Collect Detailed Hardware Information from Windows Devices Using Microsoft Intune
Collect Detailed Hardware Information from Windows Devices Using Microsoft Intune
Microsoft Intune now includes a powerful feature that allows administrators to collect in-depth hardware details from managed Windows devices. This feature helps IT teams monitor device health, performance, and compliance more effectively by gathering granular system information directly from endpoints.
Whether you’re managing corporate-owned, hybrid-joined, or co-managed devices, this feature gives you more visibility into your Windows hardware fleet — all from a single dashboard in the Intune admin center.
Overview
The hardware inventory collection in Intune provides a wide range of system attributes, helping admins track device status, identify hardware mismatches, or detect unsupported configurations.
You can collect data such as:
- CPU and memory information for performance tracking.
- Battery and disk details for health monitoring.
- BIOS and TPM status for firmware compliance.
- Network adapters, SIM information, and OS version for connectivity and deployment readiness.
The data updates automatically every 24 hours, ensuring administrators always have up-to-date information without manual intervention.
Supported Device Types
To use this feature, devices must meet the following conditions:
- Windows Platform: Windows 10 or later (including Windows 11).
- Enrollment Type:
- Intune MDM-managed devices
- Co-managed devices (Configuration Manager + Intune)
- Entra Joined or Entra Hybrid Joined devices
- Permissions: Administrator or Policy Manager role in Intune.
Devices not enrolled or managed through Intune won’t report hardware information to the Intune console.
How It Works
Once enabled, Intune periodically queries the system using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) to collect hardware data. The data is then securely transmitted to Microsoft Intune’s reporting service, where it becomes visible in the Device inventory section of the admin center.
Each hardware category includes one or more detailed properties — for example, CPU includes the Processor ID, while the Disk Drive category shows unique drive identifiers and encryption capability.
Step-by-Step Setup Guide
1. Access the Intune Admin Center
Go to Microsoft Intune Admin Center and sign in using your global or Intune administrator account.
2. Create a New Configuration Profile
- Navigate to Devices → Configuration profiles.
- Click + Create profile.
3. Choose Platform and Profile Type
- Platform: Select Windows 10 and later.
- Profile type: Choose Properties catalog.
This new catalog is specifically designed for managing which hardware attributes Intune will collect from devices.
4. Name and Describe the Profile
Give the profile a clear name and description. For example:
“Windows Hardware Inventory Collection – Finance and IT Devices”
Click Next to continue.
5. Add Hardware Categories to Collect
Click + Add settings and choose the categories you want to include. Each category represents a specific type of hardware data that Intune will collect.
Below is a detailed list of available hardware categories and their core properties:
| Category | Example Properties Collected |
|---|---|
| Battery | Instance Name, Battery Status, Estimated Charge Remaining |
| BIOS Info | BIOS Name, Software Element ID, Target Operating System, BIOS Version |
| CPU | Processor ID, Processor Name, Clock Speed, Core Count |
| Disk Drive | Drive ID, Size, Media Type, Serial Number |
| Encryptable Volume | Volume ID, Encryption Status, Protection Type |
| Logical Drive | Drive Identifier, Free Space, File System Type |
| Memory Info | Total Physical Memory, Memory Slots Used, Capacity per Slot |
| Network Adapter | Identifier, MAC Address, Adapter Type, Connection Status |
| OS Version | Build Number, Edition, Installation Date, Uptime |
| SIM Info | SIM Identifier, Carrier, IMSI, Phone Number |
| System Enclosure | Serial Number, Manufacturer, Model |
| System Info | Computer Name, System SKU, Manufacturer, Product Type |
| Time | Current Time Zone, System Time Offset |
| TPM | TPM Version, Manufacturer, Provisioning Status |
| Video Controller | Identifier, Adapter RAM, Video Processor |
| Windows QFE (Quick Fix Engineering) | Hotfix ID, Description, Installed Date |
Tip: You can include as many categories as needed, but you cannot remove individual required fields within a category. To exclude them, remove the entire category.
6. Assign the Profile to Device Groups
- Under Assignments, add the device groups you want this policy to apply to.
- You can assign it to dynamic or static Azure AD device groups (e.g., “All Windows 11 Devices”).
Note: The collected data currently cannot be used for Entra ID Dynamic Group rules. It is view-only within the Intune portal.
7. Review and Create
Once you’ve added all categories and reviewed settings, click Create. The profile is deployed to the assigned devices.
After deployment, Intune will automatically begin collecting hardware data during the next sync.
Data Collection and Refresh Cycle
Hardware data refreshes every 24 hours automatically. This means even if a device undergoes hardware changes (e.g., RAM upgrade, disk replacement), Intune will capture the latest configuration in its next cycle.
Administrators can trigger a manual sync from the device to expedite updates:
- On the device, open Settings → Accounts → Access work or school.
- Select the connected Intune account.
- Click Info, then choose Sync.
Viewing Hardware Inventory
To review collected data:
- Go to Devices → All devices in the Intune Admin Center.
- Select a specific device.
- Under Monitor, choose Device inventory.
- Pick the hardware category (e.g., CPU, Memory, Network Adapter) to see details.
Each property is displayed with its current value, providing a full picture of the device’s physical and logical components.
Use Cases
- Security and Compliance Auditing: Ensure all managed devices have encryption enabled and compliant BIOS versions.
- Lifecycle Planning: Identify aging hardware (e.g., low RAM or old BIOS) for refresh planning.
- Troubleshooting: Quickly diagnose device issues using real-time hardware data.
- Inventory Accuracy: Maintain an updated catalog of all corporate device configurations without third-party tools.
Limitations
- The collected data cannot yet be queried or filtered in Entra Dynamic Groups.
- Only managed or co-managed devices report hardware details.
- Data collection frequency (24-hour interval) cannot be customized.
Summary
The new Properties Catalog profile in Microsoft Intune significantly improves visibility into Windows device hardware. With granular details—covering CPU, memory, drives, BIOS, TPM, and more—admins can manage device health, plan upgrades, and maintain compliance effortlessly.
This enhancement brings Intune closer to a unified endpoint management experience, offering the same level of control over hardware insights that organizations used to achieve only with Configuration Manager.
