Apple making device migration to Microsoft Intune easy with upcoming OS 26 release
By: Iris Yuning Ye – Product Manager | Microsoft Intune Apple recently announced a major update at their Worldwide Developers Conference 2025 that solves one of the biggest headaches for admins: migrating macOS and iOS/iPadOS devices from one mobile device management (MDM) solution to another without factory resets, manual re-enrollment, or missing configurations. With the new MDM Migration capability in macOS 26 and iOS/iPadOS 26, built directly into Apple Business Manager, IT admins are able to transition devices from third-party MDMs to Microsoft Intune seamlessly, and without user disruption. Migrating devices to Intune helps IT admins consolidate device management across platforms, enforce consistent security policies, and reduce operational complexity. In this blog, learn how to start using Apple’s MDM migration feature to easily move your macOS and iOS/iPadOS fleet to Intune. Prerequisite: macOS/iOS/iPadOS 26 and enrollment into a device management service is required to use the Apple MDM migration feature. 1. Pre-migration – preparation and set up Before starting the migration process, there are five major steps to follow for preparation. 1.1 Keep a record of your devices Start by creating a detailed inventory of all devices in your organization. This should include each device model, the version of OS it’s running, and whether it’s corporate-owned or user-owned. This step is critical because Apple’s new migration feature has specific OS version requirements. Knowing which devices are eligible helps you scope the migration accurately and avoid surprises later. 1.2 Document configurations in current MDM Before making any changes, document all existing configurations in your current MDM platform. This includes: Configuration profiles: Capture all profiles related to Wi-Fi, VPN, email, and certificates. These are essential for maintaining connectivity and access post-migration. Compliance policies: Note any rules that enforce password complexity, encryption, or device health checks. Security baselines: Record settings such as FileVault encryption, Gatekeeper, and the macOS firewall to ensure security standards are preserved. Custom scripts: List any scripts used for automation, monitoring, or maintenance tasks. Deployed applications: Document all apps currently deployed, including how they’re delivered (Volume Purchase Program, App Store, or custom packages). This documentation will serve as your blueprint for rebuilding these configurations in Intune. 1.3 Configure the Apple MDM push certificate Navigate to the Intune admin center, create and upload an Apple MDM push certificate. This certificate allows Intune to securely communicate with Apple devices. Without it, device management and policy enforcement can’t function. 1.4 Add Microsoft Intune to Apple Business Manager (ABM) or Apple School Manager (ASM) Next, integrate Microsoft Intune with ABM or ASM, by following these steps: Download the public key from Intune. Upload that key to ABM or ASM when creating a new MDM server. Then, download the server token from ABM or ASM and upload it back into Intune. This allows ABM to recognize Intune as a valid MDM server and enables device assignment. 1.5 Set up MDM Configurations in Intune Since migration is treated as a new device enrollment, you'll need to follow standard Intune ADE (Automated Device Enrollment) guidance to setup device enrollment profile. Some key steps include: Once the device is in ABM/ASM, token that must be created to link Intune with ABM. Then, the device needs to sync from ABM to Intune. There is an automatic sync every 12 hours, or admin can manually sync once every 15 min. After successfully synced device from ABM to Intune, you need to create the enrollment profile, and then manually assign it to the devices via device serial number, and then the device can power on and enroll through that assigned enrollment profile Using the configurations documented in step 1.2, begin replicating existing configurations in Intune. This includes but is not limited to: Rebuilding configuration profiles for network access and security. Reapplying compliance and security policies. Re-deploying applications. Rewriting or importing scripts as needed. Identify the other controls to implement that improves Zero Trust. Call to action: Please make sure testing the MDM configurations on a test device before assigning them to the devices you plan on migrating. And before initiating any migration, communicate with your endpoint users first, keeping them informed to avoid any confusion. 2. Migration – Admin step-by-step flow The admin experience starts from ABM or ASM. After logging into ABM or ASM, navigate to the Devices section. Select the device or group of devices targeted for migration to Intune. Selecting the ellipsis on the top right of device overview interface unveils the “Assign Device Management” button. Select the server you want to migrate the device to. In our case, it’s Intune. Confirm device assignment. 