Setting up a Bowdoin-issued iPad for the first time

Questions

• How do I setup my Bowdoin iPad?
• I received my student iPad, how do I set it up?
• What do I need to do to setup my Bowdoin iPad for the first time?

Environment

• Current Bowdoin faculty, staff, or student
• Have been issued an iPad purchased by the College.

Resolution

The following steps will guide you through setting up your Bowdoin-issued iPad for the first time.

Step 1: Unbox and Power On

1. Unbox your iPad and power it on by pressing the power button on the top-right corner of the device. You will see a black screen with the white Apple logo appear.
2. In the box, underneath the iPad is the power adapter and the USB-C charging cable. Be sure to set them aside and save them. 

Step 2: Follow the On-Screen Prompts

1. Follow the on-screen prompts to walk through the setup process.
2. On the third screen titled “Quick Start”, tap Set Up Manually.
3. Join wireless
   1. If on campus, join the BOWDOIN or eduroam wireless using your Bowdoin username and password.
      1. Accept the wireless certificate by tapping Trust when asked. 
   2. If away from campus, join a wireless network and continue.

4. When you get to the “Apps & Data” screen, select “Don’t Transfer apps & Data”.
   1. It is best to setup these iPads as new devices. You can always restore previously purchased apps later on after you sign in with your Apple ID.
5. After "Remote Management" screen, you will need to sign in with your Bowdoin email address, password and approve the MFA to login.
6. Continue to walk through the screens, completing what you would like now. You can bypass most pages and setup everything up later by tapping on Set Up Later in Settings or similar option.

Step 3: Final Steps (optional)

Now that the iPad is setup, a “Self Service” app will be installed. This app hosts links to several free and paid apps provided to Bowdoin-issued iPads through the college. There is also a digital book titled “iPad Starter Guide for Students” that can be downloaded into the Books app that can be used as a resource for guidance on how to use the iPad to its fullest.

If you didn’t do so during the initial setup, you can now open the Settings app and configure iCloud using your personal Apple ID. You can also find the options to setup Face ID (under the Face ID and Passcode section) or Siri (under the Siri & Search section) within the Settings app

If you have trouble during setup, you may submit a service request online. Someone will respond during our normal working hours.