Windows Autopilot

Overview of Windows Autopilot device preparation

27 August 2026New feature+6 / −2 lines

In brief

The documentation explains that association state determines whether the Windows Autopilot profile or device association takes precedence. Associated physical Windows 11 devices are marked corporate-owned and can receive device-targeted policies and additional OOBE customizations.

What Intune admins need to know

Review deployment precedence and consider device association when targeting policies or customizing OOBE.

This summary was assembled from the tracked documentation change. Verify important details in the full Microsoft Learn article.

Documentation change

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Microsoft Entra ID - only Microsoft Entra join is supported.
~~Device shouldn't be~~If the device is registered ~~or added~~ as a Windows Autopilot ~~device - if~~device, which deployment runs depends on the device ~~is registered or added as Windows Autopilot device,~~'s association state. If the device isn't associated with the tenant, the Windows Autopilot profile takes precedence. If the device is associated, device association takes precedence ~~over~~and the Windows Autopilot device preparation ~~policy. If a device needs to be removed as a~~deployment runs. To use Windows Autopilot ~~device, see~~device preparation on a registered device without associating it, first deregister the device.

For additional detailed requirements, see Windows Autopilot device preparation requirements.

Device association

Windows Autopilot device preparation supports device association, which binds a physical Windows 11 device to your tenant before enrollment. Associated devices are automatically marked as corporate-owned and can receive device-targeted policy assignments and additional OOBE customizations. For more information, see Overview of Windows Autopilot device association.

Tutorial

For tutorials with detailed instructions on configuring Windows Autopilot device preparation, see Windows Autopilot device preparation scenarios.

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ --- title: Overview of Windows Autopilot device preparation description: Windows Autopilot device preparation is used to set up and configure new devices, getting them ready for productive use.-ms.date: 04/02/2025+ms.date: 08/07/2026 ms.topic: overview ms.collection:   - M365-modern-desktop@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ This article explores the capabilities of the Windows Autopilot device preparati  - Microsoft Entra ID - only Microsoft Entra join is supported. -- Device shouldn't be registered or added as a Windows Autopilot device - if the device is registered or added as Windows Autopilot device, the Windows Autopilot profile takes precedence over the Windows Autopilot device preparation policy. If a device needs to be removed as a Windows Autopilot device, see [Deregister a device](../registration-overview.md#deregister-a-device).+- If the device is registered as a Windows Autopilot device, which deployment runs depends on the device's association state. If the device isn't associated with the tenant, the Windows Autopilot profile takes precedence. If the device is associated, device association takes precedence and the Windows Autopilot device preparation deployment runs. To use Windows Autopilot device preparation on a registered device without associating it, first [deregister the device](../registration-overview.md#deregister-a-device).  For additional detailed requirements, see [Windows Autopilot device preparation requirements](requirements.md). @@ -139,6 +139,10 @@ Windows Autopilot device preparation only requires corporate identifiers for Win - [What are enrollment restrictions?](/intune/intune-service/enrollment/enrollment-restrictions-set). - [Create device platform restrictions](/intune/intune-service/enrollment/create-device-platform-restrictions). +### Device association++Windows Autopilot device preparation supports device association, which binds a physical Windows 11 device to your tenant before enrollment. Associated devices are automatically marked as corporate-owned and can receive device-targeted policy assignments and additional OOBE customizations. For more information, see [Overview of Windows Autopilot device association](device-association/overview.md).+ ## Tutorial  For tutorials with detailed instructions on configuring Windows Autopilot device preparation, see [Windows Autopilot device preparation scenarios](tutorial/scenarios.md).