How to Remove Apple Device Enrollment Program (DEP) on iPhone/iPad/Mac
"I have an iPhone enrolled in the Device Enrollment Program (DEP) from my previous company, where I no longer work, but I still have the device. Can I remove the Apple DEP profile on my own?"
The Apple Device Enrollment Program (DEP) is a program provided by Apple to help IT administrators supervise a device. If your Apple device is enrolled in DEP, there are lots of restrictions around configuration and function. Don't worry, we will guide you on how to remove Apple DEP.
- Part 1. What is Device Enrollment Program (DEP)
- Part 2. How to Check if Your Device is DEP Enrolled
- Part 3. How to Remove Devices from Apple DEP
- Part 4. The Ultimate Way to Remove DEP Without a PasswordHOT
- Part 5. Bonus Tip: How to Stop Device Enrollment Notification on Mac
- Part 6. FAQs about Apple DEP
- Part 7. The Bottom Line
Part 1. What is Device Enrollment Program (DEP)
Before we discuss how to remove devices from Device Enrollment Program, let's take a closer look at what is it. DEP is part of the Apple Deployment Programs (ADP), which is commonly applied to businesses and educational institutions. DEP simplifies the device setup process, protects the information, and enables administrators to manage a large number of Apple devices. It supports iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch.
Briefly, it is a tool to enroll Apple devices. When the supervised device is on, the administrator can configure the device with zero-touch, such as deploying applications, locking and wiping the device remotely, device tracking, etc.
Part 2. How to Check if Your Device is DEP Enrolled
Are you certain your device is supervised? Before trying any removal methods, it’s best to confirm. This simple check takes less than a minute.
For iPhone and iPad:
Step 1. Open the Settings app on your device.
Step 2. Look at the very top of the main Settings screen. If your device is supervised, you will see a clear message stating, "This iPhone is supervised and managed by [Organization Name]." If you don't see this message, your device is not DEP enrolled.
For macOS:
Step 1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings.
Step 2. Navigate to Privacy & Security, then scroll down and click on Profiles. If your Mac is enrolled, you will see a configuration profile from the managing organization listed here.
Part 3. How to Remove Devices from Apple DEP
Method 1. Remove DEP in Settings
If you have the password of the admin account, you can remove DEP from your Apple device in settings directly:
On an iPhone or iPad:
Step 1. Go to Settings and navigate to General > VPN & Device Management.
Step 2. Click the profile and tap on Remove Management.
Step 3. Enter the password to remove.
On a Mac:
Step 1. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Profiles.
Step 2. Select the management profile you wish to remove.
Step 3. Click the minus (-) button at the bottom of the window and enter the required credentials to confirm the removal.
Method 2. Remove DEP from the Apple DEP Portal
If you have the account and password, you can also finish it from the DEP portal platform. Or if possible, you can ask the administrator to remove your device from DEP in this method:
Step 1. Log in to the DEP portal. Enter the admin account and password.
Step 2. Click Manage Devices on the left sidebar and select Serial Number.
Step 3. Click Unassign Devices under the Choose Action.
Method 3. Release the Device in Apple Business/School Manager (ABM/ASM)
Apple has integrated DEP into the more modern Apple Business Manager (ABM) and Apple School Manager (ASM). The process here is called "releasing" a device.
Step 1. Log in to Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager with an account that has Administrator or Device Enrollment Manager privileges.
Step 2. Click on Devices in the sidebar and use the search bar to find the specific device by its serial number.
Step 3. Select the device from the list and then click Release Device.
Step 4. You will need to check a box to confirm you understand that this action is permanent and cannot be undone. Click Release to finalize.
Part 4. The Ultimate Way to Remove DEP Without a Password
If you cannot have access to the admin, or you forgot the password, you need a professional DEP removal tool to remove it without password. In this case, we bly recommend the TunesKit iPhone Unlocker.
To get rid of the DEP on your Apple device, you do not need to jailbreak your iPhone with TunesKit iPhone Unlocker. It allows you to remove DEP easily without any passwords or expertise. TunesKit iPhone Unlocker is a powerful all-in-one tool, that helps users remove MDM restrictions, unlock their iPhones without password, reset Screen Time without passcode, and so on. What's more, it is compatible with most iOS device models.
Key Features of TunesKit iPhone Unlocker
Remove Apple DEP with hassle-free steps. Unlock iPhone/iPad/iPod touch with ease. Enable to factory reset iDevices without passwords.
600,000+ Downloads
Here are simple steps to remove Apple DEP without knowing manager account and password by using TunesKit iPhone Unlocker:
Step 1Connect Device to Computer
Install the TunesKit iPhone Unlocker on your computer and connect your device to it. Then, hit on the Remove MDM option.
Step 2Remove DEP Without Password
Click the Start button and the program will start to remove DEP on your Apple Device. Then you can take full control of your device.
Part 5. Bonus Tip: How to Stop Device Enrollment Notification on Mac
Some Mac users aren't locked out but are constantly plagued by a "Device Enrollment" notification that cannot be dismissed. For advanced users comfortable with Terminal, you can disable the services that trigger this prompt.
Step 1. Restart your Mac in Recovery Mode (hold Command + R during startup).
Step 2. Open Utilities > Terminal and disable System Integrity Protection (SIP) by typing csrutil disable and pressing Enter.
Step 3. Restart your Mac normally and open the Terminal app. Enter the commands to move the management agent files to a disabled folder.
Step 4. Restart in Recovery Mode again, open Terminal, and re-enable SIP with csrutil enable. Restart one last time.
Part 6. FAQs about Apple DEP
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1. Can jailbreak remove DEP on iPhone?
Jailbreaking is not a viable or reliable method for removing a DEP profile from an iPhone. The DEP profile is designed to be persistent and tied to the device's serial number, re-enrolling the device in MDM upon connection to Apple's servers. The best approach is to contact the organization that enrolled the device or try using TunesKit iPhone Unlocker.
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2. What if I wipe a device on DEP?
Wiping your device will not remove DEP. The restriction prevents users from wiping the device. Even though you can wipe it, the device will get re-enrolled automatically. Only during the 30-day provisional period set by Apple Configurator, removing the management profile from the device will work.
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3. Is MDM the same as DEP?
No, Mobile Device Management (MDM) and the Apple Device Enrollment Program (DEP) are not the same, though they are closely related and often used together in enterprise and educational environments. Mobile Device Management (MDM) is a security software solution that allows IT administrators to configure and monitor devices. DEP is a service that helps administrators enroll devices into MDM solutions, and skip the steps when a device is set up for the first time.
Part 7. The Bottom Line
Having a device locked by the Apple Device Enrollment Program can feel limiting, but a solution is always within reach. If you have the administrator credentials, you can easily remove the profile through the device's settings or Apple's management portals.
However, for the vast majority of users who have purchased a supervised device or don't have access to the administrator, the path is just as clear. A trusted and effective tool like TunesKit iPhone Unlocker offers a simple, one-click solution to permanently remove the DEP/MDM profile, giving you back the full, unrestricted use of your iPhone or iPad.
