{"id":121107,"date":"2025-02-13T15:33:16","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T20:33:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jumpcloud.com\/?post_type=support&#038;p=121107"},"modified":"2025-02-13T15:33:19","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T20:33:19","slug":"troubleshoot-understand-erase-device-command-for-macs","status":"publish","type":"support","link":"https:\/\/jumpcloud.com\/support\/troubleshoot-understand-erase-device-command-for-macs","title":{"rendered":"Troubleshoot: Understand Erase Device Command for Macs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When managing a fleet of Macs, understanding the behavior of the Erase Device command, especially in relation to security features like PIN and Activation Lock, is crucial. A common scenario involves erasing a Mac and expecting it to prompt for a PIN upon setup. However, this does not always occur as anticipated, especially with newer devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Symptoms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For devices with Apple Silicon that have a PIN set, the device erases successfully but does not prompt for the PIN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Explanation &#8211;<\/strong> <strong>Legacy vs. Modern Security Protocols:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Older Devices (No T2 or Apple Silicon): PIN codes are used as a security measure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Newer Devices (T2 Chip or Apple Silicon): These devices utilize the more advanced Activation Lock protocol. The PIN feature is not used with the erase command because Activation Lock provides robust security.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The PIN safeguard remains in place primarily for legacy systems that lack the T2 chip, ensuring security across diverse environments where older devices might still be in use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Causes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Issue:<\/strong> After issuing the Erase Device command and activating the PIN on a Mac, the device proceeds to set up without requesting the PIN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Expected Behavior:<\/strong> The device should prompt for the PIN during the setup process post-erasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Exceptions\">Exceptions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Intel-based Macs with T2 Security Coprocessor or Apple Silicon \u2013 macOS 11 and Earlier:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Action: The Erase Device command results in an \u201cobliteration\u201d of the system and user data volumes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Outcome: A full reinstallation of macOS is required. The PIN payload is ignored, with the device relying on Activation Lock for added security.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Intel-based Macs with T2 Security Coprocessor or Apple Silicon \u2013 macOS 12 and Later:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Action: The Erase Device command triggers an Erase All Contents and Settings (EACS), with a fallback to \u201cobliteration\u201d in case of failure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Outcome: Only the user-data volume is erased, providing an &#8220;out-of-box&#8221; experience and preventing the need for macOS reinstallation. The PIN payload is ignored, relying instead on Activation Lock for security.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resolution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Understanding these nuances helps in managing expectations and troubleshooting effectively when dealing with the Erase Device command on Macs with varying hardware specifications.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When managing a fleet of Macs, understanding the behavior of the Erase Device command, especially in relation to security features [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":204,"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"support_category":[3136,3127],"support_tag":[],"coauthors":[2838],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.9 (Yoast SEO v22.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Troubleshoot: Understand Erase Device Command for Macs - 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