Can Windows devices be enrolled in Hexnode from OOBE without signing in first?Solved

Hi @harold,

For Windows enrollment using the Hexnode enrollment URL, the device must first be taken past the initial Windows setup screens so that you can access the desktop.

The enrollment URL method requires you to:

1. Sign in to Windows or create a local administrator account.
2. Open a browser from the desktop.
3. Enter the Hexnode enrollment URL.
4. Download and run the Hexnode installer.

Native Enrollment also requires access to Windows Settings, so the device must already be signed in. After signing in as a local administrator, you can go to Settings > Accounts > Access work or school > Enroll only in device management and complete enrollment using the required enrollment details.

If you want the device to enroll during the out-of-box experience without manually creating or signing in with a local account, use Windows Autopilot. For Autopilot-based zero-touch enrollment, the device must be registered with Windows Autopilot, and the Hexnode portal must be integrated with Microsoft Entra ID so provisioning can happen automatically during OOBE.

Regards,
Sienna Carter
Hexnode UEM

So just to confirm, Native Enrollment is not available directly from the first setup screen either? I was hoping it would let me enroll before reaching the desktop.

Hi @harold,

Native Enrollment is started from the Windows Settings app, so the device has to be signed in first. You would need a local administrator account or another valid Windows sign-in method to reach Settings.

In short:

• Enrollment URL: Requires desktop access and browser access.
• Native Enrollment: Requires desktop access and Windows Settings access.
• Windows Autopilot: Supports enrollment during OOBE without manually reaching the desktop first, provided Autopilot and Microsoft Entra ID integration are configured.

Regards,
Sienna Carter
Hexnode UEM

That clears it up. I’ll sign in with a local admin account for this device and use the enrollment URL/native enrollment. For future devices, I’ll look into Windows Autopilot if we need enrollment to happen during OOBE.