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How to prepare a Windows device for Autopilot (Intune)

Register a laptop's hardware hash so it sets itself up for a new starter

Windows Autopilot lets a new laptop set itself up. The user signs in with their work account and Intune applies apps, settings and security policies automatically. First, you have to register the device's hardware hash.

Buying new? Many resellers can register devices with Autopilot for you at purchase. Ask them first, and you can skip this guide.

Before you start

  • An Intune licence, plus admin rights to enrol devices.
  • The device on a clean Windows install, at the first setup screen (OOBE), and connected to the internet.

Step 1: Open a command prompt at the setup screen

  1. On the first setup screen, press Shift + F10. A command prompt opens.
  2. Type powershell and press Enter.

Need to make system-level changes first? Press Ctrl + Shift + F3 at the setup screen to enter Audit Mode instead.

Step 2: Check the serial number is set

Get-CimInstance Win32_BIOS | Select-Object SerialNumber

If it's blank or shows something like "To be filled by O.E.M.", fix it in the BIOS or UEFI settings first. Autopilot relies on it.

Step 3: Upload the hardware hash

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
Install-Script -Name Get-WindowsAutopilotInfo -Force
Get-WindowsAutopilotInfo -Online

Sign in with an Intune admin account when prompted. Add -GroupTag "YourTag" if you use group tags to target deployment profiles.

Step 4: Confirm in Intune

  1. In the Intune admin centre, go to Devices → Windows → Enrollment → Devices (under Windows Autopilot).
  2. Wait for the device to appear. This can take up to about 15 minutes.
  3. Check an Autopilot deployment profile shows as Assigned before you ship it.

Step 5: Hand it over

Shut the device down. If you used Audit Mode, run sysprep /oobe /shutdown first. When the user turns it on and connects to the internet, Autopilot takes over.

Reusing a device? Wipe or reset it from Intune rather than reinstalling Windows manually. That way it keeps its Autopilot registration.