Self Service: Manage Applications on University Mac Devices

Self Service is a tool for installing and updating software on University owned and managed Apple devices without the need for administrative rights. Self Service requires an Internet connection to function properly.

This article will help you complete the following:

• Launching Self Service
• Installing Software
• Updating Software
• Updating the Operating System (OS)
  • Upgrading the Operating System
  • macOS Major Version Upgrade
• Logging in to Access Additional Items
• Uninstalling Applications

1.  Click on the Spotlight icon    at the top right of the screen (Cmd + Space).
2. Type Self Service and select Self Service.app from the search results.
   
3. The Self Service application will open.
   

1. Using the Search bar at the left, search for the application you want to install.
2. Select the Install button.
   • The application version that will be installed is shown on the Install button. In the following, the button Install 3.0.16 will install the 3.0.16 version of VLC media player.
     
3. The Install button will become a progress wheel until it is complete.
   
4. When the application completes, the button will change to a green check mark with the word Done.

Updating Software

You can update software using Self Service before the updates run automatically on the device.

1. Select Notifications from the left menu. You will see available updates for installed software. If this is empty, there are no pending updates.
2. Select Update next to the application you want to update. The update button will become a progress wheel until the installation is complete.

Performing the following in Self Service will install any security or feature updates for your currently installed OS.

1. Select Home from the left menu.
2. Select the Update button under Apple Software Updates to check for and install available macOS software updates for your current OS.

macOS Major Version Upgrade

Performing the following in Self Service will upgrade your current OS to a new major OS version (Ex. Upgrading from macOS Big Sur to macOS Monterey).

1. Select Home from the left menu.
2. Select the Upgrade button under the desired macOS version to start the upgrade.

Some items available in Self Service may not appear without first logging in (e.g., some printers, licensed software, software with department specific settings).

1. Select Log In from the bottom left corner of Self Service.
   
2. A login screen (as shown below) will open. Sign in using your full University of Minnesota email address and password.
   
   1. HST users should log in using their Active Directory (ADia) account. 
      

Watch the Self Service Overview video from Jamf Software for more details. 

Unlike Windows, macOS does not have a built-in function to uninstall applications.  In macOS much like iOS, all parts of an application are kept "inside the application". For example, deleting Firefox from the Applications folder will "uninstall" Firefox from the computer.

Uninstalling an application from your computer requires administrator rights. If you do not have administrator rights on your computer or access to Make Me Admin for temporary rights. Please contact 1-Help and we will be happy to assist you.

1. Open a Finder   window by either clicking on the icon or by searching for it in the spotlight window.
2. Select the Applications folder in the Favorites menu and find the application that you wish to uninstall.
   
3. Drag the application to the trash can on the right side of your dock. Or select the application by clicking on it and typing command and delete at the same time. 

• Note that some applications such as Adobe Creative Cloud and the Cisco VPN install files in multiple locations like in Windows. These programs are contained in a single package and show up in the Applications folder as a folder themselves. In this case, they will have their own uninstaller program to run instead of the process listed here. For example, double click on the Uninstall Adobe Creative Cloud to uninstall.

4. Enter your administrator credentials to uninstall.

• IT help or access to Make Me Admin are required.

5. Empty the trash bin  by right clicking or holding the control button while clicking on the trash bin and select Empty.

After uninstalling the software, it may be necessary to install the software once again. To reinstall the software that you just uninstalled, return to Installing an Application section of this article. 

• Note that for some software applications, a system restart may be required in order for Self Service to repopulate.