Remote Windows AutoPilot Reset

This blog post uses remote Windows AutoPilot Reset, to remotely trigger a device reset on Windows 10 devices. This capability is added in Windows 10, Insider Preview Build 17672 and later.

This week it’s all about (remote) Windows AutoPilot Reset. That might sounds like something really cool and really new, but it’s actually not that new. Remember my post about Windows Automatic Redeployment? Well, that functionality still exists, but with the addition to trigger the redeployment (read: reset) remotely via Microsoft Intune, this feature is rebranded to (remote) Windows AutoPilot Reset. That means that Windows Autopilot Reset removes personal files, apps, and settings, by resetting Windows 10 while still maintaining the Azure AD Join and the Microsoft Intune enrollment. In this post I’ll show the required configuration to enable Windows AutoPilot Reset, followed by the steps to trigger a remote Windows AutoPilot Reset. I’ll end this post by looking at the end-user experience.

Configure automatic redeployment

Before actually looking at the required configuration, it’s good to keep in mind that WinRE must be enabled on the device to use Windows AutoPilot Reset. Now let’s continue with the configuration to enable Windows AutoPilot Reset (previously know as Windows Automatic Redeployment). The previous time I configured it by using a custom OMA-URI, while the configuration already became available through the UI. So this time I’ll simply show the UI-setting. The following three steps walk through the creation of a new device configuration profile, including configuring the required setting. After that simply assign the created profile to a user or device group.

1 Open the Azure portal and navigate to Intune > Device configuration > Profiles to open the Device configuration – Profiles blade;
2 On the Device configuration – Profiles blade, click Create profile to open the Create profile blade;
3a

On the Create profile blade, provide the following information and click Create.

  • Name: Provide a valid name for the profile;
  • Description: (Optional) Provide a description for the profile;
  • Platform: Select Windows 10 and later;
  • Profile type: Select Device restrictions;
  • Settings: See step 3b;
3b On the Device restrictions blade, select General, select Allow with Automatic Redeployment and click OK and OK;
Intune-Automatic-Redeployment

Note: Remember that it’s not a requirement to create this as a separate new profile. This setting can also be added to an existing device restrictions profile.

Trigger remote reset

Based on my previous post about Windows Automatic Redeployment, I showed how to trigger the reset locally from the device. Now let’s continue this post by looking at how to actually trigger the remote reset by using Microsoft Intune. The following three steps walk through the actions.

1 Open the Azure portal and navigate to Intune > Devices > All devices to open the Devices – All devices blade;
2 Intune-AutoPilot-ResetOn the Devices – All devices blade, select the target device and click More > AutoPilot Reset (preview);
3 On the AutoPilot Reset (preview) – [computer name] confirmation box, click Yes;
Intune-AutoPilot-Reset-Confirmation

Note: After confirming the action will show as Action automaticRedeployment with the Status Pending. Once the action is completed the status will change to Completed.

End-user experience

Let’s end this post by looking at the end-user experience. Once the remote Windows AutoPilot is triggered the end-user will receive a notification message, as shown below. That message will tell the end-user that the system needs to restart for automatic redeployment and that the restart is scheduled in 45 minutes.

Intune-AutoPilot-Reset-Experience

More information

For more information about remote Windows AutoPilot Reset, please refer to the documentation about Reset devices with AutoPilot Reset.

26 thoughts on “Remote Windows AutoPilot Reset”

    • Hi Raj,
      That’s what I thought to, but during my testing I didn’t get the expected results when triggering it remotely without that configuration. I started another test yesterday and it worked without the configuration, but it took more than a day… With the configuration it was nearly instant… …could be some Insider issues also…
      Regards, Peter

      Reply
  1. Appears broken in 17713 – gives a message ‘not supported’ in Intune console a few minutes after triggering.

    Reply
  2. Hi Peter,

    I’m just testing this in our environment. Even though the Windows 10 device that I’m trying to reset remotely using Intune is enrolled with Autopilot & Intune (also joined to AAD), the “Autopilot Reset (preview) button is greyed out. Do you know why?

    Thanks,
    Bodek

    Reply
      • I double checked that I have the latest Windows 10 Enterprise version 1803 OS build 17134.228. I also signed up for the Windows Insiders Program. As far as you know, would I need to sign up for anything else in order to be able to use this preview feature?

        Reply
          • Hi Peter,

            Thank you for your follow-up and for getting back to me. Coincidentally, I signed up for Windows Insiders programme this past weekend and just today I received an update on my laptop to build 17744.1001. I can confirm now that this solved the issue; the button lit up!

            Regards,
            Bodek

  3. Hi everyone,

    Has anyone succesfully performed a remote AutoPilot Reset (preview) lately?

    I am trying to set-up AutoPilot Reset (Preview) for one of our customers but the client goes in to a loop and cannot complete the AutoPilot process.

    It goes as far as the “Setting up your device for work” screen and can complete the “Device Preparation” section but can not complete the ‘Security Policies’ at the ‘Device Setup’ section.

    After 30 minutes the client goes in to reboot and the client starts the Resetting your PC process again.

    We are using Windows 10 version 10.0.17763.194.

    I also tried the suggestion of the Device restrictions policy but this changed nothing.

    Hope someone can help us!

    Leo

    Reply
  4. Also have issues with reset loop, apart from eventviewer, are there any more logs or other places where I can look to troubleshoot this?

    Reply
  5. Hi Peter,

    I use Windows 10 version 1809. In Intune, “AutoPilot Reset” option is gray. I have only “Fresh Start” option in: Intune > Devices > All Devices > name_of_device. How can I enable “AutoPilot Reset” option in Intune?

    Best regards,
    Zlatko

    Reply
  6. Hi Peter,

    what do you suggest for reset hybrid Azure AD joined devices? I try to find solution for reset devices (workstations) and prepare them for new users. I tested “Wipe” and “Fresh Start” option from Intune – but no success (process stuck on 89% and failed). In one of five attempts – process is finished successfully.

    Best regards,
    Zlatko

    Reply
  7. Hi Peter,

    Yes. I try with “Wipe” and with “Fresh Start” as well, but in most cases with no success. If I repeat the process several times – I get the result. But I need something more reliable. As you know (my previous post), I can’t use “Autopilot reset” option (I have hybrid Azure AD joined devices). What do you suggest for my environment regarding to reset devices (preparing devices for new users)? I wouldn’t like to install devices from “zero” every time. I use WDS/MDT for OS deployment and connect them to Azure AD (Hybrid join).

    Best regards,
    Zlatko

    Reply
  8. Just curious: Does anyone know, if these “Wipe” and “Fresh Start” commands are logged somewhere? So if you can find out somehow, who triggered which action at which point in time? I would be even interested to know if the user “reset” via company portal is logged somewhere. Didn’t find anything so far…

    Regards,
    Tom

    Reply

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