Clear Passcode command delayed on iPhone powered off for several monthsSolved

Yes @gareyy , this can happen with iOS devices that have been powered off or offline for an extended period.

When an iPhone boots after several months and reconnects to the internet, iOS may prioritize native system tasks first. These can include background checks, system services, update checks, and other OS-level processes. During this period, MDM commands such as Clear Passcode and Scan Device may remain queued or show as pending/in progress even though the device appears online in the Hexnode UEM portal.

For this scenario:

1. Keep the iPhone powered on.
2. Ensure it has a stable internet connection, either Wi-Fi or cellular data.
3. Allow additional time for iOS to complete its own background processing.
4. Avoid repeatedly sending the same remote action unless the previous action has clearly failed.

Once iOS clears its internal backlog and processes the MDM command queue, the Clear Passcode action should execute automatically.

Best Regards,
Isabel Lora
Hexnode UEM

That makes sense. I was confused because the device showed as checked in, so I assumed the command should go through right away. The Scan Device action sat in progress for quite a while, and the app update action was also pending.

A current check-in confirms that the device has re-established communication, but it does not always mean every queued MDM command will execute immediately.

Scan Device can take longer in this state because it collects updated inventory and status details from the device. If the iPhone has just come back online after a long downtime, the scan and other remote actions may wait behind higher-priority iOS background tasks.

As long as the device remains online and the actions are not marked as failed, waiting is the correct approach. This is especially true for devices that were powered off for weeks or months.

Best Regards,
Isabel Lora
Hexnode UEM