Work phones have been on quite the journey. Before personal cell phones were common, they were usually reserved for people whose company would provide one to them. Then, there was a very small period in time when it was totally normal for people to have two phones — a personal and a work device.
Thankfully, there were improvements to how IT teams can manage and secure company data on mobile devices. So, you can use your personal iPhone for work without your company being afraid or worried about a possible data leak.
On top of that, when you leave a company, this means you can still keep your personal iPhone without your old company maintaining access to it anymore. Or at least that’s how it should work in theory. There are times — far more frequently than not — when remote management policies are forgotten about and left on personal phones.
In this article, I’ll show you all the ways you can remove remote management from an iPhone manually. I’ll also give you instructions for how you can help regain total control over your device again.
So, before I jump straight into how to remove a remote management policy, I think it’s a good idea to understand exactly what I’m talking about, especially if you’ve never heard this term prior to now.
Remote management is actually a feature of Apple’s Mobile Device Management system. It allows companies to monitor and manage iOS devices according to their company policies and standards. It’s particularly useful for businesses and other organizations that require control over multiple devices to ensure security and compliance.
There are actually quite a few benefits for administrators to use remote management that extend beyond keeping the phone secure. Admins can use these policies for things like installing internal apps or remotely wiping the device if it’s lost or stolen. This feature helps organizations maintain a consistent user experience and adherence to their policies across all managed devices.
You might also hear the term Mobile Device Management or MDM used interchangeably with remote management. But it’s a bit of a broader term that encompasses the management of all mobile devices — not just smartphones. So, you can also use these to help you manage tablets and laptops, like iPads and Macbooks, respectively.
MDM systems facilitate the remote management and administration of these devices to ensure they comply with an organization’s policies and security requirements.
Remote management is an integral part of MDM systems, allowing organizations to efficiently manage and control devices. While these features offer numerous benefits for organizations, they can also be limiting for individual users who wish to have full control over their devices. That’s why understanding how to remove remote management becomes crucial for users seeking autonomy on their iPhones.
The most straightforward and legitimate method to remove remote management from an iPhone is by contacting the device’s previous owner or the organization’s administrator. They can easily unenroll the device from the MDM system, allowing you to regain control.
Once the administrator has successfully completed these steps, the remote management profile should be removed from your iPhone. It may be necessary to restart the device for the changes to take effect.
If you’re unable to contact the previous owner or administrator, you can try erasing all content and settings on your iPhone. This will delete all data and restore the device to its factory settings.
Here are the steps you can follow to erase your iPhone:
After the process is complete, your iPhone will restart, and you’ll need to set it up as a new device. During the setup process, you may still encounter the remote management screen. If this occurs, you’ll need to try a different method.
Also, keep in mind that your iPhone backup will also include the MDM or remote management file. So, you will not be able to restore from your backup if you want to get rid of the MDM.
Restoring your iPhone using recovery mode is another option for removing remote management. This method will also erase all data on your device, so make sure to back up your essential files before proceeding.
Putting your iPhone into recovery mode is a bit more involved. But here are the instructions for how to put an iPhone into recovery mode and restore the device:
After the restoration is finished, your iPhone will restart, and you’ll need to set it up as a new device. During the setup process, check if the remote management screen still appears. If it does, you’ll need to try another method.
From time to time, updating iOS on your phone can break the remote management profile, depending on how it was configured. If there’s an update available, you can try this before you resort to the earlier options that will completely wipe your device.
Before attempting this method, ensure you have a stable internet connection and that your device is sufficiently charged or connected to a power source.
To manually update your iPhone’s iOS, follow these steps:
Your iPhone will download the update and install it once the download is complete. After updating your iPhone, check if the remote management profile has been removed. If not, then you’ll need to either erase your iPhone or put it into recovery mode first.
Removing remote management from an iPhone can be a challenging task, but with persistence and the right approach, it’s possible to regain control of your device. Start by contacting the previous owner or administrator, and if that’s not an option, try erasing your iPhone, using recovery mode, or updating your device’s iOS. If all else fails, reach out to Apple Support or visit an Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider for assistance.
Remember, it’s essential to follow legal methods and respect the device’s ownership rights when attempting to remove remote management. You should not attempt any of what you’ve just read on a device that is company-owned.