Windows Autopilot deployment for existing devices: Create and distribute package for JSON file in Configuration Manager

• Applies to:

  ✅ Windows 11, ✅ Windows 10

Autopilot user-driven Microsoft Entra join steps:

• Step 1: Set up a Windows Autopilot profile
• Step 2: Install required modules to obtain Autopilot profile(s) from Intune
• Step 3: Create JSON file for Autopilot profile(s)

• Step 4: Create and distribute package for JSON file in Configuration Manager

• Step 5: Create Autopilot task sequence in Configuration Manager
• Step 6: Create collection in Configuration Manager
• Step 7: Deploy Autopilot task sequence to collection in Configuration Manager
• Step 8: Speed up the deployment process (optional)
• Step 9: Run Autopilot task sequence on device
• Step 10: Register device for Windows Autopilot

For an overview of the Windows Autopilot deployment for existing devices workflow, see Windows Autopilot deployment for existing devices in Intune and Configuration Manager

Create package(s) for JSON file(s) in Configuration Manager

Once the JSON files have been created for the Autopilot profile(s), a package needs to be created in Configuration Manager that contains the contents of the JSON file(s).

Important

The JSON files used by Windows Autopilot deployment for existing devices only support Windows Autopilot user-driven Microsoft Entra join and Windows Autopilot user-driven Microsoft Entra hybrid join Autopilot profiles. When creating the packages for JSON files in Configuration Manager, make sure the JSON files are only for user-driven Microsoft Entra join and user-driven Microsoft Entra hybrid join Autopilot profiles.

To create a package containing the JSON file in Configuration Manager, follow these steps:

1. Copy the folder(s) containing the JSON file(s) created in the Create JSON file for Autopilot profile(s) step to a new empty folder in the organization's UNC network path. The UNC network path should be the path that contains package sources for Configuration Manager packages.

2. On a device where the Configuration Manager console is installed, such as a Configuration Manager site server, open the Configuration Manager console.

3. In the left hand pane of the Configuration Manager console, navigate to Software Library > Overview > Application Management.

4. Select Packages and then on the ribbon, select Create Package. Alternatively, right-click Packages and select Create Package.

5. The Create Package and Program Wizard window appears:

   1. In the Specify information about this package page, enter the following details for the package:

      1. Next to Name, enter an identifiable name for the Autopilot scenario that the JSON file is for.

      2. Next to Description, enter a description for the Autopilot scenario that the JSON file is for.

      3. Select the checkbox This package contains source files, and then select Browse next to Source folder:.

      4. The Set Source Folder window appears. In the Set Source Folder window:

         1. Select Browse and navigate to the folder containing the individual AutopilotConfigurationFile.json JSON file from the UNC path in Step 1.

         2. Once in the folder containing the AutopilotConfigurationFile.json JSON file, select Select Folder.

         3. Confirm the path under Source folder is correct, and then select OK.

            Important

            If multiple Autopilot profiles were copied to a UNC network path, make sure to select the folder that contains the individual AutopilotConfigurationFile.json JSON file and not the parent folder that contains all of the different Autopilot profiles. Each Autopilot JSON file requires an individual package in Configuration Manager.

   2. Select the Next > button.

   3. In the Choose the program type that you want to create page, select the Do not create a program option and then select the Next > button.

   4. In the Confirm the settings page, verify all settings are correct and then select the Next > button.

   5. When the Create Package and Program Wizard completes with The task "Create Package and Program Wizard" completed successfully message, select the Close button.

6. If there are multiple Autopilot JSON files, repeat the above steps for any additional supported Autopilot profile JSON files that were exported as part of the Create JSON file for Autopilot profile(s) step. Make sure that each package has a unique identifiable name.

Distribute package(s) for JSON file(s) in Configuration Manager

Once the package containing the Autopilot profile JSON file is created, the package needs to be distributed to Configuration Manager distribution points. To distribute the package containing the Autopilot profile JSON file in Configuration Manager, follow these steps:

1. On a device where the Configuration Manager console is installed, such as a Configuration Manager site server, open the Configuration Manager console.

2. In the left hand pane of the Configuration Manager console, navigate to Software Library > Overview > Application Management.

3. Expand Packages and locate the Autopilot profile JSON packages created in the section Create package(s) for JSON file(s) in Configuration Manager.

4. Select the Autopilot profile JSON package and in the ribbon select Distribute Content. As an alternative, right-click the Autopilot profile JSON package and select Distribute Content.

5. The Distribute Content Wizard appears:

   1. In the Review selected content page, verify the correct package is selected and then select the Next > button.

   2. In the Specify the content destination page, select Add, and then select either Distribution Point or Distribution Point Group.

      • The Add Distribution Points or Add Distribution Point Groups window appears. Select the desired distribution points or distribution point groups to distribute the package to and then select OK.

   3. Select the Next > button.

   4. In the Confirm the settings page, verify all settings are correct and then select the Next > button.

   5. When the Distribute Content Wizard completes with The task "Distribute Content Wizard" completed successfully message, select the Close button.

6. With the package still selected under Packages, in the lower pane of the Configuration Manager console under Related Objects, select Content Status .

7. Monitor the distribution of the package until it successfully distributes to all distribution points. For details of the distribution status to each distribution point, under Completion Statistics in the lower pane of the Configuration Manager console, select the View Status option.

8. If there are multiple Autopilot JSON file packages, repeat the above steps for any additional Autopilot profile JSON file packages created in the section Create package(s) for JSON file(s) in Configuration Manager.

Next step: Create Autopilot task sequence in Configuration Manager

Step 5: Create Autopilot task sequence in Configuration Manager

More information

For more information on creating and distributing the JSON package in Configuration Manager, see the following article(s):

• Create a package containing the JSON file
• Packages and programs in Configuration Manager.
• Distribute content to distribution points