
Release devices in Apple Business Manager
Devices can be removed from Apple Business Manager. You remove a device from the program if it’s been sold, lost, or can’t 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.
If an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Apple TV is removed from Apple Business Manager, it can be added back using Apple Configurator 2.5 or later. Mac computers can’t be added back using Apple Configurator 2.5 or later. iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, and Mac devices can be added back by participating Apple Authorized Resellers or carriers.
Note: You can also allow your mobile device management (MDM) solution to release devices. This method doesn’t require you 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: Don’t release devices that are being sent to Apple for repair. If Apple replaces a released device as part of a repair, its replacement won’t be available in Apple Business Manager.
Release devices
In Apple Business Manager
, sign in with an account that has the role of Administrator or Device Enrollment Manager.
Click 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’ve searched for the devices, select the total number of devices at the top of the list, then click
.
Carefully read the dialog, then click Release Devices.
Carefully read the additional dialog. After you release a device, it is removed from Apple Business Manager and can’t be assigned to an MDM server.
Note: You can always add iPhone, iPad and Apple TV devices back to Apple Business Manager using Apple Configurator 2. See Assign devices added from Apple Configurator 2. Mac computers can’t be added back with Apple Configurator 2.
Check the box, “I understand that this cannot be undone,” then click Release.
A new activity releases the devices. You can wait for the activity to complete, or click Close to close the window.
Verify that the devices have been removed 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.