When this step is skipped, the device\u2014upon factory reset and internet connection\u2014prompts for the organization’s credentials or blocks setup entirely. Refurbishers and new owners are locked out. MDM cannot typically be bypassed cleanly without the original organization’s cooperation (and many ignore requests).<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/globalmaterialrecycling.com\/w\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ipad-MDM-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe Scale of the Problem<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Recyclers and refurbishers report receiving hundreds or thousands of MDM-locked Apple devices annually. One e-waste handler described getting devices from major institutions still enrolled in corporate systems. A viral YouTube investigation<\/a> called MDM the “silent killer” scrapping millions of Apple products, with examples including devices from places like the Smithsonian ending up locked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Refurbishers note that locked devices often cannot be reused. They get parted out or sent for material recovery, even if the hardware is in excellent condition. In one report, refurbishers and recyclers highlighted how MDM and activation locks drive unnecessary e-waste, with proportions of locked iPhones increasing over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n