Autopilot Local Account Setup: A Comprehensive Tutorial

This blog post is your comprehensive guide to mastering Autopilot setup for local accouint. First, we’ll walk you through the process step-by-step, ensuring your devices are configured efficiently and securely.

Now, let’s dive into some key steps to setup autopilot for local accounts:

• Device Preparation: Gather device information (serial numbers, make, model).

• Autopilot Profile Creation: Set up a deployment profile in Intune to configure device settings.

• Local Account Creation: Manually or script the creation of local accounts on devices.

• Device Enrollment: Power on the device and follow the Autopilot setup process.  

Continue reading the blog to learn the detailed steps to set up Autopilot for local accounts, thereby making it easy to get started and maximize the benefits for your business.

What is Windows Autopilot ?

Windows Autopilot is a collection of technologies that simplifies the deployment, setup, and configuration of new Windows devices in organizations.

Moreover, it’s designed to make the out-of-box experience (OOBE) for end-users as seamless as possible, while providing IT administrators with greater control over device provisioning.

How Does it Work ?

Essentially, Autopilot leverages cloud-based services to configure and enroll devices into an organization’s management solution, typically Microsoft Intune.

Specifically, when a new device is powered on for the first time, it goes through an automated setup process based on preconfigured profiles.

Key Components of Windows Autopilot

• Device Preparation: Firstly, this involves collecting device information (serial number, make, model) and associating it with a specific configuration profile.

• Deployment Profiles: Secondly, these profiles define how a device should be configured, including settings for network connectivity, applications, and security.

• Enrollment: Subsequently, the device enrolls itself into the organization’s management solution (Intune) and applies the assigned deployment profile.

• User Experience: Finally, the end-user is guided through a simplified setup process, often requiring minimal input.

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Benefits of Windows Autopilot

• Reduced IT Overhead: Primarily, streamlines device provisioning, saving time and resources.

• Improved User Experience: Additionally, it provides a seamless onboarding experience for end-users.

• Enhanced Security: Furthermore, it ensures devices are configured according to security policies.

• Flexibility: Lastly, it supports various deployment scenarios, including new devices, reimaged devices, and device recovery.

Deployment Scenarios

• Pre-provisioned Devices: In this case, devices are configured before shipping to end-users.

• User-Driven Setup: Alternatively, end-users can enroll their own devices.

• Self-Deploying Devices: Alternatively, devices can be configured and deployed without IT intervention.

Key Features

• Zero-Touch Deployment: To begin with, devices can be deployed without manual configuration.

• Flexible Deployment Models: In addition, it supports various deployment scenarios.

• Integration with Intune: Furthermore, it provides comprehensive device management capabilities.

• Security and Compliance: In conclusion, it helps enforce security policies and compliance standards.  

What are the Windows Autopilot requirements for Windows 10 ?

Windows Autopilot is a deployment service that helps you configure new devices and get them ready for productive use.

While it works with both Windows 10 and Windows 11, this response will focus on Windows 10 requirements, including Autopilot setup local accouint.

To successfully implement Windows Autopilot for Windows 10, you’ll need the following:

Software Requirements

• Firstly, supported Windows 10 edition: Semi-Annual Channel.

• Secondly, Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD): A cloud-based identity and access management service.

• Additionally, Microsoft Intune or other MDM solution: For device management and configuration.

• Lastly, Windows Autopilot Deployment Service: Required for device communication.

Networking Requirements

• Most importantly, Internet connectivity: For device registration and configuration.

• Furthermore, Domain Name Services (DNS): For resolving device names.

• Moreover, Network Time Protocol (NTP): For accurate time synchronization.

Licensing Requirements

• To begin with, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, F1, F3, or A1, A3, A5: For Azure AD and Intune capabilities.

• Alternatively, Microsoft 365 Enterprise E3 or E5: Includes Azure AD, Intune, and other enterprise features.

• Another option is Enterprise Mobility + Security E3 or E5: Includes Azure AD and Intune.

• Finally, Azure AD P1 or P2 and Intune: For specific Autopilot features.

Configuration Requirements

• On  one hand, Azure AD configuration: Device registration, group policies, and conditional access.

• On the other hand, Intune configuration: Profiles, apps, and device configurations.

Additional Considerations

• First and foremost, Device preparation: Consider pre-installing necessary drivers and basic software.

• Equally important, Network environment: Ensure network policies and firewalls allow Autopilot traffic.

• Lastly, User experience: Design a user-friendly onboarding process.  

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How to create an Autopilot deployment profile ?  

Creating an Autopilot deployment profile involves a few key steps in the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center.

Here’s a detailed guide to create an Autopilot deployment profile.

Sign in to the Microsoft Endpoint Manager Admin Center

• Firstly, go to the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center.

• Then, sign in with your administrator account.

Navigate to Deployment Profiles

• Next, in the left-hand navigation pane, select Devices.

• Subsequently, under Devices, choose Windows.

• After that, select Windows enrollment.

• Finally, click on Deployment Profiles.

Create a New Profile

• First, click on Create profile and select Windows PC.

• Next, enter a Name and Description for the profile to identify it easily.

Configure Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) Settings

• Deployment mode: Choose between User-Driven and Self-Deploying. Typically, User-Driven is used for standard user setups.

• Join to Azure AD as: Select Azure AD joined or Hybrid Azure AD joined based on your organization’s requirements.

• User account type: Choose between Standard user or Administrator.

• Language (Region): Configure the default language and region settings.

