Remove Device Management MacBook – How to Fix It

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If your MacBook is controlled by Mobile Device Management (MDM), certain settings, apps, and security restrictions may be enforced by an organization. This guide explains different ways to remove device management from your MacBook and regain full control.

Check If Your MacBook Has Device Management

Before removing MDM, check if your MacBook is managed.

Steps to Check for MDM on MacBook
  1. Click the Apple menu and go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
  2. Select Privacy & Security > Profiles.
  3. If an MDM profile is listed, your Mac is managed.

If the Profiles option is missing, your MacBook is not managed by an MDM.

Remove MDM Profile from MacBook

If you have the necessary permissions, you can manually remove the MDM profile.

Steps to Remove MDM from MacBook
  1. Click the Apple menu and open System Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security > Profiles.
  3. Select the MDM profile and click Remove (-).
  4. Enter your admin password if prompted.
  5. Restart your MacBook to apply changes.

If the Remove option is grayed out, the MDM profile is enforced by an organization.

Remove Device Management Using Terminal

If manual removal does not work, you can try removing the MDM profile using Terminal.

Steps to Remove MDM Using Terminal
  1. Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities.
  2. Type the following command and press Enter: 
    sudo profiles -P

    This lists all installed profiles.

  3. Find the profile identifier and run: 
    sudo profiles -R -p "profile-identifier"
  4. Restart your MacBook.

If the command does not work, your MacBook may have Supervision Mode enabled.

Remove MDM by Erasing MacBook

If the MDM profile cannot be removed manually, resetting your MacBook may help.

Steps to Reset MacBook via macOS Recovery
  1. Click the Apple menu and select Restart.
  2. Immediately press and hold Command (⌘) + R until the macOS Utilities screen appears.
  3. Select Disk Utility > Macintosh HD > Erase.
  4. Exit Disk Utility and select Reinstall macOS.
  5. Follow the setup process.

If the MacBook is managed via Apple Business Manager (ABM) or Apple School Manager (ASM), the MDM profile may reapply after resetting.

Remove MDM Using Third-Party Tools

Some third-party tools claim to remove MDM from MacBooks. Common options include:

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

These tools may work depending on the MDM configuration but should be used cautiously.

Prevent MDM from Reinstalling After Reset

If your MacBook was registered under Apple Business Manager (ABM) or Apple School Manager (ASM), the MDM profile may automatically reinstall after a reset.

Steps to Prevent MDM Reinstallation
  1. Contact your organization and request device removal from Apple Business Manager or School Manager.
  2. Use a different Apple ID during macOS setup to avoid linking to the MDM profile.

If the MacBook was issued by a company or school, unauthorized removal of MDM may result in security restrictions or legal consequences.