Mass Deploy LanSchool Air for Mac Student Devices

Mass Deploy LanSchool Air for Mac Student Devices

Overview

Use this guide to deploy the LanSchool Air Student Client to multiple Mac computers using a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution or remote deployment tool, such as Jamf or Apple Remote Desktop.

Mass deployment allows IT administrators to install and provision student devices without manually running the installation on each Mac.

For instructions on installing the client on an individual Mac, see Installing LanSchool Air for Mac Student.

Prerequisites

Before deploying LanSchool Air to student Macs, verify the following:

  • You can sign in to LanSchool Air as a Site Admin.
  • Student Macs are running a supported version of macOS.
  • You have access to an MDM solution or remote deployment tool that can install packages with administrator or root privileges.
  • You can download the organization-specific LanSchool Air installers from the Setup Instructions page.
  • Your deployment process can copy both installer packages to the same folder on each student Mac.
  • Required macOS privacy approvals and browser policies are configured or will be configured as part of deployment.

AlertImportant: Open the Provisioning Window in LanSchool Air before running the web installer on student Macs. The web installer provisions each device for your organization.

Step 1: Download the Mac Student Installers

  1. Sign in to LanSchool Air as a Site Admin.
  2. From the left navigation menu, select LanSchool Air Settings.



  3. Select Setup.
  4. Under macOS, select Setup Instructions.



  5. Ensure your browser is not blocking pop-ups, then select the Download now icon.



  6. Confirm that both installer packages download:
    • LSAirWebInstall.pkg: The organization-specific web installer used to install and provision the student client.
    • LSAirClientInstall.pkg: The full LanSchool Air Student Client installer.
AlertImportant: The web installer has a unique filename associated with your organization. Do not rename this file.

Step 2: Copy the Installers to Student Macs

Using your MDM or remote deployment tool, copy both installer packages to the same folder on each student Mac.

For example, you can use a shared deployment folder such as /Users/Shared/.

Verify that both files are present in the same folder before proceeding.

The web installer uses the local copy of LSAirClientInstall.pkg to install the full student client.

Step 3: Install and Provision LanSchool Air

  1. Open the Provisioning Window in LanSchool Air before starting the deployment.
  2. Use your MDM or remote deployment tool to run the organization-specific web installer on each student Mac.
  3. Run the installation with administrator or root privileges.

If your deployment tool supports running a UNIX command, use the following format, replacing the example filename with the exact web installer filename downloaded from your organization:

/usr/sbin/installer -pkg "/Users/Shared/LSAirWebInstall.prod.example.pkg" -target /

AlertImportant: The example filename above is a placeholder. Use the actual organization-specific filename. Do not rename the downloaded web installer.

When the web installer completes successfully:

  • It uses the full client installer in the same folder.
  • It installs the LanSchool Air Student Client.
  • It automatically runs and provisions the Mac for your LanSchool Air organization.
  • It deletes the LSAirClientInstall.pkg file from the deployment folder after installation.

Repeat this process for all student Macs included in the deployment.

Step 4: Configure macOS Privacy Approvals

Automated or command-line installation does not automatically grant all macOS privacy permissions.

If the required permissions have not been configured through an MDM profile, privacy prompts may appear on student Macs. Missing permissions can prevent certain LanSchool Air features from working correctly.

For instructions on configuring privacy permissions through MDM, see Configuring LanSchool Air for Mac Privacy Approvals with MDM.

IdeaRecommendation: Configure and deploy the appropriate privacy profiles before installing the student client whenever possible.

Step 5: Configure Chrome and Edge Browser Policies

The LanSchool Air browser extensions are required for certain browser-management features. 

Use your MDM solution to deploy the required browser policies.

Download the appropriate profile for each browser:

Use the profile links provided to obtain the correct files.

Deploy the profiles through your MDM solution and verify that the required browser extensions are installed and enabled.

The browser extensions are required for supported browser-management features, including website limiting, viewing student browser tabs, viewing student web history and pushing websites to student devices.

Step 6: Address macOS 15 Sequoia Privacy Prompts

macOS 15.0 (Sequoia) introduced additional privacy prompts that may appear on student Mac devices. Mac devices running 15 and above may see this prompt.

Screen Recording Prompt

The LanSchool Air application can be approved for Screen Recording, but macOS may occasionally display a Screen Recording prompt.

The prompt gives the student two options:

  1. Continue to allow Screen Recording for one month.
  2. Disable the Screen Recording approval.

If the Screen Recording approval was approved by an administrator, Standard Users cannot disable the approval.

If the MDM setting Allow Standard User to Set System Service is enabled and the Screen Recording approval was approved by a Standard User, the Standard User can disable the approval.



Disable the Monthly Screen Recording Prompt

The Screen Recording prompt can be suppressed using the provided Custom Configuration Profile.

Custom Configuration Profile: suppressMonthlyScreenRecordingPrompt.mobileconfig

To suppress the prompt:

  1. Use your Mobile Device Management (MDM) system.
  2. Upload the provided Custom Configuration Profile.
  3. Configure the profile as a device profile, not a user profile.

