://support.apple.com/pt-pt/guide/deployment-reference-ios/welcome/web
In the documentation, Apple advises the following:
iPhone and iPad devices with iOS 5 or later, and Apple TV with tvOS 10.2 or later, become supervised by:
- Using Apple Configurator 2 to supervise the device
During this process, the device is erased and all data is lost. - Enrolling the device in an MDM solution and selecting supervision as part of the enrollment process.
Important: The Apple Configurator 2 app can only be downloaded and used on Mac computers.