Microsoft Unveils Next-Gen Windows Autopilot Device Preparation Experience for Faster, Scalable Deployments

Key Takeaways:

• The new Windows Autopilot device preparation experience offers improved scalability and faster deployments.
• IT administrators gain access to a new real-time reporting feature that provides granular details about the deployment process.
• Microsoft plans to introduce additional features such as self-deploying and pre-provisioning modes, customizable out-of-box experiences (OOBE).

Microsoft has recently announced a new Windows Autopilot device preparation experience for commercial customers. Built on a re-engineered architecture, this new solution delivers enhanced scalability, accelerated deployments, and support for cloud-based instances such as Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktops.

What is Windows Autopilot?

Microsoft first launched Windows Autopilot back in June 2017. It’s a tool that enables IT administrators to pre-configure and set up new devices in enterprise environments. This solution leverages cloud-based services to manage devices from initial deployment to end-of-life, enhancing user experience and reducing IT workload.

Windows Autopilot offers various key capabilities such as zero-touch experience as well as automatic connectivity to Microsoft Entra ID and MDM services. It supports both Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices.

“To keep delivering Windows Autopilot to existing users without disruption, this next iteration was built alongside the current Windows Autopilot technology. The features you know and love in Windows Autopilot aren’t going anywhere! We’re offering the reliability of it and innovations of device preparation in tandem until the experience can be totally unified with the new, more capable architecture,” Microsoft explained.

What are the benefits of using Windows Autopilot device preparation?

Microsoft emphasized that the new Windows Autopilot device preparation experience is designed to simplify the entire deployment process. This feature enables administrators to configure profiles from a single screen. Microsoft has also replaced dynamic grouping with enrollment time grouping, speeding up the assignment of apps, policies, and scripts to devices.

With Windows Autopilot device preparation, IT admins can access a new real-time reporting experience that offers detailed insights into the deployment process. This feature provides granular information about individual devices, policies, and scripts to make troubleshooting easier. Administrators can also specify which apps should be installed during the out-of-box experience (OOBE).

New features coming to Windows Autopilot device preparation?

Microsoft plans to enhance the Windows Autopilot device preparation experience with additional features, including self-deploying and pre-provisioning modes. Moreover, IT admins will be able to customize the out-of-box experience (OOBE) and rename devices during provisioning according to the organizational structure. It will also be possible to apply admin-specified configurations to devices before users gain access to the desktop environment.

Overall, the new Windows Autopilot device preparation experience simplifies device configuration and management, reducing the IT workload and ensuring smoother, more efficient deployments. Additionally, upcoming features promise greater flexibility and control to further enhance operational efficiency.