MD-102 Manage applications Practice Question
A company uses Microsoft Intune to manage Windows 10 devices. They deployed a Win32 app as 'required' but some devices show 'pending install'. The app is configured with a detection rule that checks for a registry key. What should you check first?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates assume 'pending install' means a connectivity or timeout issue, but the real cause is a misconfigured detection rule that falsely reports the app as already installed, preventing the installation from executing.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Check if the detection rule is incorrectly marking the app as installed.
The most common reason for a 'pending install' status when a detection rule is configured is that the rule is incorrectly detecting the app as already installed. Intune evaluates the detection rule before attempting installation; if the rule finds the registry key (even if the app is not fully functional), Intune skips the installation and reports 'pending' or 'installed' without actually deploying the app. This is a frequent misconfiguration where the detection rule is too broad or references a key that exists from a previous installation or unrelated software.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Increase the app installation timeout.
Why it's wrong here
Timeout issues cause 'failed', not 'pending install'.
- ✗
Ensure the device has connectivity to Intune.
Why it's wrong here
Connectivity issues would show 'not applicable' or 'failed', not 'pending install'.
- ✗
Reassign the app to a different security group.
Why it's wrong here
Group assignment is not related to the 'pending install' state.
- ✓
Check if the detection rule is incorrectly marking the app as installed.
Why this is correct
A pre-existing registry key can cause Intune to skip installation, resulting in 'pending install'.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Endpoint Management in Microsoft 365
Key term
Win32 app
A Win32 app is a traditional Windows program that runs directly on a Windows PC, using the same system resources and displaying a standard window with menus and buttons.
Key term
Windows 10
Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft that combines the familiarity of Windows 7 with the modern features of Windows 8, designed to run on a wide range of devices from desktops to tablets.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This MD-102 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the MD-102 exam.