Quick Answer
The answer is that the user account lacks an assigned Intune license. This is the most likely cause when devices enrolled in Autopilot show as registered in Intune but remain stuck in a pending policy state, because without a license the user cannot synchronize policies from the Intune service—the device enrollment succeeds, but policy delivery stalls at the service side. On the Microsoft 365 Endpoint Administrator MD-102 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of prerequisite licensing for policy application, often appearing as a trap where candidates focus on connectivity or configuration issues instead. A common memory tip is to think of the license as the “key” that unlocks the policy pipeline: no license, no policy flow. Remember the mnemonic “PUP” for Pending User Policy—check the user’s license first.
This MD-102 practice question tests your understanding of prepare infrastructure for devices. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
You are troubleshooting an Autopilot deployment where devices are not receiving the expected configuration policies after enrollment. The devices show as enrolled in Intune but are stuck in a 'pending' state for policy application. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
The device is not registered in Autopilot.
Why wrong: If not registered, device would not enroll.
The user does not have an assigned Intune license.
Without license, policies are not applied.
The device has a slow internet connection.
Why wrong: Would affect enrollment, not policy application.
The Autopilot profile is set to 'offline' mode.
Why wrong: Offline mode still applies policies after sync.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The user does not have an assigned Intune license.
When a device is enrolled in Intune but stuck in a 'pending' state for policy application, the most common cause is that the user account lacks an assigned Intune license. Without a license, the user cannot synchronize policies from the Intune service, even though the device itself appears in the console. This is a prerequisite for policy delivery and is often overlooked during troubleshooting.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The device is not registered in Autopilot.
Why it's wrong here
If not registered, device would not enroll.
The user does not have an assigned Intune license.
Why this is correct
Without license, policies are not applied.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
The device has a slow internet connection.
Why it's wrong here
Would affect enrollment, not policy application.
The Autopilot profile is set to 'offline' mode.
Why it's wrong here
Offline mode still applies policies after sync.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often assume a device showing as 'enrolled' means all prerequisites are met, overlooking that user license assignment is a separate requirement for policy delivery in user-driven Autopilot scenarios.
Detailed technical explanation
Intune policy application relies on the user's license to authenticate and authorize the device to receive configuration profiles. The device syncs via the MDM channel using the user's Azure AD token; without a valid Intune license, the token lacks the necessary claims to retrieve policies, leaving the device in a perpetual 'pending' state. This is distinct from device-based licensing scenarios, where the device itself must have an Intune license assigned via an enrollment manager or device group.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
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FAQ
Prepare infrastructure for devices — This question tests Prepare infrastructure for devices — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: The user does not have an assigned Intune license. — When a device is enrolled in Intune but stuck in a 'pending' state for policy application, the most common cause is that the user account lacks an assigned Intune license. Without a license, the user cannot synchronize policies from the Intune service, even though the device itself appears in the console. This is a prerequisite for policy delivery and is often overlooked during troubleshooting.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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