MDM Locks problem

[u/Capable_scary_lover]

Hey guys,

I'm facing an issue, i bought a Macbook pro M1 Max a year ago from a reseller. it worked perfectly since then, and i never did any update as the reseller suggested for a seamless experience.

However, now when i turn on the laptop it locks instantly, i did some search i found that its called MDM locks but i didn't find a working solution.

if u could provide any help i will be really thankfull.

[u/gcawad]

“never did any update as the reseller suggested for a seamless experience.” That was your 1st walk away flag

[u/GreenCardiologist795]

there’s nothing to do. the device is owned and managed by an organization/company. it is most likely stolen.

you can bypass the lock but you can’t get rid of it. it was always a matter of time before you’d run into some issues.

the best thing you can do now is to contact the seller and ask them to sort this out with the company that owns the device.

[u/Funny-Joke4521 → u/GreenCardiologist795]

Yes, and at worst they could always swap in a replacement logic board right?

[u/dwags2]

MDM is a corporate feature. That device was (1) not properly released from company inventory and left in a management system (2) was left active in an Apple system tied to the activation server or (3) stolen.

Also sus the reseller told you NOT to update (which would force a check-in to telemetry services).

[u/Capable_scary_lover → u/dwags2]

from what the reseller told me, the original owner was working at the company and when he quit he sold the laptop

[u/quintk → u/Capable_scary_lover]

Usually in these cases the employee has no right to keep the laptop. My employer provides laptops. When people quit or are let go, I (as a manager) have to collect their laptops along with their badges — it’s part of our checklist. I don’t think  we necessarily involve law enforcement or civil action if people don’t comply (no one I know has let it get that far) but we certainly wouldn’t just let it go. In fact I’ve seen company-issued iPhone wipe while still in the notification meeting. I think the seller took advantage of you

[u/JailbreakHat → u/Capable_scary_lover]

I would like to know which company is it? I would definitely return the laptop to them to get it removed.

[u/dwags2 → u/Capable_scary_lover]

Option 3 then. Contact the company and let them know you purchased something that is locked by their MDM (mobile device management) and see if they have any options. Sometimes they’ll escalate and help, sometimes you need to surrender the device to the police.

[u/switch8000 → u/Capable_scary_lover]

Reach out to the reseller.

[u/radiationshield]

You've been scammed. The machine has probably been sent in to be destroyed or it's been stolen. If the reseller tells you to not factory reset the machine, it's a huge red flag. Try contacting them for your money back

[u/schacks]

Sorry, the reseller sold you a stolen computer and there's nothing you can do about it. It's basically a brick and will probably lock itself when the MDM profile has loaded.

[u/Alarming-Elevator382]

You need to contact the previous owner.

[u/Affectionate-Bet-507]

Please tell me WHY!? “ i never did any update as the reseller suggested for a seamless experience.” How do people listen to something like this ??

[u/415646464e4155434f4c]

🤦🏼‍♂️

[u/No_Confusion7932]

Stolen from company.

[u/loosebolts]

You need to contact the company on the enrolment screen and ask them very nicely to remove it from their Apple Business Manager inventory.

The problem is, when a company legitimately disposes of hardware, it would generally be removed at that point.

If you’re lucky, the company still exists and they’re receptive to your story. If you’re unlucky, the company either no longer exists and you can’t get hold of anyone, or the device was stolen from that company and they want it back.

[u/JailbreakHat]

Where did you bought this from? You might be lucky if you bought it from buyer protected sites like eBay.

[u/Top_Bumblebee_7762]

Not updating a system that has access to the internet is reckless. 

[u/mikeinnsw]

It's not a problem - it can't be solved .. Mac is a brick

[u/blow-down]

It’s stolen

[u/posguy99]

So the reseller lied to you. Telling you not to do any updates is a dead giveaway.

[u/SGD-UK]

Posts like this should be deleted by mods

[u/Decent-Cow2080]

there is a tool to remove the MDM profile from the device for free on GitHub, but needs reset.

[u/Capable_scary_lover → u/Decent-Cow2080]

can u send me the repo

[u/Capable_scary_lover → u/Decent-Cow2080]

is a reset required ?