Release devices in Apple Business
Devices can be removed from Apple Business. 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 need to release any devices you don’t own or control in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Apple Business Agreement.
If devices are removed from Apple Business, you can add them back using Apple Configurator. You can also add back iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac devices by contacting the Apple Authorized Resellers or authorized cellular carrier that sold them to you. See Add devices using Apple Configurator.
You can also allow your device management service to release devices without having to sign in to Apple Business. This feature is enabled by default when you add a device management service. You can remove this feature by deselecting the option for any new or existing services you create.
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.
Release a single device
After you release a device, they remain in the device listing, but you can no longer assign them to a device management service.
Important: Managing Activation Lock using Apple Business isn’t possible after a device is released. See Turn off Activation Lock.
In Apple Business, sign in with a user whose role has permissions to release devices from the organization.
To view roles and permissions, see Intro to roles and permissions.
If necessary, search for the device in the search field. See How to search.
Select the device, then select Release from Organization.
Carefully read the dialog, select the I understand that this cannot be undone box, then select Release.
A new activity is created.
Choose one of the following:
Stop the activity.
View the activity.
Select Close.
Wait for the activity to complete, then select Done.
Note: You can always add devices back to Apple Business. 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.
After a device is released, it needs to be erased and restored.
Release multiple devices
After you release the devices, they remain in the device listing, but you can no longer assign them to a device management service.
Important: Managing Activation Lock using Apple Business isn’t possible after devices are released. See Turn off Activation Lock.
In Apple Business, sign in with a user whose role has permissions to release devices from the organization.
To view roles and permissions, see Intro to roles and permissions.
If necessary, search for the device in the search field. See How to search.
To search for specific devices, you can paste up to 1024 serial numbers from a text file, with each serial number separated by a comma.
Select the total number of devices, then select Release.
Carefully read the dialog, select the I understand that this cannot be undone box, then select Release.
A new activity is created.
Choose one of the following:
Stop the activity.
View the activity.
Select Close.
Wait for the activity to complete, then select Done.
Note: You can always add devices back to Apple Business. 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 needs to be erased and restored.
View released device info
You can review the release date for a device, as well as who or what device management service released it. The following entities can release a device:
A user who has permissions to manage devices
A linked device management service that can release devices
An Apple Authorized Reseller
In Apple Business, sign in with a user whose role has permissions to release devices from the organization.
To view roles and permissions, see Intro to roles and permissions.
If necessary, search for the device in the search field. See How to search.
Select the device, then view the Activity section of the device information window.
Note the date when the device was removed.
If necessary, do any of the following:
Select the name of the user to view their information.
Select the name of the device management service to view that service.
Note: If someone removes the service, Deleted Device Management Services appears.
View the name of the Apple Authorized Reseller (no link appears).
If the device was replaced, the serial number of the new device appears.