New Windows Autopilot capabilities and expanded partner support simplify modern device deployment

[Siddharth Mantri]

Windows Autopilot simplifies the deployment of new Windows 10 devices by eliminating the cost and complexity associated with creating, maintaining, and loading custom images. Windows Autopilot lets you deliver new off-the-shelf Windows 10 devices directly to users. With a few simple clicks, the device launches in a fully business-ready state, dramatically reducing the time it takes for your users to get up and running with new devices.

Not only does Windows Autopilot significantly reduce the cost of deploying Windows 10 devices, it also delivers a great experience for users that’s zero-touch for IT.

This week at Microsoft Ignite, we are excited to announce two new Windows Autopilot capabilities:

• Windows Autopilot Hybrid Azure AD join support for user-driven deployments. You can now choose to join devices to either Azure Active Directory (available since Windows 10, version 1703) or Active Directory (new in Windows 10, version 1809).
• Windows Autopilot for existing devices. Use System Center Configuration Manager to take your existing devices from Windows 7 to Windows 10, configuring them so that they go through the normal Windows Autopilot user-driven deployment process once booted into Windows 10.

These new features build upon the Windows Autopilot capabilities we announced earlier this year and will be available in Windows 10, version 1809 (also referred to as the Windows 10 October 2018 Update.

• Windows Autopilot self-deploying mode, which completely automates device provisioning (plug it in, turn it on, let it set up itself).
• Windows Autopilot reset, which enables you to reset and redeploy a Microsoft Intune-managed Windows 10 device remotely to prepare it for a new user or use case.

Partner support for Windows Autopilot

We are also excited to share that Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Toshiba are participating device manufacturers for Windows Autopilot along with Microsoft Surface. Panasonic and Acer are coming soon.

In addition, beginning November 30, 2018, Dell is enhancing the Windows Autopilot services it first launched in April. Dell will offer Windows Autopilot registration globally at no additional cost when ordered with Dell commercial PCs. Coupled with Windows 10, Windows Autopilot enables the pre-configuration of devices for unified endpoint management. Dell will continue to offer additional services for a fee, such as generic image and asset tagging, to help customers provision systems faster and easier.

Learn more

To learn more about Windows Autopilot, please see the following resources:

• Overview of Windows Autopilot
• Windows Autopilot: What it is and how it works
• Video: Windows Autopilot zero touch deployment and device reset
• Video: Windows Autopilot walkthrough

[Todd Godchaux]

Autopilot Hybrid Azure AD join is critical for those of us in the Public sector. Awesome!

[Miguel Sanabia]

This is wonderful Sid.   Thank you for the opportunity in sitting down with me while at Ignite.  It was valuable.!

[BOGDAN Radu]

The video "what it is and how it works" was ... Woooow !

I'm a beliver !

Need to test but looks extremely promising !

Is Windows Autopilot part of Win 10 1809 LTSC (LTSB) ?

[icelava]

"Windows Autopilot for existing devices."

Looks like this is just about existing computers with older versions of Windows in an on-premise AD environment?

What about existing Azure AD-registered devices; how to update them as Azure AD-joined status?

[icelava]

Ok, figure out how to update AAD-registered to AAD-joined + MDM-enrolled (Intune).

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/c4bd89f2-64ed-4f0a-bc92-67ca5a3ad90a/convert-aadre...

[Geoff_Wallwork__Hawk]

I am guessing, but I suspect that being old (72) and poor (retired)

segregates me from this collective.  I love my Windows 7 pro. and the used Dell with (intel CORE 2 ) processor.  It is fast.  but I am being hacked by ransomware and my system is taken over on a regular bases.  I have searched by help but right now I am assuming that my only option is to by the Windows 10 OP.