Send commands to Apple devices

You can send commands to Device Management for Apple enrolled Mac computers, iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs. When the device receives the command, the action is completed or queued for processing, and you can view the result in the Command log.

The available commands depend on the permissions of your user role. For example, to use the Lock Device command for a mobile device your user role must have the Lock Device permission under Mobile Devices enabled. For more information see the Device Management for Apple section on Default system roles and their permissions.

Commands are queued for processing if the device does not have an internet connection or if it is turned-off when the command is sent.

Apple device supervision is required to issue some commands such as Shutdown Device. For more information, see Apple device supervision.

OS update command considerations:

DMA sends commands to instruct the device to download and/or install available updates. We cannot guarantee that the Apple device will obey and fulfill the commands.
Depending on the device configuration and enrollment, the end user may need to enter their admin credentials to run the command.
We tested the command with macOS 13 Ventura and iOS 16, where the process is most mature. The command may succeed on previous OS versions, but the latest OS version is downloaded and installed. For example, if you run the command on macOS 12, and it succeeds, it updates to macOS 13.4. Each older OS decreases the likelihood of proper function.

Send a command to devices from DMA

On the left navigation, select Dashboards > Device Management for Apple.

The Devices tab displays including device name, serial number, OS version, profiles and more.

Select the checkbox for one or more devices and use the Commands drop-down menu to select a command to send to the devices. The available commands depend on your user role permissions, the device type, and whether a device is supervised or not.
If prompted, confirm the command.
The command is sent to the device. The action is completed or queued for processing, and you can view the result in the Command log.

Send a command to a device from the All Devices view

In the All Devices view North-pane, go to Workstations, Mixed, or Mobile Devices.
Right-click the target device and select Commands.

The Commands option is available when a device is enrolled in Device Management for Apple.
Select a command to send to the device. The available commands depend on your user role permissions, the device type, and whether an iOS device is supervised or not.
If prompted, confirm the command.
The command is sent to the device. The action is completed or queued for processing, and you can view the result in the Command log.

Available commands

macOS commands

Command	Resulting action
FileVault	Enable or disable the FileVault for the selected device(s). Show Recovery Key - Displays Personal Recovery Key (PRK) that can be used to unlock the device if you forgot the password. Unmanage FileVault - Data encryption will be turned off and no longer be managed by DMA.
Lock Device	Remotely locks the workstation with a one-time PIN code.
Instant Restart / Restart Device(s)	Immediately restarts the workstation.
Remote Wipe	Locks and then erases all data on the device. When prompted, enter your N-sight RMM password to confirm the wipe command. The device locks after it receives the command and begins to wipe its contents. To unlock the device after wiped, use the six-digit system PIN displayed in N-sight RMM. Record this password as it is only displayed when issuing the command to the device and after you navigate away from the dialog the PIN is no longer accessible.
Update Device Information / Request device information	Refreshes the device asset information in N-sight RMM.
Shutdown Device	Immediately shuts down the device.
Update OS Version / Schedule OS update Supported on macOS 13 and later. May be compatible with older releases.	Downloads or installs the latest Apple OS update based on the option you select. When an unsupervised device receives the Update OS Version command, the user is prompted for action rather than the command simply performing the action.

iOS, iPadOS, tvOS commands

Command	Resulting action
Clear Passcode	Removes the passcode from the device.
Lock Device	Remotely locks the device to prevent access.
Request device information	Refreshes the device asset information in N-sight RMM.
Instant Restart / Restart Device(s)	Immediately restarts the device (Apple device supervision required for iOS and tvOS).
Update OS Version / Schedule OS update Supported on iOS 16 and later. May be compatible with older releases.	Downloads or installs the latest Apple OS update based on the option you select. When an unsupervised device receives the Update OS Version command, the user is prompted for action rather than the command simply performing the action.
Shutdown Device	Immediately shuts down the device (Apple device supervision required for iOS).
Remote Wipe	Erases all data, including any attached SD cards, by resetting the device back to its factory default settings. When prompted, enter your N-sight RMM password to confirm.