Intune Device Wipe and Retire

When a device needs to be reset or removed, Intune gives you options. Here’s when to use each.

Wipe vs Retire

Action	What Happens	Use When
Retire	Remove managed apps/data, keep device	User leaves, device reassigned
Wipe	Factory reset, delete everything	Device being sold, serious issues
Autopilot Reset	Clean but keep enrollment	Refresh device, keep Intune

Retire a Device

# Via Graph API
$DeviceId = (Get-MgDeviceManagementManagedDevice -Filter "deviceName eq 'LAPTOP-001'").Id

Invoke-MgDeviceManagementManagedDeviceRetireManagedDevice -ManagedDeviceId $DeviceId

What Happens

• Company data removed
• Apps uninstalled
• Settings reverted
• Device remains in Intune (unmanaged)

Wipe a Device

# Full wipe
$DeviceId = (Get-MgDeviceManagementManagedDevice -Filter "deviceName eq 'LAPTOP-001'").Id

Invoke-MgDeviceManagementManagedDeviceWipeManagedDevice -ManagedDeviceId $DeviceId -KeepUserData $false

Options

• Keep user data: Yes/No
• Persist enrolled apps: Yes/No (Windows)

Autopilot Reset

# Trigger Autopilot reset
$DeviceId = (Get-MgDeviceManagementManagedDevice -Filter "deviceName eq 'LAPTOP-001'").Id

Invoke-MgDeviceManagementManagedDevice windowsAutopilotDeviceIdentity -ManagedDeviceId $DeviceId -ResetAccount

What It Does

• Removes user accounts
• Re-enrolls in Intune
• Like fresh OOBE
• Keeps Autopilot enrollment

Confirmation Required

# Devices in user-driven enrollment require:
# - User confirmation on device
# OR
# - Recovery key provided first

# Check if device requires recovery key
Get-MgDeviceManagementManagedDevice -DeviceId $DeviceId |
    Select-Object recoveryKeyIdentifier

Pre-Wipe Checklist

• Backup user data (if keeping)
• Export BitLocker keys
• Document serial number
• Check device ownership

# Export BitLocker keys before wipe
Get-MgDeviceManagementManagedDeviceBitLockerRecoveryKey -ManagedDeviceId $DeviceId

Automation Script

<#
.SYNOPSIS
    Safely wipe a device
#>
param(
    [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)]
    [string]$DeviceName,
    
    [Parameter(Mandatory=$false)]
    [switch]$KeepUserData
)

$Device = Get-MgDeviceManagementManagedDevice -Filter "deviceName eq '$DeviceName'"

if (-not $Device) {
    Write-Host "Device not found: $DeviceName"
    exit 1
}

# Export recovery keys first
$Keys = Get-MgDeviceManagementManagedDeviceBitLockerRecoveryKey -ManagedDeviceId $Device.Id

# Backup keys
$Keys | Export-Csv -Path ".\$DeviceName-BitLockerKeys.csv"

# Confirm wipe
Write-Host "About to WIPE device: $DeviceName"
Write-Host "This cannot be undone!"
$Confirm = Read-Host "Type 'YES' to confirm"

if ($Confirm -eq "YES") {
    Invoke-MgDeviceManagementManagedDeviceWipeManagedDevice -ManagedDeviceId $Device.Id -KeepUserData:$KeepUserData
    Write-Host "Wipe initiated"
}

Wrap-Up

Use Retire for reassignment, Wipe for disposal, Autopilot Reset for refresh. Always backup keys first.

Questions? Drop them below!