Since you’ve already checked the typical areas like VPN & Device Management, iPhone Storage, Notifications, and Network Settings, and you’re still getting policy update pop-ups, here are additional advanced steps to identify the issue, especially for iOS 16 or later.
1. Check for Managed Device Status
Even if there is no visible profile, your device might still be under managed supervision. Here’s how to check:
- Open Settings > General > About.
- Scroll down and look for "Device Management" or "Supervised".
- If it says “This device is supervised and managed by [Organization Name]”, it’s still managed.
- If not, your device is not officially managed, and something else is triggering the pop-ups.
2. Search for Hidden MDM or VPN Configuration
Sometimes, hidden VPN configurations may trigger this. To check thoroughly:
Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > VPN.
- Ensure no inactive or hidden VPN profiles exist.
- If present, delete them.
Check for Configuration Profiles using Finder (Mac):
- Connect your iPhone to a Mac.
- Open Finder, select your device, and check for any profiles under "Files" or "Configuration Profiles".
3. Check for Safari/Browser-Based Notifications
It’s possible that a web-based notification service is causing the pop-ups (common if you authenticated Slack via a web browser):
- Go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data.
- Look for Slack-related domains or work-related websites.
- Tap Remove All Website Data.
4. Check for iCloud Backup Restored Configuration
If your iPhone was restored from an iCloud Backup that once had a managed profile, the remnants might still trigger policy updates:
- Go to Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage Storage.
- Check for Backups of old devices that may contain configurations.
- Erase and set up as new might be necessary if nothing else works.
5. Reinstall Slack and Check Permissions
Even though you’ve removed Slack, some permissions might be stuck at the system level.
- Reinstall Slack from the App Store.
- Open Slack and check if it’s prompting for device policy or management permissions.
- Log out and delete Slack again.
6. Use Recovery Mode to Inspect
If none of the above steps reveal anything, the issue could be in low-level settings. Recovery Mode might help reset deeper configurations:
- Put your iPhone in Recovery Mode:
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up, then the Volume Down button. Hold the Side button until the recovery screen appears.
- Use Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) to Restore or Check for Configuration Profiles.
7. Factory Reset as a Last Resort
If nothing else works, consider performing a Factory Reset to completely remove any hidden configurations:
- Backup your data (iCloud or Mac).
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
- Set up the phone as new without restoring from an old backup.
Conclusion
If you’re still getting the pop-up, it’s likely due to a hidden MDM remnant or Safari-based authentication from Slack. The factory reset is the ultimate solution, but try the Recovery Mode or Mac Finder inspection first.
Let me know if you want detailed steps on the factory reset or recovery mode process! 😊