MD-102 Windows Autopilot Practice Question
Which TWO actions should you take to prepare a Windows 10 device for a deployment using Windows Autopilot?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume manual Entra ID join or BitLocker are prerequisites, but Autopilot automates these. The two essential steps are network connectivity during OOBE and collecting the hardware hash for device registration.
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
✓
Ensure the device has an internet connection during the out-of-box experience.
Option B is correct because Windows Autopilot relies on the device contacting Microsoft's cloud services (Intune and the Autopilot deployment service) during the out-of-box experience (OOBE) to download the deployment profile and enroll the device, so a working internet connection at OOBE is mandatory. Option E is correct because the device's hardware hash (a unique hardware identifier) must be captured and uploaded to Intune to register the device in the Windows Autopilot device list, which is what allows the Autopilot profile to be matched and applied to that specific device. Option A is not required because Autopilot performs the Microsoft Entra ID join automatically as part of the OOBE flow, so a manual join beforehand would defeat the purpose. Option C is not required because BitLocker is typically enabled automatically after Autopilot enrollment via Intune policy, not as a preparation step. Option D is not required because Autopilot does not mandate upgrading to the latest Windows 10 version beforehand; the device just needs a supported Windows 10 version that supports Autopilot.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Join the device to Microsoft Entra ID manually.
Why it's wrong here
Autopilot performs the Microsoft Entra join automatically during the out-of-box experience, so joining manually beforehand is unnecessary and can conflict with the profile. It is tempting because Entra join is the end state, but the required preparation is capturing the device hash and assigning a deployment profile.
- ✓
Ensure the device has an internet connection during the out-of-box experience.
Why this is correct
An internet connection during the out-of-box experience lets the device contact the Autopilot deployment service, download its assigned profile, and enrol into Microsoft Entra ID. Without connectivity at OOBE, profile retrieval fails and the device cannot complete the cloud-driven provisioning sequence.
- ✗
Enable BitLocker encryption on the device.
Why it's wrong here
BitLocker encryption is configured through Intune policy after enrolment, not as a prerequisite action during Autopilot preparation. It is tempting because Autopilot deployments do enable BitLocker, but that occurs post-provisioning; the preparation steps concern registering the hardware hash and assigning the profile.
- ✗
Upgrade the device to the latest Windows 10 version.
Why it's wrong here
Autopilot requires a supported Windows 10 build, but upgrading to the latest version is not one of the two preparation actions; the hardware hash registration and profile assignment are. It is tempting because newer builds support more Autopilot features, yet the device need only meet the minimum supported version.
- ✓
Collect the hardware hash of the device.
Why this is correct
Collecting the hardware hash registers the device's unique identity with the Windows Autopilot deployment service, which is the prerequisite for profile assignment. Without this hash uploaded to Microsoft Entra ID, the device cannot be recognised during OOBE, so no Autopilot profile can target it.
Go deeper
Related to this question
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Managing Microsoft 365 Apps and Office Updates
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.
Key term
Policy
A policy is a set of rules or guidelines that defines how an organization manages, secures, and operates its IT systems and services.
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JA
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.