Upcoming Changes to Apple Business Manager

Recent Apple Business Manager (ABM) updates focus on enhanced control, security, and modern management, including stopping Activation Lock for owned devices (June 2024), managing Managed Apple ID usage (Sept 2025), federating with custom identity providers (Jan 2024), and improved API access for apps (June 2025), with upcoming features anticipated around declarative management and more granular user sign-in control. Key changes involve preventing unmanaged Apple IDs on verified domains (Oct 2024) and better device management for updates and security.

Key Recent & Upcoming Changes

• Activation Lock Control (June 2024): Admins can now turn off Activation Lock for organization-owned devices directly in ABM, crucial for re-provisioning.

• Managed Apple ID Sign-in Control (Sept 2025): Organizations can restrict sign-ins on company devices to only Managed Apple IDs.

• Custom Identity Provider Support (Jan 2024): ABM now federates with Custom Identity Providers (IdPs) for easier identity management.

• API Accounts (June 2025): Ability to create API accounts for applications to access organization data.

• Domain & Account Management (Oct 2024): Prevent new unmanaged Apple IDs on verified domains and request transfer of existing ones.

• Device Information: Visibility of IMEI/EID numbers (Dec 2024) and MAC addresses (July 2025).

• Declarative Device Management: A shift towards declarative management for software updates (e.g., setting update cadences) and Safari settings (bookmarks/homepage).

• Authenticated Guest Mode (WWDC 2025): Secure, temporary login on shared Macs using cloud identities (iPhone/Watch tap).

Where to Find Updates
Apple's official ABM release notes are the best source for cumulative updates. WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) sessions (like WWDC24 and WWDC25) highlight future enterprise features.