• Automatically configure keyboard: Select this option if you want the keyboard layout to be automatically configured.

• Apply device name template: If desired, specify a naming template for the devices.

• Convert all targeted devices to Autopilot: Enable this option if you want to automatically convert the devices to Autopilot.

• Skip privacy settings: Choose Yes if you want to skip the privacy settings during the OOBE.

Assign the Profile

• After configuring the settings, click Create to save the profile.

• To assign the profile, go back to Devices > Windows enrollment > Devices.

• Then, select the devices you want to assign the profile to.

• Finally, click on Assign profile and choose the profile you created.

Verification and Testing

• Test the Profile: First, apply the profile to a test device to ensure the configuration is correct.

• Deploy at Scale: Once verified, you can deploy the profile to multiple devices.

By following these steps, you can create and assign an Autopilot deployment profile, simplifying the deployment process and ensuring consistent configuration across all devices.

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How to set up Autopilot for Local Accounts ? 

Setting up Autopilot for local accounts involves a series of steps to configure Windows Autopilot for a seamless deployment. Here’s a detailed guide, including Autopilot setup local account.

Preparation

a. Gather Hardware Details

• To begin, obtain the hardware ID (hardware hash) of the devices you want to configure.

• Then, use the Get-WindowsAutopilotInfo script to gather the hardware details.

b. Enroll Devices in Intune

• First, make sure you have an active Microsoft Intune subscription.

• Next, enroll your devices in Intune by uploading the hardware hash.

Configure Autopilot Profile

a. Create an Autopilot Deployment Profile

• Firstly, sign in to the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center.

• Then, go to Devices > Windows > Windows enrollment > Deployment Profiles.

• After that, click on Create profile and select Windows PC.

• Next, enter a name for the profile.

• Under Out-of-box experience (OOBE), configure the settings as needed:

• Deployment mode: Self-Deploying

• Join to Azure AD as: Select the appropriate option (e.g., Azure AD joined).

• Skip privacy settings: YesUser account type: Local Administrator

• Finally, click Create to save the profile.

Assign Autopilot Profile

• Begin by, going to Devices > Windows > Windows enrollment > Devices.

• Then, select the devices you want to assign the profile to.

• Next, click on Assign profile.

• Lastly, choose the profile you created earlier and assign it to the selected devices.

Apply the Profile

• First, ensure the device is connected to the internet during the OOBE phase.

• Then, turn on the device and follow the prompts. The Autopilot configuration will be automatically applied, setting up the device with local accounts as specified.

Verify Configuration

• After the device setup is complete, log in with the local account credentials.

• Subsequently, verify that all settings and configurations are correctly applied.

Additional Tips

• Testing: Before deploying Autopilot on a large scale, test the setup with a few devices to ensure everything is configured correctly.

• Documentation: Additionally, keep detailed documentation of your Autopilot profiles and configurations for future reference.

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How to assign an Autopilot profile to a device ?

Autopilot profiles define the configuration settings and actions that will be applied to devices during the Autopilot enrollment process. To assign a profile to a device, you’ll typically use Azure AD groups.

Steps to Assign an Autopilot Profile

Create an Autopilot Profile:

• First, log in to the Microsoft Intune admin center.

• Next, navigate to Devices > Windows > Windows devices > Device onboarding > Enrollment > Windows Autopilot deployment profiles.

• Then, create a new profile or edit an existing one.

• Finally, configure the desired settings for the profile (OOBE experience, apps, policies, etc.).

Create an Azure AD Group:

• Create an Azure AD group to contain the devices that will receive the Autopilot profile. You can create a static group (for specific devices) or a dynamic group (based on attributes like device model, serial number, etc.).

Assign the Profile to the Group:

• First, in the Autopilot profile, go to the Assignments tab.

• Then, select the Azure AD group you created.

• Finally, save the profile.

Additional Considerations

• Device Registration: First and foremost, ensure the device is registered as an Autopilot device. This can be done through various methods like importing a CSV file, using the Windows Configuration Designer, or directly from the Intune portal.

• Device Groups: Additionally, for more granular control, you can create multiple device groups and assign different Autopilot profiles to each group.

• Dynamic Groups: Moreover, using dynamic groups allows for automatic assignment of profiles based on device attributes, simplifying management.

• User-Driven Autopilot: Furthermore, for scenarios where users will enroll their own devices, consider using user-driven Autopilot and allowing users to join devices to Azure AD.

Example Scenario

Let’s say you want to deploy a specific configuration to all laptops with a particular model number.

• To begin with, create an Autopilot profile with the desired settings for laptops.

• Next, create a dynamic Azure AD group that includes all devices with the specified model number.

• Finally, assign the Autopilot profile to the dynamic group.

Consequently, when a new laptop with the matching model number is enrolled, it will automatically receive the assigned Autopilot profile and be configured accordingly.

Conclusion

Mastering Windows Autopilot for local account setup can significantly streamline your device deployment process. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can efficiently configure and manage devices, reducing IT overhead and enhancing user experience.

Remember to gather device information, create appropriate deployment profiles, and assign them correctly to your Azure AD groups.

Always test your setup on a small scale before rolling out to your entire organization. With Autopilot, you’ll benefit from zero-touch deployment, flexible deployment models, and improved security compliance.

As technology evolves, staying up-to-date with Autopilot’s features will help you maintain an efficient and secure device management strategy.

By leveraging this powerful tool, you’ll save time, reduce costs, and ensure a consistent, user-friendly experience across all your Windows devices.

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Frequently Asked Question’s (FAQ’s)