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Deploying Goodnotes Education without Admin Console [License Key deployment via MDM]

Updated

This article explains how IT administrators can deploy Goodnotes Education to school-managed devices using Mobile Device Management (MDM) software with a License Key. This is for deployment without the Admin Console.

Before you begin

While deploying your Goodnotes License Key does not require reinstalling the app, we strongly recommend ensuring all users have appropriate backups in place before creating or modifying the Managed App Configuration. Users can back up their data through iCloud Sync, Auto Backup, or Manual Backup.

Important: While Goodnotes Free requires deployment via a License Key through MDM, Goodnotes Education can be deployed via account login. To learn more, see here.

MDM-specific guides

The steps below work for most MDM solutions. If you need platform-specific instructions, see:

Deployment steps

To deploy Goodnotes with your License Key, you'll create a property list file (.plist) containing your License Key and upload it to the Goodnotes app through your MDM software.

Prerequisites:

  • End-user devices must be connected to the internet during installation for License Key validation
  • You have received your License Key from Goodnotes

Instructions (using SimpleMDM as an example):

  1. Locate the Goodnotes app in your MDM software
  2. Navigate to the Managed Configuration tab
  3. Check "Use custom config plist"
  4. Upload your plist file or paste the configuration code in the editor

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Use one of these plist variants (try the next variant if the previous one doesn't work):

Variant 1:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>LicenseKey</key>
    <string>YOUR_LICENSE_KEY_HERE</string>
</dict>
</plist>

Variant 2:

<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
   <key>LicenseKey</key>
   <string>YOUR_LICENSE_KEY_HERE</string>
</dict>
</plist>

Variant 3:

<dict>
  <key>LicenseKey</key>
  <string>YOUR_LICENSE_KEY_HERE</string>
</dict>

 

Replace YOUR_LICENSE_KEY_HERE with your actual License Key (format: AAAAAA-BBBBBB-CCCCCC-DDDDDD-123456-V3).

  1. Click Save to deploy the configuration to your managed devices

Verifying successful deployment

After the configuration is pushed to devices, users will see a "License Key Activated" notification when they launch Goodnotes. They can view their license information in Settings (⚙️) > About.

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Data safety

The License Key deployment updates the app configuration without affecting user data. There is no need to migrate documents—user libraries remain intact. However, we always recommend maintaining regular backups through iCloud Sync, Auto Backup, or Manual Backup.

Technical note for IT administrators

Mobile Device Management software uses XML files to configure apps on managed devices. When a managed device receives the plist file, the operating system notifies the app that settings have changed, and the app updates accordingly. For more technical information, see Apple's developer guide on Managed App Configuration.

 

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