Stanford University IT (UIT) is developing techniques to streamline technology setup, enabling community members to get their technology up and running independently. Building on the early 2025 launch of Stanford Device Registration, which allows users to confirm their Stanford-issued devices meet compliance standards, UIT is rolling out Stanford Device Setup (SDS) 6.0 on May 28, 2026. SDS is a user-led workflow that configures Stanford-purchased macOS devices right out of the box.
What is Stanford Device Setup?
Stanford Device Setup is a setup assistant that runs on every new Stanford-issued Mac. When a user powers on their device for the first time, SDS launches automatically and walks them through a guided process that installs Stanford-approved applications and applies the configurations needed to meet Stanford compliance standards. The goal is a setup experience as simple as opening the box, turning on the computer, and following the on-screen steps, with little or no IT involvement required.
During setup, SDS installs the applications most users need on day one, including:
- Web browsers such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox
- Communication tools, including Slack, Webex Teams, and Zoom
- Stanford's primary productivity apps, like Microsoft Office and Google Drive
Once the initial setup is complete, users can install additional applications at any time through the Stanford Self Service app, which SDS also installs.
Who can use Stanford Device Setup?
SDS is currently available for Stanford-purchased macOS devices, with Windows support planned for a future release.
For the initial rollout, SDS is available to IT staff, who can then opt in their clients for the full self-service experience. IT Technicians should refer to the SDS Technician Workflow to get familiar with the tool before rolling it out. Over time, SDS will be made available directly to all users with Stanford-purchased macOS devices.
To request SDS for your clients or share feedback, submit a Help request to the UIT Endpoint Engineering and Development (EED) team.
