iOS device stuck on Activation Lock screen after remote wipeSolved

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to Hexnode Connect.

If Activation Lock is still enabled on an iOS device at the moment it is wiped, the device will halt at the Activation Lock screen during the Setup Assistant. To proceed, the device requires either the original Apple ID and password associated with it, or for the lock to be removed via Apple’s management options.

As a best practice for device offboarding, we always recommend verifying and disabling Activation Lock before initiating a remote wipe. This guarantees a seamless, zero-touch setup process for the next user.

Regarding the Clear Activation Lock checkbox available during the wipe action: this feature is designed to send a bypass command to Apple to clear user-based Activation Locks (which usually happen when an employee signs in with a personal Apple ID and turns on Find My). If this remote action fails or throws an error, the lock remains intact on Apple’s servers, which is why the device is currently stuck.

To resolve your current situation and get past the setup screen, you should check the device’s status directly within your Apple Business Manager (ABM) portal. If the device is officially assigned to your organization, you can locate its record in ABM and manually turn off the Activation Lock from there. Once the lock is cleared on Apple’s end, simply restart the iPad, and it will be able to continue through the setup assistant normally.

I hope this helps. If you find any more issues or need further assistance feel free to reach out.

Best regards,
George,
Hexnode UEM