You’re staring at a screen that says "Remote Management." It’s frustrating. Maybe you bought a used phone off eBay, or perhaps you just left a job and realized your old boss still has a digital leash on your device. Whatever the reason, that MDM (Mobile Device Management) profile is basically a gatekeeper. It can restrict your camera, track your location, or even wipe your data remotely. It’s annoying.
Honestly, most people think a factory reset fixes everything. It doesn't. You wipe the phone, it restarts, you connect to Wi-Fi, and—boom—the "Remote Management" screen is back. This happens because the serial number is hardcoded into Apple’s Business Manager or School Manager servers. It’s a hardware-level handshake.
If you want to know how to remove remote management on iPhone, you have to understand that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all magic button. It depends entirely on whether you have the login credentials or if you’re trying to bypass a lock on a device you legally own but can't access.
The Official Way (When You Have the Keys)
If this is a corporate device and you’re still on good terms with the IT department, just ask them. Seriously. They can de-enroll the device from their dashboard in about thirty seconds. Once they hit "Unenroll," the profile vanishes.
But let’s say you have the phone, it’s yours, and the profile is still there but not "locked." You can check this in your settings. Go to Settings, then General, and scroll down to VPN & Device Management. If you see a profile there, tap it. Sometimes, there’s a "Remove Management" button at the bottom. You’ll need the device passcode. If that button isn't there, or if it's greyed out, the organization has restricted your ability to remove it. That’s when things get tricky.
Why a Factory Reset Fails Every Single Time
I see this advice all over Reddit and it drives me crazy. "Just DFU restore it!" No.
When an iPhone activates, it pings Apple’s activation servers. Those servers check if that specific Serial Number/IMEI belongs to a corporate DEP (Device Enrollment Program) account. If it does, Apple sends a command to the iPhone saying, "Hey, you belong to Company X, download their configuration now."
This happens after the OS is installed. You can restore the software a thousand times, but as soon as the phone "talks" to Apple to get past the setup screen, the lock returns. You aren't fighting the software on the phone; you're fighting a record in Apple’s cloud database.
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How to Remove Remote Management on iPhone Without a Password
Okay, let’s get into the "grey area" stuff. You bought a phone at a police auction or a liquidator sale. You own the hardware, but the previous company forgot to release it.
Using Third-Party Bypass Tools
There are tools like AnyUnlock, iMazing, or Tenorshare 4uKey. They work, but there’s a massive catch most "expert" writers won't tell you. These tools don't actually delete the record from Apple's servers. They just "skip" the setup step that asks for the MDM login.
- You connect the iPhone to a Mac or PC.
- The software runs an exploit to bypass the activation screen.
- You get to your home screen.
The catch? If you ever factory reset that phone again, or sometimes even if you do a major iOS update, the lock might come back. It’s a bypass, not a permanent removal. It’s like jumping a fence instead of taking the lock off the gate. It works for now, but the fence is still there.
The Jailbreak Route
For older iPhones—we’re talking iPhone X and older—you can use the Checkm8 exploit. Because this is a hardware-level vulnerability, you can use tools like Checkra1n to get into the file system and manually delete the setup.app or the configuration profiles.
Modern iPhones (iPhone 13, 14, 15, 16) don't have this vulnerability. If you're on a newer device, jailbreaking isn't a viable path for MDM removal right now. The security chips (Secure Enclave) are just too tight.
Can Apple Help You?
Sometimes. But they are incredibly strict.
If you have a physical receipt from an authorized Apple reseller that shows the serial number, you can file an "Activation Lock" or "MDM" request with Apple Support. I’ve seen this work for people who inherited devices from deceased family members. If you bought it from a random guy on Facebook Marketplace? Forget it. Apple will tell you to contact the original owner.
The Nuance of "Supervised" Devices
There’s a difference between a "Profile" and "Supervision."
A profile is just a set of rules. Supervision is a state the device is in. If your phone says "This iPhone is supervised and managed by..." at the top of the Settings app, the organization has total control. They can see what apps you install, prevent you from resetting the phone, and even see your web traffic if they’ve routed it through a global proxy.
If you’re worried about privacy, a supervised device is a liability. You shouldn't use your personal Apple ID on a device that is actively under supervision unless you trust the admin implicitly.
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The Reality of eBay and Used Markets
If you’re shopping for a used iPhone and the listing says "MDM Locked" or "Profile Installed," do not buy it. Sellers often list these for cheap, promising that it’s an "easy fix." It isn't. You will spend hours downloading sketchy software, potentially paying for licenses that may or may not work, and you’ll end up with a phone that you can never safely update or reset. It’s a headache that isn't worth the $100 savings.
Actionable Steps to Clear Your Device
If you are currently stuck on that screen, here is your most logical path forward, ranked from most to least effective:
- Contact the IT Department: If there is a company name on the screen, Google their HR or IT department. If the device was sold legally as surplus, they likely just forgot to hit "Release" in their Jamf or Kanaka dashboard. A quick email with a photo of the serial number can solve this permanently.
- Check for the "Remove Profile" button: Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management. If it’s there and not locked, delete it and then do a "Erase All Content and Settings."
- Use iMazing (For Mac/PC): If you can get the phone to the home screen but the profile is annoying you, iMazing has a "Remove Device Supervision" feature. It requires "Find My" to be turned off. It’s one of the more reputable tools in this space.
- The "Backup Edit" Trick: This is for the tech-savvy. You can back up the phone to a computer, use an IBM backup editor to find the
com.apple.managedconfiguration.plistfiles, delete the restrictions, and then restore that modified backup. It’s hit or miss on iOS 17 and iOS 18 because Apple has started signing these configuration files.
The bottom line is simple: MDM is a server-side flag. Until that flag is flipped by the owner or bypassed by software, the phone isn't truly yours. If you manage to bypass it, immediately disable "Find My" and avoid factory resetting the device unless absolutely necessary. Keep your software updated through the settings menu rather than through iTunes/Finder, as a clean restore via computer is the most common way the MDM lock re-triggers.