apple configurator 2 does not save changes of home screen to iPad or iPhone

MacOS 10.15.4

Configurator 2.12.1

The iOS 13.4.1 update bricked two iPads yesterday. Multiple hours with support and we ended up restoring to factory with no data. iCloud backup seemed to be the culprit with no explanation other than a possible VPN problem. I didn't have a VPN, though a profile might have been on there from a previous job. Long story short... any data that was local to the iPad and backed up to the cloud was gone. Let me repeat: "Restore from iCloud" was not an option, rather the source of the failure of these iPads to completely reboot after updating. I could only reinstall apps, or anything purchased. Sooo, my iPads are a mishmash of apps and I want to rearrange the home screens on my mac. Bottom line: I spent a half hour rearranging, hit apply, and... well we know the story. CHANGES DID NOT APPLY.

Still not working as of April 13, 2020. Not sure why they did away with this feature in iTunes in the first place. So much easier, especially when you have phones with bigger storage and more useful apps being downloaded.

I have this same issue with the changes not appling to my IPAD.

Devices: IPAD Pro 2020 12.9 IOS 13.4.1 / Macbook Pro (15 inch/late 2016) macOS Catalina 10.15.4

I wish Apple would just state one way or the other if this issue will be fixed or if another product can be used.

Extremely frustrating!

Same here! It not working and I spent hours updating the Macios app. Then I lost all my data on my phone because I accidentally hit erase. Thankfully the cloud worked to back up the phone but now I have a lot of old apps I had to redownload the new apps. I wish they would fix this crap

Apple you just make this App a joke.

It is not working as it should be.

Not only for a month, but more than a year. Even the update doesn't mix the problem.

Not fixing problems but making more phones with different size screen and new camera.

Service is not found at all.

I am on Mojave 10.14.6, iPhone 13.3 trying to reorganise my homescreen app layout after foolishly choosing the 'Reset Home Screen Layout' option on the iPhone. Then discovering the iTunes app layout option was stripped away a long time ago, my hopes and dreams of not having to manually organise the apps manually came with the discovery of Apple Configurator 2.......it does exactly what I WANT it to do, but doesn't apply it.

This issue has been a problem for awhile it would seem from the posts here.

Apple please fix this!!!!

Why does Apple work so hard to on scaring away their customers? Why is their interest in the needs of the user so extremely low?

They have decided to remove this feature from iTunes, no matter if a user likes it or not. They don't care. And now Apple Configurator 2 doesn't support in anymore either, even if it pretends to do. They don't care.

This thread has been created like 8 months ago. Sufficient amount of time to fix a bug that has been reported by many users if you'd ask me (if you want to fix it).

I have the same problem. Its really disappointing that Apple can ignore this considering that managing iPads for school must be a priority with homeschooling requirements for COVID-19. Not what one expects from Apple.

Seriously, this issue just drives me up the wall. I'm furious at Apple.

This has to be a maximum 15 minutes job for a developer to fix the code in iOS that is blocking this settings sync from applying.

Clearly Configurator 2 thinks the change applies. Just as on iTunes 12.6.5 on Windows 8, if I apply an Apps layout it Syncs to my iPhone and thinks it's saved.

It's the iOS that doesn't save the frigging change.

FIX THIS FOR GOD'S SAKE!

Can you believe that since this bug/problem started being experienced by thousands of people, they further deprecated the existing system that worked fine (iTunes was deprecated). What the ****? Don't turn into Microsoft where you run completely disintegrated **** systems that break! This is why we spend $$$$££££ on your ecosystem! Treat us with some respect!

We know that Apple acknowledged this issue in September 2019. They STILL haven't fixed it.

I'm not going to spend 12 hours tapping on my screen to organise my 900 apps. I wanted the ability to do it like a frigging adult with a GUI and cursor. GIVE US THE POWER BACK!

Fuming. GET YOUR DEVELOPERS TO FIX THE CODE!

As of Catalina 10.15.5 latest and iOS 13.5.1 latest this **** still doesn't work!

I've just spent an hour now on the phone to Apple Education/Enterprise Support. A very nice chap I spoke to in rural Ireland working from home.

First, the guy was able to reproduce the issue on his unsupervised iOS device. On his supervised iOS device he didn't have the issue. Is this the cause then? Is this a hypothesis, that it has to be supervised to work?

But then that hypothesis was broken, as you can see:–

(1) iOS 13 iPod (supervised) DID work.

(2) iOS 12.4.7 iPod (unsupervised) didn't work

(3) iOS 13.5.1 iPhone 11 Pro (unsupervised) didn't work.

(4) iOS 13 iPad Pro 9.7" (unsupervised) DID work.

All tests on latest MBP 16" and latest Configurator (2.12.1) with latest macOS.

So it doesn't seem to be related to what kind of iOS device it is (pad, pod, phone), or what iOS version (12, 13), or whether it's supervised or not (can be either).

So we still don't know what causes this behaviour.

Other hyotheses of mine:–

• too many apps?

• too many folders?

• too many folders?

• does your home screen layout contain web shortcuts?

I have 700 apps, 12 screens and around 5 folders on each screen (50 folders) and 25 web shortcuts.

If folks can check in we might be able to find a common factor that stops it from working on our devices.

If you turn off the passcode on your iOS device temporarily, does that make any difference?

The bloke I spoke to on the phone is escalating his test log to his teams. I'll report back with any updates.

Further testing of mine:–

(1) iOS 12.4.5 iPad DID work (upgraded to 12.4.7 and still worked)

(2) iOS 13.4.1 iPhone 7 didn't work

(3) iOS 13.5.1 iPhone XSM didn't work

Triedthe non-working devices on different macOS computer and made no difference.

I finally found this awesome app "configurator 2" I've missed this feature in iTunes. At least I can find an app to delete it, but for rearranging my app icons it is 100% non-functional. Does work for anyone, or has this ability of the app just made to be non-functional?

The main reason I went looking for this today was to delete apps whose icon I couldn't find.  It seams to work very well for that purpose. I am going to continue to play around with it, since you say it works for some people.  If I do discover the reason, I will be sure to post it. Is this only working for people that are doing it with supervised iPhones?

I did find this tidbit about supervised iOS devices:

What Does Supervision Allow For?

The following are examples of what’s possible under supervision:

Restrict access to apps

Filter web content

Configure home screen layouts

App lock (Single App Mode)

Activation lock bypass

Silent app installations

Enable Lost Mode

Push remote OS updates

Enable additional restrictions

This may imply the function does not work on Unsupervised iPhones.

The app was written for those that manage many iPhones not just one. If people are complaining about the lost feature from iTunes and using this instead, that is the reason apple does not care. After all, it was apple that took the function away from iTunes and still has not added the function to the side bar interface. So, Apple does not want to allow users of iPhones to have this functionality anymore. This is clearly the case, since they have removed that functionality from the interface on the Mac; this is whether we are talking about the old iTunes or the new iPhone interface built into the finder (in the sidebar).