Explaining How to Locate Lost or Stolen Windows 10 / 11 Devices with Microsoft Intune

How to Locate Lost or Stolen Windows 10 /11 Devices with 
Microsoft Intune

Losing a device or having it stolen can be a stressful experience. Besides the immediate panic of not being able to find your laptop or tablet, there are serious security concerns to consider. Thankfully, if you’re using Microsoft Intune for device management, there’s a powerful tool at your disposal to help track down and secure your missing device.

What’s Microsoft Intune?

Before diving into the steps, let’s quickly cover what Microsoft Intune is. Intune is a cloud-based service that helps organizations manage and secure their devices. Think of it as a central hub where you can monitor, configure, and protect all the devices your organization uses. Among its many features, one of the most useful is its ability to locate lost or stolen devices.

Getting Started and Prerequisites

To use Intune’s device location feature, you need a few things in place:

• Intune Subscription: Ensure your organization has an active Intune subscription.

• Device Enrollment: The device you’re trying to locate must be enrolled in Intune.

• User Permissions: Make sure you have the necessary permissions to manage devices in Intune.

Step-by-Step Guide to Locating Your Device

1. Log In to the Intune Admin Center

•       First things first, head over to the Intune Admin Center. You can access it by logging in to Intune Admin Center with your administrator credentials.

 2. Navigate to the Device Section.

• Once logged in, look for the ‘Devices’ section. This is where you’ll find all the devices enrolled in Intune. Click on ‘Devices’ to get to the list of devices you manage.

  3. Find your Device

• In the device list, you can either scroll through or use the search / filter options to find the device you’re looking for. Enter any relevant details like the device name or user.

•      After selecting the relevant device, click the three dots on the upper right corner to open the device command panel.

  4. Select “Locate the Device” Command

After selecting the device, look for the ‘Locate’ action. This option uses the device’s GPS and network data to provide its current location. Click on ‘Locate’ and give it a moment to process.

View Location Data

• On the Locate device dialog box, read the message “Before you continue, make sure you’re following local laws and regulations around receiving location data. Once received, the location data is visible in Intune for 24 hours. Request device location?” and click Yes to locate the device.

• Once the location is retrieved, you’ll see it displayed on a map. Intune provides you with a visual representation of where your device is. Keep in mind that the accuracy of this data can vary based on the device’s connectivity and settings.

Note: This example was not completely accurate, but at least the correct city was shown. Due to privacy concerns, I cannot show you the complete location details of that device.

Additional Actions

• If the device is in a location that’s not ideal or if you want to secure it further, you can use additional actions such as locking the device or sending a message to the screen. This can help protect your data and notify anyone who finds the device.

Understanding Location Data

The location data provided by Intune is a great start, but it’s important to remember that it’s not always pinpoint perfect. The device’s GPS might be off, or it might be reporting its location based on nearby Wi-Fi networks. Nevertheless, it’s a useful tool to help you get closer to recovering your device.

Troubleshooting

Sometimes, you might run into issues:

• Device Not Showing Up: If your device doesn’t appear, ensure it’s properly enrolled and connected to the internet. If it’s turned off or disconnected, Intune won’t be able to locate it.
• Location Not Accurate: Remember that location data can be approximate. If you’re having trouble with accuracy, it might be due to the device’s settings or its environment.

Best Practices for Device Security

To minimize the chances of losing a device in the first place:

• Regular Device Checks: Periodically check the status of your devices in Intune.

• Educate Users: Make sure everyone in your organization understands the importance of reporting lost devices promptly.

Wrapping Up

Using Microsoft Intune to locate lost or stolen Windows 10 devices is a valuable feature that can help you regain control and secure your data. By following these steps, you can track down your device and take action to protect it. Remember, the best defense against device loss is a good offense—regular monitoring and user education are key to maintaining security.

So, this is for now, in the next article, I will go through a detailed walkthrough of how to Configure the settings catalog profile to enable access to the location service on Windows 10 devices.

So, it’s time to explore the Microsoft Intune Admin Center a try and experience how to locate devices by using location services!

I hope you found this article helpful in understanding the location of the future devices of Microsoft Intune Admin Center. If you enjoyed this post, don't forget to share it with your colleagues and friends who might benefit from this knowledge.

Have thoughts or questions? I'd love to hear from you! Drop a comment below, and let's discuss more…!!!

Also, I would like to invite you to read my other articles as well:

How to Manage Licenses in Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Microsoft will Remove License Management from Entra ID Portal on September 1st, 2024

Adding Charges for the Unlicensed OneDrive Accounts

Exploring Passwordless Authentication in Microsoft Entra ID

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