To exclude a device from Windows Autopatch, open the Microsoft Intune admin center and go to Devices > Windows Update > Monitor > Autopatch Groups Membership. Select the device, then choose Exclude device. This removes the device’s Windows Autopatch record and prevents automatic re-registration; it does not delete the device from Intune or Microsoft Entra ID.
The original HTMD instructions, published August 11, 2022, use an older portal path and the action name “Deregister device.” The current Microsoft procedure uses the Intune path above and also provides a self-service way to restore an excluded device.
What exclusion does—and what it does not do
Exclusion is an action within the Windows Autopatch service, not a general device-removal operation. Microsoft says the device’s Autopatch record is removed and marked as excluded so the service does not automatically register it again. The device remains in Intune and Microsoft Entra ID, and exclusion does not remove it from Autopatch-related Entra groups. Microsoft’s exclusion guidance documents these effects.
| Resource or behavior | Effect of exclusion |
|---|---|
| Windows Autopatch device record | Removed and marked excluded |
| Intune device record | Remains |
| Microsoft Entra device record | Remains |
| Membership in an Autopatch-related Entra group | Not automatically removed |
| Automatic Autopatch registration | Prevented until an administrator restores the device |
| Replacement update management | Not assigned automatically; the administrator must arrange it |
In other words, do not describe the operation as deleting the device everywhere or as permanent. It removes the Autopatch record and blocks automatic re-registration until an administrator explicitly restores the device.
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When to exclude a device
Exclude a device when you deliberately want it outside Autopatch management while keeping its Intune and Entra records. Typical cases include a compatibility investigation, a test device that needs manual update control, a staged move to another update-management system, or a device that needs a distinct Windows Update for Business policy.
There can also be a reason to separate Microsoft 365 Apps update-channel management from Autopatch. Microsoft’s guidance for changing the Apps channel for Copilot describes removing selected devices from Autopatch for separate management, while warning that those devices also lose Autopatch management for Windows Updates. Read Microsoft’s channel-change guidance before using that approach.
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Exclusion is not a substitute for deleting a stale Intune or Entra device, fixing a failed registration prerequisite, or pausing a release or deployment ring. If the concern is a rollout affecting a group of devices, consider whether a ring or release-management action is the more appropriate control.
Before you exclude a device
- Verify the device identity. Confirm the intended device using your inventory information, such as its device name or other identifiers available in your tenant.
- Decide how it will be updated. Confirm that another policy or service will cover the device if it still needs managed updates. Exclusion does not create a replacement policy.
- Review the scope. The current procedure allows you to select multiple devices. Check the full selection before confirming a bulk change.
- Record the change. Note why the device was excluded, who approved it, the replacement servicing plan, and how to restore it if needed.
Current steps to exclude a device
Microsoft documents the following path in the Intune admin center. The instructions are current as of Microsoft’s documentation update on September 4, 2025.
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- Sign in to the Microsoft Intune admin center.
- Select Devices > Windows Update.
- Under Monitor, select Autopatch Groups Membership.
- Select the device or devices to exclude.
- Select Exclude device and confirm if prompted.
Use the Autopatch action even if you also plan to adjust group membership. Removing a device from the Windows Autopatch Device Registration group—or another Entra group used with Autopatch—does not by itself exclude that device from the service. Microsoft also cautions against adding query statements to dynamic-group rules just to remove a particular device, because that can cause dynamic-query performance issues. See Microsoft’s guidance on exclusion and group membership.
How to find and verify excluded devices
An excluded device may appear on the Not Registered tab, but that tab can include devices for reasons other than exclusion. Apply the specific filter to confirm its status:
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- Open Devices > Windows Update > Monitor > Autopatch Groups Membership.
- Select Not Registered.
- Select Add filters, then choose Excluded.
- Select Apply. Leave other filters unselected if you want the excluded-device results specifically.
Afterward, verify that your alternative update policy or service applies to the device and that its reporting reflects the intended management arrangement.
How to restore an excluded device
If the device should return to Autopatch, use the current self-service restoration action:
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- Go to Devices > Windows Update > Monitor > Autopatch Groups Membership.
- Open the Not Registered tab.
- Select the excluded device or devices.
- Select Restore excluded device.
Restoration removes the excluded state; it is not a replacement for meeting the service’s registration prerequisites. If the device does not return as expected, check its readiness and Autopatch group placement, refresh the membership view, and allow time for service synchronization. Microsoft’s current exclusion and restoration instructions describe the available actions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Exclusion versus other device actions
| Action | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Exclude device | Stops Autopatch management for the device and prevents automatic re-registration until it is restored. |
| Remove from an Autopatch Entra group | Changes group membership; by itself, it does not exclude the device from the Autopatch service. |
| Delete from Intune or Entra ID | Removes a device record from that directory or management service; exclusion does not do this. |
| Pause a release or change a ring | Addresses rollout timing or scope; it is not the same as removing one device from Autopatch. |
| Assign a separate update policy | Provides an alternative servicing plan; it must be arranged separately from exclusion. |
What to manage after exclusion
Once a device is outside Autopatch, make sure an appropriate process still covers its security and servicing needs. Depending on the environment, that may be Intune Windows Update for Business policies, Configuration Manager, another endpoint-management platform, or a deliberately short manual test process.
- Windows quality and feature updates
- Driver and firmware policies where applicable
- Microsoft 365 Apps updates if they were previously managed through Autopatch
- Deadlines, restart behavior, reporting, compliance, and vulnerability-management requirements
Microsoft’s Copilot channel guidance specifically notes that devices removed from Autopatch need standalone Windows Update policies if they are still to receive Windows Update management. Review that Microsoft guidance when separating Apps-channel control from Windows servicing.
Why older HTMD instructions may not match your portal
The HTMD article “Exclude Device From Windows Autopatch”, published August 11, 2022, directed administrators to the former Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center and the path Devices > Windows Autopatch > Devices > Device actions > Deregister device. Its labels, including “Ready” and “Not ready,” reflect the older interface. Current Microsoft documentation uses the Intune navigation and the actions Exclude device and Restore excluded device. A Microsoft Community discussion also notes that the older navigation is out of date.
Older guidance also said administrators needed to contact the Windows Autopatch Service Engineering Team to clear an exclusion. That was historical guidance; Microsoft now documents self-service restoration. For historical context, see the 2022 Windows Autopatch AMA and the August 2023 Autopatch update summary.
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