At first, Adolf Frederick and his brother John Albert II reigned under the guardianship of Duke Ulrich III of Mecklenburg-Güstrow and Charles I of Mecklenburg (their father's uncles).

The two brothers Adolf Frederick and John Albert, took over governance of Mecklenburg-Schwerin beginning on 16 April 1608.

[1] During the Thirty Years' War, Albrecht von Wallenstein ousted the dukes after they secretly sided with King Christian IV of Denmark against Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II.

[1] Wallenstein ruled the duchies from 1627 until 1631, when the Swedes restored the under King Gustavus Adolphus.

In 1634 Adolf Frederick succeeded Ulrik of Denmark as the last Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Schwerin before its secularisation.