AlertImportant: This setting only works with macOS 15.3 or later.

Allow Privacy Approval Screen Prompt

When a teacher shares their screen with students, a privacy prompt may appear.

Selecting either option in this prompt does not interfere with screen sharing and does not prevent the LanSchool Air Student Client from working.

At this time, there is no way to prevent this prompt from appearing.



Troubleshooting

The student Mac does not appear in LanSchool Air

Verify the following:

  1. The Provisioning Window was open before the web installer was run.
  2. The correct organization-specific web installer was used.
  3. Both installer packages were copied to the same folder on the student Mac before installation.
  4. The installation completed successfully with administrator or root privileges.
  5. The Mac has an internet connection.
  6. Required macOS privacy approvals and network access are configured.

If the device still does not appear, review the installation logs and contact LanSchool Air Support.

The web installer fails or the student client is not installed

  1. Confirm that both LSAirWebInstall.pkg and LSAirClientInstall.pkg were downloaded.
  2. Confirm that both packages are in the same folder on the student Mac.
  3. Verify that the web installer filename has not been changed.
  4. Confirm that the deployment tool runs the installer with administrator or root privileges.
  5. Review the deployment tool's installation logs for errors.

Retry the deployment after correcting any identified issues.

The student client is installed, but some features do not work

Verify that the required macOS privacy approvals are configured and that the appropriate Chrome or Edge browser extension policies are deployed.

For additional guidance, see Configuring LanSchool Air for Mac Privacy Approvals with MDM.

Students receive unexpected privacy prompts

Confirm that the required privacy profiles were deployed correctly through your MDM solution.

For recurring Screen Recording prompts on macOS 15.3 or later, verify that the supplied configuration profile is deployed as a device profile.

The additional prompt shown when a teacher shares their screen cannot currently be suppressed.


Frequently Asked Questions

How do I mass deploy LanSchool Air to Mac student computers?

Sign in to LanSchool Air as a Site Admin, open LanSchool Air Settings > Setup > macOS > Setup Instructions, and download both installer packages. Copy both packages to the same folder on each student Mac, then run the organization-specific web installer through your MDM or remote deployment tool with administrator or root privileges.

Which installer should I run when deploying LanSchool Air to multiple Macs?

Run the organization-specific LSAirWebInstall.pkg web installer. It uses the LSAirClientInstall.pkg full installer in the same folder to install and provision the student client.

Can I rename the LanSchool Air web installer?

No. The web installer filename is unique to your organization and must not be changed.

Why must the Provisioning Window be open before installation?

The Provisioning Window must be open before the web installer runs so that student devices can be provisioned for your LanSchool Air organization.

Can I use Jamf or Apple Remote Desktop to deploy LanSchool Air?

Yes. You can use a compatible MDM or remote deployment tool, such as Jamf or Apple Remote Desktop, to copy the installer packages and run the web installer on student Macs.

Does mass deployment automatically approve macOS privacy permissions?

No. Automated installation does not automatically grant all required privacy permissions. Configure the required permissions through MDM or complete any prompts that appear on the student Mac.

Why are the Chrome or Edge extensions missing after deployment?

On macOS 11 and later, the required browser policies must be deployed through your MDM solution. Verify that the appropriate browser profile was installed and that the extension is enabled in the browser.

Why does the Screen Recording prompt keep appearing on macOS 15?

macOS 15 may periodically display a Screen Recording prompt. On macOS 15.3 or later, you can suppress this prompt by deploying the supplied custom configuration profile through MDM as a device profile.

Can I disable the privacy prompt that appears when a teacher shares their screen?

No. This prompt cannot currently be suppressed. Selecting either option does not interfere with screen sharing or prevent the LanSchool Air Student Client from working.

What should I do if a Mac is missing from LanSchool Air after deployment?

Verify that the Provisioning Window was open before installation, the correct organization-specific web installer was used, both packages were in the same folder, and the installation completed successfully. Also check internet connectivity and required configuration settings. If the device still does not appear, contact LanSchool Air Support.

Why isn't website limiting working in Chrome on Mac student devices?

If students can still access blocked websites or perform unrestricted internet searches, the LanSchool Air Chrome Extension may not be installed, enabled, or configured correctly on their Mac computers.

To troubleshoot the issue:

  1. Verify the Chrome Extension is installed and enabled. On a student Mac, open Google Chrome and navigate to chrome://extensions. Confirm that the LanSchool Air Chrome Extension is listed and enabled.
  2. Verify the Chrome policy is deployed. On macOS 11 and later, the required Chrome browser policies must be deployed through your Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution. Confirm that the correct LanSchool Air Chrome configuration profile is deployed to the affected Macs.
  3. Check the MDM deployment scope. Verify that the configuration profile applies to the correct student devices and that the required extension is installed and enabled.
  4. Verify the website limiting list. Confirm that the correct blocked or allowed website list is applied to the active class or student in LanSchool Air.
  5. Test website limiting again. If the issue persists, follow the steps in Troubleshooting Web Limiting for LanSchool Air.

If the extension is installed and enabled but website limiting still does not work, contact LanSchool Air Support for further troubleshooting.