3. Migration – Endpoint step-by-step flow After completing the device management assignment, the device user receives a notification informing them that a management change is required. macOS iOS/iPadOS When the user selects the notification, they are guided through a simple approval process. If the user doesn’t initiate enrollment before the admin set enrollment deadline, an enforced migration occurs, which results in a non-dismissible and full-screen prompt that must be completed by the user before using the device. Regular migration Enforced migration (past deadline) Once the user approves the migration, the device communicates with Apple’s servers to get its new device management assignment. It then downloads and installs the new MDM profile. This migration process happens without rebooting the device. 4. Post-migration – Verification Lastly, verify the migration and enrollment successfully completed by navigating to the Intune admin center and confirming the new devices are listed. evice. Please note, it's important to have test device verifying required configurations running smoothly before migrating large number of devices and test your devices after migration to ensure everything is working smoothly. If you run into any issues, further adjustments may be needed. Special thanks to our Intune MVP, Somesh Pathak, whose content we leveraged in this blog! For more details and a video demo, check out Somesh’s blog at: https://intuneirl.com/mac-admins-your-migration-glow-up-just-dropped Summary In short, Apple’s new MDM migration in macOS and iOS/iPadOS 26 makes moving Mac, iPhone or iPad devices to Intune now easier than ever. With careful planning and a few simple steps, you can make the switch smoothly to manage your Apple devices all in one place. For Mac devices that aren’t running OS 26, you can check out our Intune Github for migration scripts and review the blog Managing and migrating Macs with Microsoft Intune. Let us know how your Mac journey is going by leaving a comment below, reaching out to us on X @IntuneSuppTeam, or join our Mac Admins Community on LinkedIn! Post updates: 12/04/25: Updated section "1.5 Set up MDM Configurations in Intune". 12/11/25: Updated MDM Migration URL.Blocking and removing apps on Intune managed devices (Windows, iOS/iPadOS, Android and macOS)
By: Michael Dineen - Sr. Product Manager | Microsoft Intune This blog was written to provide guidance to Microsoft Intune admins that need to block or remove apps on their managed endpoints. This includes blocking the DeepSeek – AI Assistant app in accordance with government and company guidelines across the world (e.g. the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs Protective Policy Framework (PSPF) Direction 001-2025, Italy, South Korea). Guidance provided in this blog uses the DeepSeek – AI Assistant and associated website as an example, but you can use the provided guidance for other apps and websites as well. The information provided in this guidance is supplemental to previously provided guidance which is more exhaustive in the steps administrators need to take to identify, report on, and block prohibited apps across their managed and unmanaged mobile devices: Support tip: Removing and preventing the use of applications on iOS/iPadOS and Android devices. iOS/iPadOS devices For ease of reference, the below information is required to block the DeepSeek – AI Assistant app: App name: DeepSeek – AI Assistant Bundle ID: com.deepseek.chat Link to Apple app store page: DeepSeek – AI Assistant Publisher: 杭州深度求索人工智能基础技术研究有限公司 Corporate devices (Supervised) Hide and prevent the launch of the DeepSeek – AI Assistant app The most effective way to block an app on supervised iOS/iPadOS devices is to block the app from being shown or being launchable. Create a new device configuration profile and select Settings Catalog for the profile type. (Devices > iOS/iPadOS > Configuration profiles). On the Configuration settings tab, select Add settings and search for Blocked App Bundle IDs. Select the Restrictionscategory and then select the checkbox next to the Blocked App Bundle IDs setting. > Devices > Configuration profile settings picker = 'Blocked App Bundle IDs' Enter the Bundle ID: com.deepseek.chat Assign the policy to either a device or user group. Note: The ability to hide and prevent the launch of specific apps is only available on supervised iOS/iPadOS devices. Unsupervised devices, including personal devices, can’t use this option. Uninstall the DeepSeek – AI Assistant app If a user has already installed the app via the Apple App Store, even though they will be unable to launch it when the previously described policy is configured, it’ll persist on the device. Use the steps below to automatically uninstall the app on devices that have it installed. This policy will also uninstall the app if it somehow gets installed at any point in the future, while