Release devices in Apple Business Manager
Devices can be removed from Apple Business Manager. You remove a device from the programme if it has been sold or lost, or cannot be repaired. This is called releasing a device. You should release any devices you do not own or control, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Apple Business Manager Agreement. You can also specify which users with the role of Device Enrolment Manager can release devices. See View and assign roles.
If an iPhone, iPad or Apple TV is removed from Apple Business Manager, it can be added back using Apple Configurator for Mac. Mac computers with Apple silicon or the Apple T2 Security Chip can be added back using Apple Configurator for iPhone. iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac devices can also be added back by participating Apple Authorised Resellers or authorised mobile network providers.
Note: You can also allow your mobile device management (MDM) solution to release devices without having to sign in to Apple Business Manager. This feature is enabled by default when you add an MDM server. You can remove this feature by deselecting the option for any new or existing MDM servers you created.
Important: Do not release devices that are being sent to Apple for repair. If Apple replaces a released device as part of a repair, its replacement will not be available in Apple Business Manager.
Release a device
In Apple Business Manager
, sign in as a user that has the role of Administrator or Device Enrolment Manager.Select Devices
in the sidebar, search for a device in the search field, then select the device from the list. See How to search.After you have selected the device, select the More button
, then select Release from Organisation.Carefully read the dialogue, check the box “I understand that this cannot be undone”, then select Release.
A new activity releases the devices. You can wait for the activity to complete or select Close to close the window. After you release a device, it remains in the device listing but can no longer be assigned to an MDM server.
Note: You can always add devices back to Apple School Manager. See Add devices from Apple Configurator.
Verify that the device status shows as Released by searching for the device in the search field at the top of the window.
Note: After a device is released, it must be erased and restored.
Release multiple devices
In Apple Business Manager
, sign in as a user that has the role of Administrator or Device Enrolment Manager.Select Devices
in the sidebar, search for a device in the search field, then select the device from the list. See How to search.After you have searched for all the devices, select the total number of devices at the top of the list, then select the Release button.
Carefully read the dialogue, check the box “I understand that this cannot be undone”, then select Release.
A new activity releases the devices. You can wait for the activity to complete or select Close to close the window. After you release a device, it remains in the device listing but can no longer be assigned to an MDM server.
Note: You can always add devices back to Apple Business Manager. See Add devices from Apple Configurator.
Verify that the device status shows as Released by searching for the device in the search field at the top of the window.
Note: After a device is released, it must be erased and restored.