Quick Answer
The correct action is to retire the corporate-owned iOS device from Intune. This is because the Retire action removes managed app data, policies, and the Company Portal access while preserving the user’s personal data, which is essential for a device enrolled with user affinity that is no longer in use. In contrast, a full wipe would erase all data, including personal content, which is unnecessary and potentially problematic for corporate-owned devices. On the MD-102 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the distinction between Retire and Wipe, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly choose Wipe due to the “corporate-owned” label. The key insight is that user affinity implies the device has personal data that should be protected. Remember the memory tip: “Retire removes the job, not the home”—it strips corporate access and data while leaving the user’s personal environment intact.
This MD-102 practice question tests your understanding of manage and maintain devices. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 need to retire a corporate-owned iOS device that is no longer in use. The device is enrolled in Intune with user affinity. Which action should you perform?
Disable the device in Intune.
Why wrong: Disable is not a supported action.
Wipe the device from Intune.
Why wrong: Wipe performs a factory reset, not just removal.
Retire the device from Intune.
Retire removes management and corporate data.
Delete the device from Microsoft Entra ID.
Why wrong: This removes the device object but does not remove management.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Retire the device from Intune.
Option C is correct because the 'Retire' action in Intune removes the managed app data and policies from the device while preserving the user's personal data, which is appropriate for a corporate-owned device with user affinity that is no longer in use. Retiring also removes the device from Intune management and revokes the company portal access, ensuring compliance without unnecessary data loss.
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.
Disable the device in Intune.
Why it's wrong here
Disable is not a supported action.
Wipe the device from Intune.
Why it's wrong here
Wipe performs a factory reset, not just removal.
Retire the device from Intune.
Why this is correct
Retire removes management and corporate data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Delete the device from Microsoft Entra ID.
Why it's wrong here
This removes the device object but does not remove management.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'Retire' with 'Wipe' or 'Disable', not realizing that Retire is the correct action for removing corporate data without affecting personal data on a corporate-owned device with user affinity.
Detailed technical explanation
When you retire an iOS device enrolled with user affinity, Intune sends a command via the Apple Push Notification service (APNs) to remove the management profile and all managed app data, while the user's personal apps and data remain intact. The device's entry in Intune is marked as retired, and the user's license is freed, but the device object in Microsoft Entra ID is not automatically deleted unless you explicitly remove it. In a real-world scenario, retiring is ideal for corporate-owned devices that are being reassigned or decommissioned, as it avoids the destructive impact of a wipe while ensuring compliance.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
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FAQ
Manage and maintain devices — This question tests Manage and maintain devices — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Retire the device from Intune. — Option C is correct because the 'Retire' action in Intune removes the managed app data and policies from the device while preserving the user's personal data, which is appropriate for a corporate-owned device with user affinity that is no longer in use. Retiring also removes the device from Intune management and revokes the company portal access, ensuring compliance without unnecessary data loss.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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