Release devices in Apple School Manager
Devices can be removed from Apple School 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 need to release any devices you don’t own or control in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Apple School Manager Agreement.
If an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV is removed from Apple School 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 Authorized Resellers or authorized cellular carriers.
You can also allow your device management service to release devices without having to sign in to Apple School Manager. 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 School Manager.
Release a device
Important: Managing Activation Lock using Apple School Manager isn’t possible after a device is released. See Turn off Activation Lock.
In Apple School Manager
, sign in with a user who has the role of Administrator, Site Manager, or Device Enrollment 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 select the device, select More
, 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 releases the devices. You can wait for the activity to complete, view the activity, or select Close to close the window. After you release a device, it remains in the device listing, but you can no longer assign it to a device management service.
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 needs to be erased and restored.
Release multiple devices
Important: Managing Activation Lock using Apple School Manager isn’t possible after devices are released. See Turn off Activation Lock.
In Apple School Manager
, sign in with a user who has the role of Administrator, Site Manager, or Device Enrollment 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 search for all the devices, select the total number of devices at the top of the list, then select the Release button.
Carefully read the dialog, select the “I understand that this cannot be undone” box, then select Release.
A new activity releases the devices. You can wait for the activity to complete, view the activity, or select Close to close the window. After you release the devices, they remain in the device listing, but you can no longer assign them to a device management service.
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 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 with the role of Administrator, Site Manager, or Device Enrollment Manager
A linked device management service that can release devices
An Apple Authorized Reseller
In Apple School Manager
, sign in with a user who has the role of Administrator, Site Manager, or Device Enrollment 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 search for the device, select it from the list.
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.