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How to Use Intune Autopilot Reset After a Windows Device Restart

WPS EditorWPS Editor Oct 10, 2026 868 views

Question details

An IT administrator needs to know if an Intune Autopilot Reset can be successfully triggered or resumed on a Windows device after it has restarted, particularly following a failed reset or wipe attempt.

How to Use Intune Autopilot Reset After a Windows Device Restart
Product
Microsoft Intune
Device & OS
Windows
Scenario
Managing device lifecycles and performing remote wipes or resets via Microsoft Endpoint Manager.
Observed behavior
The device restarts after a failed reset attempt while retaining Wi-Fi credentials, and the administrator wants to confirm if the pending Autopilot Reset or standard Reset action will proceed.
Before you start

Ensure the target Windows device is powered on, has an active internet connection (such as saved Wi-Fi credentials), and is properly enrolled in Microsoft Intune.

Solution 1Recommended

Triggering Autopilot Reset from the Intune Admin Center

Use the Microsoft Endpoint Manager to initiate a controlled Autopilot Reset, which maintains MDM enrollment and Wi-Fi configurations after the restart.

Windows Autopilot Reset takes the device back to a business-ready state, allowing the next user to sign in and get to work quickly. If a previous wipe failed and the device restarted, it will often resume the reset command automatically once it reconnects to Wi-Fi.

1
Sign in to Intune

Log in to the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center using your administrator credentials.

2
Navigate to Windows Devices

Go to Home > Devices > Windows > Windows Devices to view your list of enrolled machines.

3
Select the Target Device

Click on the specific Windows device that needs to be reset.

4
Initiate Autopilot Reset

From the top action menu, select 'Autopilot Reset'. If the device is currently offline or rebooting, the action will remain pending and execute as soon as the device powers on and reconnects to Wi-Fi.

Triggering Autopilot Reset from the Intune Admin Center
Wi-Fi Connectivity Requirement: For the Autopilot Reset to succeed after a device restart, the device must retain its Wi-Fi credentials to communicate with Intune upon booting up.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Will Autopilot Reset work if the device loses internet connection during restart?

No. The Autopilot Reset process requires an active internet connection to communicate with Intune. If the device restarts and cannot automatically connect to a saved Wi-Fi network or Ethernet, the reset command will remain pending until a connection is established.

What is the difference between Autopilot Reset and the Wipe action in Intune?

Autopilot Reset removes personal files, apps, and settings, but retains the device's connection to Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) and its Intune enrollment state. The Wipe action restores the device to its factory defaults and, depending on your configuration, can completely remove it from Intune and Entra ID.

Can I manually force the reset if the Intune command is stuck?

If an Intune command is stuck due to connectivity issues, you can perform a local reset from the Windows Settings app (Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC) or by using a Windows installation USB, though this will bypass the automated Autopilot retention settings.