For supervised Apple devices enrolled in an organization's management system, the Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution is responsible for handling Activation Lock. When the MDM solution enables Activation Lock on a device, it retrieves and securely stores a bypass code specific to that device. This code allows an administrator to remove the Activation Lock without the user's Apple ID or password, which is essential for re-provisioning a device when an employee or student leaves the organization.

A. In Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager: These services are used for device enrollment and content purchasing, but they do not store or manage device-specific security data like Activation Lock bypass codes.

B. In the user's Managed Apple Account: The bypass code is an administrative recovery tool. It is stored by the management system (MDM), not within the user's account profile.

C. In the user's personal Apple Account: A personal Apple ID is entirely separate from the organization's management infrastructure and does not have access to or store administrative bypass codes.

1. Apple Platform Deployment Guide: In the section "Manage Activation Lock

" it states

"When your MDM solution enables Activation Lock

it generates a bypass code and sends it to the MDM server. This bypass code can be used to turn off Activation Lock on the device automatically." (Reference: Apple Platform Deployment

"Intro to managing Activation Lock

" Page updated: January 24

2024).

2. Apple Platform Deployment Guide: The guide further clarifies the roles

stating

"You use your MDM solution—not Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager—to manage Activation Lock on devices." This explicitly rules out option A and reinforces that the MDM (option D) is the correct location. (Reference: Apple Platform Deployment

"Turn on Activation Lock with MDM

" Page updated: January 24

2024).