Remove Device Management Android – How to Fix It

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If your Android device is managed by an organization, school, or employer, it may have restrictions imposed by Mobile Device Management (MDM). This guide explains different ways to remove device management from your Android phone or tablet.

Check If Device Management Is Enabled

Before removing device management, check if an MDM profile is installed.

Steps to Check for MDM on Android
  1. Open Settings
  2. Go to Security & Privacy
  3. Tap Device Admin Apps
  4. Look for any active device administrator apps
  5. If an MDM profile is listed, it is managing your device

If you do not have the option to remove the profile, the device is likely under strict management policies.

Remove Device Management from Settings

If you have permission, you can manually remove MDM from your device.

Steps to Remove MDM Profile
  1. Open Settings
  2. Go to Security & Privacy > Device Admin Apps
  3. Tap the MDM app and select Deactivate
  4. Go to Settings > Apps
  5. Locate the MDM app and Uninstall it

If the option to deactivate is unavailable, the device may be under supervision by an organization.

Remove Work or School Account

If your Android phone is managed through a work or school account, removing it can disable device control.

Steps to Remove Work Profile
  1. Open Settings
  2. Go to Accounts & Backup > Manage Accounts
  3. Select the work or school account
  4. Tap Remove Account
  5. Restart your device

If the work profile was installed by an employer, removing it may limit access to company resources.

Factory Reset Android to Remove Device Management

If device management cannot be removed manually, resetting your Android phone may erase the MDM profile.

Steps to Factory Reset Android via Settings
  1. Open Settings
  2. Go to General Management > Reset
  3. Tap Factory Data Reset
  4. Confirm the reset and wait for the process to complete

Steps to Factory Reset Android via Recovery Mode

If you are locked out of the settings, use Recovery Mode to reset the device.

  1. Turn off the phone
  2. Press and hold Volume Up + Power button (some devices also require holding Bixby or Home button)
  3. Release the buttons when the Android Recovery screen appears
  4. Use Volume buttons to select Wipe data/factory reset
  5. Press the Power button to confirm
  6. Select Yes and wait for the reset to complete
  7. Reboot the phone and set it up as new

If Google’s Factory Reset Protection (FRP) is enabled, the device may still require the original Google account credentials after a reset.

Remove Device Management Using ADB (For Advanced Users)

If USB debugging was enabled before the device was managed, Android Debug Bridge (ADB) can be used to remove MDM.

Steps to Remove MDM Using ADB
  1. Connect the phone to a computer via USB
  2. Open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux)
  3. Type the following command and press Enter: 
    adb shell dpm remove-active-admin com.example.mdm
  4. Restart your phone and check if MDM is removed

This method only works if USB debugging was enabled before the device was locked by MDM.

Use Third-Party MDM Removal Tools

If manual methods do not work, some third-party tools claim to remove MDM. Common options include:

  • iMyFone LockWiper (Android)
  • Tenorshare 4uKey for Android
  • Dr.Fone – Unlock (Android)

These tools may work depending on the Android version and the type of MDM installed.

Prevent MDM from Reinstalling After Reset

If the device was enrolled in Android Enterprise or Google’s Zero-Touch Enrollment, MDM may automatically reinstall after a factory reset.

To prevent this:

  1. Contact the organization and request device removal from Google Enterprise Management
  2. Use a different Google account during setup
  3. Check if the device is listed under Google’s Device Policy and unenroll it

If the phone was issued by an organization, removing MDM without permission may lead to restrictions or legal consequences.