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I tried to reset a 5th Generation iPad I bought from my school district to factory settings. I didn't realize it still had the MDM on it and now I am stuck in the reset process. The iPad is waiting for final configuration from the district. I retired two years ago and they scrapped the iPad program so the district IT guy says he can't help me. Is there any way to fix this iPad so it can be used?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPad, iPadOS 18
When you say, "I am stuck in the reset process," do you mean the device is asking you to enroll the unit into Device Management? If so, then you need to ask the IT person to release the device from Apple School Manager (ASM). If the iPad program is scrapped, that likely means the MDM has been shutdown. But, if the device was not released from Apple School Manager, then when you reset the device, it will ask to connect to a network. When it does, it reaches out to Apple's Activation Server. The activation server sees the device as institutionally owned, and it directs the unit to talk to the school's ASM. ASM likely still has the MDM Server configuration in place, and the asset is assigned to an MDM that no longer exists. So, the flow goes, device gets on network, device talks to Activation Server, Activation Server tells device to talk to ASM, ASM says talk to MDM for enrollment instructions. Well, the MDM is not present so you just spin, unable to complete enrollment.
The way to handle this is to request that the device be released from ASM. This will break chain of custody of the device and return it to retail activation. Once the device is released, then you must wipe the unit again to trigger a fresh call to the activation server to recognize the conversion from institutional to retail. At that point, the device will active without association to the school's environment and you will be able to complete the setup of the device.
While it is not uncommon for MDMs to get shutdown, Apple School Manager is likely still active. While the IT person may not want to do it, it should be possible. But the IT person and the school must provide this service. If they do not release the unit from ASM, then it is a door stop and your best bet is to purchase a new one. Releasing the device is performed in ASM and takes about 1 minute to complete. The act of releasing the asset breaks it from chain of custody and the school is effectively confirming that they are no longer the owner of the asset.
Hope this is helpful.
iPad stuck in MDM-restricted factory reset
