How to Set Your Apple Devices Free

A Guide to Unenrolling from iCloud & Activation Lock

To ensure your equipment can be reused (and to keep your recovery costs at £0.00), devices must be fully detached from your organization’s Apple accounts. A simple “factory reset” isn’t enough—Activation Lock is a persistent little feature that stays active until you manually say goodbye.

1. The “One-at-a-Time” Method (Manual)

Best for individual iPhones, iPads, or Macs that you still have the passcode for.

2. The “Remote” Method (iCloud.com)

Best if the device is already packed in a box or off-site.

  1. Log in to iCloud.com/find with the Apple ID linked to the device.
  2. Select the device from the All Devices list.
  3. Important: If the device is offline, click Remove from Account.
    • Note: Do not just click “Erase.” You must select “Remove from Account” for the lock to actually disappear.

3. The “Work Smarter, Not Harder” Method (Bulk/Enterprise)

If you are managing a fleet, doing this manually is a nightmare. Here is how to handle it at scale:

Via Apple Business Manager (ABM)

If your devices are enrolled in ABM, you can “Release” them to permanently sever the tie to your organization.

  1. Log in to Apple Business Manager.
  2. Click Devices and search for the serial numbers (you can upload a CSV list).
  3. Click Release Device.
  4. Check the box that says “I understand that this cannot be undone” and click Release.

Via Your MDM (Intune, Jamf, Kandji, etc.)

Your MDM usually has an Activation Lock Bypass Code.

  1. Locate the device in your MDM dashboard.
  2. Look for the “Disable Activation Lock” command or find the Bypass Code in the device inventory details.
  3. Clear the lock before you trigger a remote wipe.

Pro-Tip: Before the pallets leave your loading bay, double-check your Apple Business Manager portal. If the devices are still showing as “Assigned” to your MDM server, they might still be locked when they reach our facility!

Stuck on a specific device? Give us a shout. We’ve seen every type of lock imaginable and can help you navigate the menus.