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Goodnotes for Schools and Businesses - How to switch from GoodNotes 5 to Goodnotes 6 via AppConfig

Please note: While the switches of the Goodnotes version do not require a reinstallation of the app to deploy the managed configuration to the iOS devices, we would encourage all users to ensure they have an appropriate backup in place for their data before completing the deployment. This can be achieved through iCloud Sync, Auto Backup or a Manual Backup. Normally, your MDM solution should provide an option to deploy a managed configuration by saving the changes and without reinstalling, for example: Jamf's own documentation. Please refer to the documentation of your MDM solution if you are unsure. 

As an IT Administrator of a school or business, you may have seen the release of Goodnotes 6 and wondered how you can look to upgrade your existing License Key and provide your end-users with access to the new app. In short, this can be done by simply changing your existing MDM deployment.

Changing between GoodNotes 5 and Goodnotes 6 in your business or school is entirely your choice, and the IT Administrator of the respective organisation can do this themselves by changing the AppConfig deployment listed in our MDM Installation Guide.

 

How to upgrade

To upgrade your existing deployment to Goodnotes 6, all you would need to do is add a new managed configuration data (such as LicenseKey). This data should be the entered as seen below, with the name GoodnotesVersion and the corresponding string listed as 6. For clarity, see the example below from our Installation guide:

<?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>ManagedAppConfigurationVersion</key>
    <string>1</string>
    <key>LicenseKey</key>
    <string>AAAAAA-BBBBBB-CCCCCC-DDDDDD-123456-V3</string>
    <key>GoodnotesVersion</key>
<integer>6</integer>
</dict> </plist>

As you can see, the coloured text highlights where you would need to configure the deployment. The blue colored text indicates your existing License Key and configuration, with the red colored text highlighting the new additions mentioned above to configure the upgrade to Goodnotes 6.

Once the data is saved, your app will be deployed as Goodnotes 6 to your end-users.

One additional point about the configuration for business or school users is that this will not show the downgrade option that is available for private users. This is instead controlled by the configuration you deploy. If you include the Goodnotes 6 configuration listed above, your end-users will see Goodnotes 6 as their app version. If you'd like to revert to GoodNotes 5, simply remove the new Goodnotes 6 configuration and deploy the GoodNotes 5 configuration shown before in our installation article.