Remote wipe command persists in queue and executes when offline lost device reconnects

Android

When you issue a wipe or wipe + remove command against an offline device, the command is queued server-side and will execute automatically when the device reconnects to the network. This article explains how queued wipe commands work and what to expect.

How queued wipe commands work

When you issue a Wipe or Wipe + Remove command against a device that is currently offline, Esper queues the command server-side. The command will not expire or be dropped from the queue during an extended offline period. Instead, the command will execute automatically the next time the device reconnects to the network and re-establishes its connection to Esper.

This behavior is useful in lost-device, stolen-device, or decommissioning scenarios where you need to ensure the command executes even if the device is unreachable for days or weeks.

Issue a wipe command

In the Esper Console, go to Devices & Groups and locate your device.
From the device action menu, select one of the following:
- Wipe — erases all data and keeps the device enrolled
- Wipe + Remove — performs a factory reset and removes the device from your tenant
Confirm the command. The command status will appear as Queued in the device's command history, indicating it has been accepted server-side and is pending delivery.

Verify the command executed

Once the device reconnects to the network, the command status will transition through the following states:

Queued → Acknowledged → Success

Check the device's command history to confirm the status change. If you used Wipe + Remove, the device will no longer appear in your tenant once the command succeeds.

Troubleshoot if the command doesn't execute

If the device comes back online but the command does not execute:

Verify that the device status in Devices & Groups shows Online.
Confirm that the Esper management agent is running on the device.
Check the device's command history to see if the status has advanced beyond Queued.

If the device was manually factory reset offline before reconnecting, the queued command will not execute because the device is no longer enrolled in your tenant.

Wipe vs. Remove vs. Wipe + Remove

Before issuing a command, confirm which action you need:

Wipe — erases all data on the device but keeps it enrolled in your tenant
Remove Only — unenrolls the device from your tenant without erasing data
Wipe + Remove — erases all data (factory reset) and removes the device from your tenant

If a device is permanently lost and never reconnects, the queued wipe command will never execute. In this case, you should revoke any account credentials or certificates that were on the device as a security precaution.

Still need help?

If your device remains in Queued status after confirming it is online, or if you need further assistance, contact Esper Support. provide your device serial number and the timestamp of the wipe command.