the policy remains assigned. Navigate to Apps > iOS/iPadOS apps. Select + Add and choose iOS store app from the list. Search for DeepSeek – AI Assistant and Select. > Apps > iOS/iPadOS > Add App searching for 'DeepSeek - AI Assistant' app Accept the default settings, then Next. Modify the Scope tags as required. On the Assignments tab, under the Uninstall section, select + Add group or select + Add all users or + Add all devices, depending on your organization’s needs. Click the Create button on the Review + create tab to complete the setup. Monitor the status of the uninstall by navigating to Apps > iOS/iPadOS, selecting the app, and then selecting Device install status or User install status. The status will change to Not installed. Personal Devices – Bring your own device (BYOD) Admins have fewer options to manage settings and apps on personal devices. Apple provides no facility on unsupervised (including personal) iOS/iPadOS devices to hide or block access to specified apps. Instead, admins have the following options: Use an Intune compliance policy to prevent access to corporate data via Microsoft Entra Conditional Access (simplest and quickest to implement). Use a report to identify personal devices with specific apps installed. Takeover the app with the user’s consent. Uninstall the app. This guide will focus on option 1. For further guidance on the other options refer to: Support tip: Removing and preventing the use of applications on iOS/iPadOS and Android devices. Identify personal devices that have DeepSeek – AI Assistant installed and prevent access to corporate resources You can use compliance policies in Intune to mark a device as either “compliant” or “not compliant” based on several properties, such as whether a specific app is installed. Combined with Conditional Access, you can now prevent the user from accessing protected company resources when using a non-compliant device. Create an iOS/iPadOS compliance policy, by navigating to Devices > iOS/iPadOS > Compliance policies > Create policy. On the Compliance settings tab, under System Security > Restricted apps, enter the name and app Bundle ID and select Next. Name: DeepSeek – AI Assistant Bundle ID: com.deepseek.chat Under Actions for noncompliance, leave the default action Mark device noncompliant configured to Immediately and then select Next. Assign any Scope tags as required and select Next. Assign the policy to a user or device group and select Next. Review the policy and select Create. Devices that have the DeepSeek – AI Assistant app installed are shown in the Monitor section of the compliance policy. Navigate to the compliance policy and select Device status, under Monitor > View report. Devices that have the restricted app installed are shown in the report and marked as “Not compliant”. When combined with the Require device to be marked as compliant grant control, Conditional Access blocks access to protected corporate resources on devices that have the specified app installed. Android devices Android Enterprise corporate owned, fully managed devices Admins can optionally choose to allow only designated apps to be installed on corporate owned fully managed devices by configuring Allow access to all apps in Google Play store in a device restrictions policy. If this setting has been configured as Block or Not configured (the default), no additional configuration is required as users are only able to install apps allowed by the administrator. Uninstall DeepSeek To uninstall the app, and prevent it from being installed via the Google Play Store perform the following steps: Add a Managed Google Play app in the Microsoft Intune admin center by navigating to Apps > Android > Add, then select Managed Google Play app from the drop-down menu. r DeepSeek – AI Assistant in the Search bar, select the app in the results and click Select and then Sync. Navigate to Apps > Android and select DeepSeek – AI Assistant > Properties > Edit next to Assignments. Under the Uninstall section, add a user or device group and select Review + save and then Save. After the next sync, Google Play will uninstall the app, and the user will receive a notification on their managed device that the app was “deleted by your admin”: The Google Play Store will no longer display the app. If the user attempts to install or access the app directly via a link, the example error below is displayed on the user’s managed device: Android Enterprise personally owned devices with work profile For Android Enterprise personally owned devices with a work profile, use the same settings as described in the Android Enterprise corporate owned, fully managed devices section to uninstall and prevent the installation of restricted apps in the work profile. Note: Apps installed outside of the work profile can’t be managed by design. Windows devices You can block users from accessing the DeepSeek website on Windows devices that are enrolled into Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Blocking