SMART can remove an existing Windows Autopilot registration from a device as part of the Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR) licensing process.
When a Windows license is injected through SMART, a Computer Build Report (CBR) is submitted to Microsoft as part of the refurbishment workflow. Once this process has completed successfully, the device will no longer be associated with its previous Windows Autopilot registration and can be enrolled into a new tenant.
The easiest way to determine when the process has completed is by checking the product key status within your SMART Dashboard.
When the key status changes to Activation Enabled, this indicates that the refurbishment process has been completed successfully and the device’s previous Windows Autopilot registration has been removed.
This status update typically occurs within a few hours of license injection, although timing may vary. The device does not need to remain powered on while waiting for the status to update.
Before You Start
To remove Autopilot using SMART, you must:
- Have a valid Windows license available in your SMART account.
- Be processing an eligible device through the SMART workflow.
- Have an internet connection available during license injection so SMART can communicate with Microsoft.
Step 1: Run SMART
Launch the SMART Client on the device you wish to process.
For best results, we recommend running SMART in Audit Mode.
Running SMART in Audit Mode helps reduce the risk of Windows downloading and caching an Autopilot profile before the refurbishment process has completed.
Step 2: Process the Device
Follow the standard SMART workflow to:
1. Detect and install device drivers.
2. Inject the Windows license.
3. Run Sysprep through SMART to prepare the device and return it to Out of Box Experience (OOBE).
Once the license has been injected successfully, SMART will automatically submit the required data to Microsoft.
Step 3: Confirm Activation Enabled
After license injection, monitor the device within the SMART Dashboard: https://app.smartdpk.com/hardware
Once the device status changes to Activation Enabled, the refurbishment process has completed successfully.
This status is typically updated within a few hours of license injection, although timing may vary.
The device does not need to remain powered on while waiting for this status update.
Important: Local Autopilot Profiles vs Cloud Registration
A common source of confusion is that a device may still display an Autopilot welcome screen even after the refurbishment process has completed successfully.
This does not necessarily mean the device is still enrolled in Autopilot.
Windows can download and cache Autopilot profile information locally on the device. If an Autopilot profile was downloaded before the refurbishment process completed, that profile may continue to appear even after the device has reached Activation Enabled.
For this reason, we recommend verifying that devices have reached Activation Enabled before shipping them to end users.
If an end user powers on the device without an internet connection, Windows may continue displaying the cached Autopilot profile because it cannot contact Microsoft's services to obtain the updated Autopilot status.
In most cases, connecting the device to the internet allows Windows to retrieve the latest information and continue normally.
Troubleshooting
The device shows "Activation Enabled" but Autopilot is still appearing
In most cases, this is caused by a locally cached Autopilot profile rather than an active Autopilot registration.
We recommend:
- Verifying the device status shows Activation Enabled within SMART.
- Checking for locally cached Autopilot profile information.
- Processing devices in Audit Mode where possible.
- Avoiding leaving devices connected to the internet at OOBE for extended periods before refurbishment is completed.
If the issue persists after connecting the device to the internet, please contact SMART Support and provide:
- Serial Number
- Device Manufacturer and Model
- Screenshot/Photo of the issue