Managing devices in Apple MDM lost mode

You can place a supervised device in MDM lost mode through MobileIron Core. This means you report the device as lost to Apple servers, allowing you to retrieve the last recorded location of the device, as well as disable lost mode if the device is found.

MobileIron Core allows you to carry out the following MDM lost mode tasks:

Note The Following:

  • MDM lost mode and all related features are supported on supervised devices only running iOS 9.3 through the most recently released version as supported by MobileIron.
  • MobileIron recommends using the MDM lost mode features on devices with working SIM cards and cellular connections. Before enabling MDM lost mode, note for future reference the iCloud login used on the device.
  • MDM lost mode is different from MobileIron Core lost mode, as described in Lost.

Enable MDM lost mode

You can report a lost device to Apple servers by placing the device in MDM lost mode.

After you have placed a device in lost mode:

  • If the device is retired, you cannot disable lost mode.
  • If the device is wiped, you cannot locate or track the device.

To enable MDM lost mode:

  1. Go to Device & Users > Devices.
  2. Select the check box for the device.
  3. Select Actions > iOS Only > Lost Mode.

  4. In the Lost Mode window, enter the following:

    Item

    Description

    Enable Lost Mode

    Select to place the iOS device in MDM lost mode.

    Message to display on lock screen

    Optionally enter a message to be displayed on the locked screen of the lost device.

    Contact number to display on lock screen:

    Optionally enter a contact number to be displayed on the locked screen of the lost device. If someone finds the device, they can call the number to report it.

    Footnote (Message to display in place of “Slide to Unlock”):

    Optionally enter the text you would like to appear at the bottom of the locked screen. .

    Play Lost Mode Sound

    Select this option to play a sound on a device when the device is in lost mode. The sound plays until you disable lost mode or a user disables the sound at the device.

    This option is available only for supervised devices running iOS 10.3 through the most recently released version as supported by MobileIron.

  5. Click SendRequest.

    The lost mode message, contact number, and footnote are shown on the lost device.

Disable MDM lost mode

If a device in MDM lost mode is retrieved, or MDM lost mode was enabled in error, you can disable MDM lost mode.

NOTE: If the lost device is retired from MobileIron Core, disabling MDM lost mode will not work.

To disable MDM lost mode:

  1. Go to Device & Users > Devices.
  2. Select the check box for the device.
  3. Select Actions > iOS Only > Lost Mode.

Request the MDM server to locate a device

You can determine the last recorded location of a given supervised device using the Request Device Location feature. The device location request is sent to Apple, but MobileIron Core shows the last recorded location and time stamp before receiving a response from Apple. It may take some time for Apple servers to respond to Core. To view the latest device location response from Apple, execute the device location request again.

NOTE: If the device is wiped, you will not be able to locate the device.

To request the location of a device:

  1. Go to Device & Users > Devices.
  2. Select the check box for the device.
  3. Select Actions > iOS Only > Request Device Location.
  4. In the window that opens, click Map It to view the last recorded device location.