users’ access to the website will also prevent them from adding DeepSeek as a progressive web app (PWA). This guidance assumes that devices are already enrolled into Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to block access to websites in Microsoft Edge First, Custom Network Indicators needs to be enabled. Note: After configuring this setting, it may take up to 48 hours after a policy is created for a URL or IP Address to be blocked on a device. Access the Microsoft Defender admin center and navigate to Settings > Endpoints > Advanced features and enable Custom Network Indicators by selecting the corresponding radio button. Select Save preferences. Next, create a Custom Network Indicator. Navigate to Settings > Endpoints > Indicators and select URLs/Domains and click Add Item. Enter the following, and then click Next: URL/Domain: https://deepseek.com Title: DeepSeek Description: Block network access to DeepSeek Expires on (UTC): Never You can optionally generate an alert when a website is blocked by network protection by configuring the following and click Next: Generate alert: Ticked Severity: Informational Category: Unwanted software Note: Change the above settings according to your organization’s requirements. Select Block execution as the Action and click Next, review the Organizational scope and click Next. Review the summary and click Submit. Note: After configuring the Custom Network Indicator, it can take up to 48 hours for the URL to be blocked on a device. Once the Custom Network Indicator becomes active, the user will experience the following when attempting to access the DeepSeek website via Microsoft Edge: Using Defender for Endpoint to block websites in other browsers After configuring the above steps to block access to DeepSeek in Microsoft Edge, admins can leverage Network Protection to block access to DeepSeek in other browsers. Create a new Settings Catalog policy by navigating to Devices > Windows > Configuration > + Create > New Policy and selecting the following then click Create: Platform: Windows 10 and later Profile type: Settings Catalog Enter a name and description and click Next. Click + Add settings and in the search field, type Network Protection and click Search. Select the Defender category and select the checkbox next to Enable Network Protection. Close the settings picker and change the drop-down selection to Enabled (block mode) and click Next. Assign Scope Tags as required and click Next. Assign the policy to a user or device group and click Next. Review the policy and click Create. When users attempt to access the website in other browsers, they will experience an error that the content is blocked by their admin. macOS macOS devices that are onboarded to Defender for Endpoint and have Network Protection enabled are also unable to access the DeepSeek website in any browser as the same Custom Network Indicator works across both Windows and macOS. Ensure that you have configured the Custom Network Indicator as described earlier in the guidance. Enable Network Protection Enable Network Protection on macOS devices by performing the following in the Microsoft Intune admin center: Create a new configuration profile by navigating to Devices > macOS > Configuration > + Create > New Policy > Settings Catalog and select Create. Enter an appropriate name and description and select Next. Click + Add settings and in the search bar, enter Network Protection and select Search. Select the Microsoft Defender Network protection category and select the checkbox next to Enforcement Level and close the Settings Picker window. In the dropdown menu next to Enforcement Level, select Block and select Next. Add Scope Tags as required and select Next. Assign the policy to a user or devices group and select Next. Review the policy and select Create. The user when attempting to access the website will experience the following: http://www.deepseek.com showing error: This site can't be reached Conclusion This blog serves as a quick guide for admins needing to block and remove specific applications on their Intune managed endpoints in regulated organizations. Additional guidance for other mobile device enrollment methods can be found here: Support tip: Removing and preventing the use of applications on iOS/iPadOS and Android devices. Additional resources For further control and management of user access to unapproved DeepSeek services, consider utilizing the following resources. This article provides insights into monitoring and gaining visibility into DeepSeek usage within your organization using Microsoft Defender XDR. Additionally, our Microsoft Purview guide offers valuable information on managing AI services and ensuring compliance with organizational policies. These resources can help enhance your security posture and ensure that only approved applications are accessible to users. Let us know if you have any questions by leaving a comment on this post or reaching out on X @IntuneSuppTeam.
