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How to remove a work profile from an Android device
When a user leaves their organization or loses their device, it's time to remove their Android work profile. Learn three methods to delete a work profile on an end-user device.
A work profile is an important feature of Android devices because it enables users to keep their personal lives separate from their work lives.
If any corporate data resides on a device, IT administrators must be able to remotely wipe the endpoint or apply restrictions for work apps. If the device belongs to the user, IT must perform these actions without affecting their personal data. Android work profiles completely separate personal and corporate data, enabling IT to enforce security policies without compromising user privacy.
Once a user or IT professional enrolls an Android phone into their organization's MDM platform, the device creates the work profile. Through the Android work profile settings, IT can make decisions about data and network usage, notifications, apps, privacy and security.
When an employee leaves or changes roles within an organization, however, it's common practice for the employer to delete any associated work profiles installed on the device. This secures work data by preventing unauthorized access to sensitive files stored in the profile. To ensure users don't lose personal data, removing an Android work profile does not erase anything outside of the profile, including non-work-related files, apps and content stored on the device.
When the time comes to delete a work profile, either the device's owner or an IT staff member can take steps to remove it.
How can a user remove an Android work profile?
End users can remove their Android device's work profile themselves through a relatively simple process. The main methods are easily accessible on the mobile device, using either the native Settings app or the organization's MDM app.
Method 1. Removing a work profile through Settings
One way for a user to remove their work profile is through the Settings menu on their device. In Android, the process involves the following steps:
- Open Settings on the device, and select Accounts or Users & accounts.
- Select the Work tab and scroll down to find work profile options.
- Select Remove work profile. When a pop-up window appears to confirm the selection, tap Delete. If the Remove work profile option isn't visible, there might be multiple accounts on the device. In that case, select the account for the work profile and tap Remove account > Remove account > OK.
- The user might receive a prompt to enter a security PIN or password. If an error occurs, the user should contact their organization's IT team.
- The device then begins removing all data associated with the work profile, including apps, settings and other information stored within it. This process can take several minutes, depending on how much data is stored within the profile. Once this process is complete, the work profile is fully removed.
Method 2. Removing a work profile through an MDM application
Users can also remove a work profile through the MDM platform they enrolled their device into. With this method, employees must open the app they used for their initial MDM and work profile setup.
For example, in organizations using Microsoft Intune, users can complete this process in the Intune Company Portal app (Figure 1). Work profile removal in the Company Portal app involves the following steps:
- Open the MDM app on the device, and sign in.
- Under Devices, select the device.
- In the top-right corner of the screen, select the Menu button, which looks like three dots. Then, select Remove Device.
- Once a confirmation screen appears, select OK to proceed with work profile removal.
- After confirmation, the device removes the MDM platform and work profile, and all associated data is deleted.
Another option is to disable the MDM agent application directly. Within the Company Portal app, an end user can simply open the main menu and select Remove Company Portal, followed by OK at the confirmation screen.
After completing either of these processes, the user should be able to uninstall the MDM app from their device's home screen. To do this, find and press down on the app icon until an app menu prompt appears, and then tap Uninstall.
If the user sees some indication that a work account is still on their device, they should contact their organization's IT team. A factory reset is also an option, but this action erases virtually everything from the device, including the user's personal data and preferred settings.
How can an IT administrator remove an Android work profile?
IT administrators might want to delete a profile from an Android device themselves. From an IT perspective, removing a work profile protects corporate data without wiping the user's device completely. This is especially helpful when an employee leaves the organization or a device is lost or stolen.
This process requires an IT admin to log in to their MDM system and remove the device. The location of different settings varies based on the MDM platform. However, the process generally consists of the following steps, with Microsoft Intune as an example:
- Log in to the MDM admin console, and open the Devices section.
- Select All devices.
- Find and select the desired device.
- Select Retire or Delete. In Intune, both options remove the same data, but deleting the device also immediately removes it from the admin center's record of devices.
- Click Yes to confirm.
If an IT admin is having trouble removing an Android work profile through their MDM platform, they should try a few troubleshooting steps. First, make sure the device is online and syncing with MDM. Ask the user to open the MDM app and manually sync the device.
Next, confirm the device is still visible in the MDM console. If it appears to be offline for an extended time, it might not be able to receive the removal command. If the work profile removal is stuck, try forcing a reenrollment. Then, retry work profile removal once the device is back online.
If these steps don't work, look over the MDM policy permissions. Some MDM policies block users or even IT admins from removing a work profile. Check whether the work profile removal option is enabled in the MDM policy settings. If multiple policies are applied to the device, one might be preventing the removal. Modify the compliance policy to allow work profile removal. If necessary, create a temporary "Allow Removal" policy, and push it to the device.
Editor's note: This article was originally written by Michael Goad in February 2023. Helen Searle-Jones wrote an updated version in April 2025.
Michael Goad is a freelance writer and solutions architect with experience handling mobility in an enterprise setting.
Helen Searle-Jones holds a group head of IT position in the manufacturing sector. She draws on 30 years of experience in enterprise and end-user computing, utilizing cloud and on-premises technologies to enhance IT performance.
