Device Management pairing no longer works

I set up my iPhone 11 with Device Management at a time when I was traveling internationally quite a lot, and paired it with my MacBook Air so that I would still be able to download data (such as photos) from my phone. Pretty immediately afterwards, probably right after an iOS update, my phone forgot the pairing and refused to connect to my laptop. At this point, a couple of years later, I need to undo the Device Management so I can download all my photos and files. From all the information I've found online, however, if I just go into the Settings on my phone and "Remove Profile" for the two profiles listed under Device Management, it looks like that will also delete all my data. Is there any way I can remove the security (I still have the password I used)without losing my data? Or downloading my data some other way, before I lose it all? I would greatly appreciate any help.

iPhone 11 Pro

Posted on May 5, 2023 7:29 PM

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4 replies

May 5, 2023 8:50 PM in response to ekwade

I don't think you require pairing an iPhone with MacBook for "download data (such as photos) "

If MDM profile is preventing from transfer of data between the devices. then...



  1. Is this your corporate iPhone? Then please contact the system administrator of your corporate
  2. If it is your personal device, in that case, do you have any profile installed by your corporate/organisation/enterprise/School Management?
    1. Erase the profile added by you If you have installed a profile on your own --> Install or remove configuration profiles on iPhone - Apple ...
    2. Or please contact the system administrator of the organisation who provided the profile to you
  3. If you want to turn on SSL trust for that certificate, go to Settings > General > About > Certificate Trust Settings. Under "Enable full trust for root certificates," turn on trust for the certificate. Apple recommends deploying certificates via Apple Configurator or Mobile Device Management (MDM). --> Trust manually installed certificate profiles in iOS and iPadOS ...



MDM is a technology that allows organizations to remotely manage and configure mobile devices, such as iPhones, iPads, and other mobile platforms. It enables IT administrators to enforce security policies, distribute applications, and manage device settings.


To resolve this issue, you can try the following steps:

  1. Remove the existing MDM profile: Go to the "Settings" app on your iPhone, select "General," then "Profiles." Find the existing MDM profile and remove it. This will remove the old payload and associated settings.
  2. Reinstall the MDM profile: Contact your IT administrator or MDM provider to obtain the latest MDM profile. Install the new profile on the device, following the provided instructions. Ensure that the new profile contains the correct and updated "CheckInURL" value.


By removing the old profile and installing the new one, you should be able to resolve the mismatched keys issue and establish a proper connection between the device and the MDM server. However, if the problem persists, it would be best to consult with your IT administrator or MDM provider for further assistance and troubleshooting.

May 5, 2023 8:52 PM in response to ekwade

ekwade wrote:

and refused to connect to my laptop.


If you're experiencing difficulty connecting your iPhone to your Mac, there are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:


  1. Check the USB cable and ports: Ensure that you're using a certified Lightning to USB cable and try connecting it to different USB ports on your Mac. Also, check for any physical damage or debris in the ports that may be preventing a proper connection. Use genuine cable --> Identify counterfeit or uncertified Lightning connector accessories ...
  2. Disconnect all other USB devices from your computer, except for your keyboard and mouse. --> Resolve USB-related alerts in iTunes/Finder - Apple Support
  3. Restart your iPhone and Mac: Sometimes, restarting your devices can resolve temporary connection issues. Restart both your iPhone and your Mac, and then try connecting them again.
    1. Restart the device. That's it.
    2. Still not solved --> Force restart iPhone - Apple Support
  4. Update your software: Make sure that both your iPhone and Mac are running the latest software versions. On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update, and on your Mac, go to the Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update.
  5. Trust the computer: When connecting your iPhone to your Mac for the first time, you may need to trust the computer on your iPhone. Unlock your iPhone and check for any prompts asking you to trust the connected computer. Confirm the trust request on your iPhone.
  6. Try a different port, cable, or computer. The issue could be related to your computer, its USB port, or the USB cable connecting it to your device. If possible, try a different computer, USB port, or USB cable. Also check for any debris in the charging port on the bottom of your iPhone or iPad. --> If your computer doesn't recognize your iPhone, iPad, or iPod ...
  7. Reset your iPhone's settings: If the issue persists, you can try resetting your iPhone's settings. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. This will not erase your data but will reset your settings to their default values. After the reset, attempt to connect your iPhone to your Mac again.
  8. Update iTunes or Finder (macOS Catalina or later): If you're using a Mac running macOS Mojave or earlier, make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed. If you're using macOS Catalina or later, iTunes has been replaced with Finder for device management. Ensure that you have the latest macOS updates installed, which should include the latest version of Finder.
  9. Check for conflicting software: Sometimes, third-party security software or firewalls can interfere with the connection between your iPhone and Mac. Temporarily disable any security software or firewalls and see if that resolves the issue.


If you are experiencing an issue not listed here, contact support as they can provide specific troubleshooting steps based on your situation.




May 5, 2023 8:53 PM in response to ekwade

ekwade wrote:

probably right after an iOS update,

If the issues you mentioned are indeed caused by iOS, it's likely that numerous users who have upgraded to iOS 16.4.1 (a) are experiencing similar problems. However, in order for the community on this forum to provide helpful responses, it would be beneficial for you to specify the nature of the issue you are encountering. Without this information, it may be difficult for others to address your concern effectively.



With the limited information that you have provided, It is hard to even guess the problems faced by you. 


You may get faster and better responses to your query by --> Writing an effective Apple Support Commun… - Apple ...



Please re-post with detail so that someone else can help.



May 23, 2023 7:00 AM in response to SravanKrA

This is my personal phone, and I installed the Device Management because I understood that it would prevent connections to devices that were not trusted. I had set it up specifically so that it would only connect to my laptop, but then it ceased allowing me to connect even to that. I had hoped that I would be able to find somewhere to enter the master password to enable the connection again, but I haven't found that. Also, I was concerned that if I delete the two profiles listed, that it might delete all the data associated with them (such as my photos). If none of the data will be deleted, then I would be happy to remove the profiles and just use the phone without that protection now. Do you happen to know whether removing the profiles will delete any other data on the phone at the same time?

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Device Management pairing no longer works

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