DEP-Enrolled

Legacy term for devices enrolled through Apple’s Device Enrollment Program, now Automated Device Enrollment (ADE). Enables supervision and mandatory enrollment.

What to Know

DEP-enrolled is the historical terminology for what is now called ADE-enrolled. Apple renamed the Device Enrollment Program to Automated Device Enrollment in 2019, but many organizations, admins, and documentation still use DEP terminology. Understanding this legacy term is essential for interpreting older configuration guides, troubleshooting discussions, and system logs that haven’t been updated to current nomenclature. Functionally, DEP-enrolled and ADE-enrolled are identical—both refer to devices enrolled through Apple’s automatic enrollment infrastructure with mandatory, persistent management.

When encountering DEP references in logs, error messages, or configuration screens, admins should recognize these are equivalent to ADE. Some MDM platforms and Apple’s own diagnostic tools may still display DEP terminology internally, creating potential confusion if admins aren’t aware of the rebranding. Recognizing this equivalence ensures smooth troubleshooting and proper interpretation of device states.

Common Scenarios

Enterprise IT: IT teams reviewing enrollment logs from older devices see “DEP Profile” or “DEP enrollment” references and need to understand these represent current ADE functionality. When migrating from legacy MDM systems that use DEP terminology to newer systems using ADE terminology, IT must map equivalent concepts to ensure continuous device management during the transition.

MSP: MSPs supporting clients with long-standing device deployments encounter legacy documentation referencing DEP. When troubleshooting enrollment issues, error messages may reference “DEP server” or “DEP profile” even though the MSP’s current processes use ADE terminology. Understanding the equivalence allows accurate problem diagnosis without confusion about whether old DEP configurations still apply.

Education: Schools with iPads deployed before 2019 have documentation and support materials referencing DEP enrollment. When staff reference “DEP devices” in support tickets, IT understands they’re describing ADE-enrolled devices and applies current ADE troubleshooting procedures. Historical purchase records may list devices as “DEP-eligible,” which translates to modern ADE compatibility.

In Addigy

Addigy uses current ADE terminology throughout its interface and documentation, but understands legacy DEP references in Apple’s APIs and system responses. When Addigy communicates with Apple Business Manager or reads device enrollment states from Apple’s servers, it may receive DEP-labeled data and automatically translates this to ADE terminology for consistency. Addigy’s support documentation acknowledges DEP as a legacy term and redirects users to equivalent ADE resources.

If you see DEP references in Addigy logs or diagnostic outputs, these represent the same ADE enrollment process and should be treated identically. Addigy’s enrollment status displays use ADE terminology, but underlying Apple APIs may still use DEP internally, which Addigy handles transparently without requiring administrator intervention or awareness of the legacy naming.