- Platforms
- Windows
- Products
- IntuneHoloLensEntra ID
- Result
- The HoloLens joins Microsoft Entra ID, enrolls in Intune as a corporate device and runs Windows Holographic for Business
Overview
Unlock Windows Holographic for Business on HoloLens (1st gen) and enroll it in Intune with a provisioning package from Windows Configuration Designer.
HoloLens devices are mixed reality smart glasses made by Microsoft. There are two generations: HoloLens (1st gen), released in 2016, and HoloLens 2, released in 2019.
On HoloLens (1st gen) the business features (the Commercial Suite) must be unlocked with an Enterprise licence. You can do this in a provisioning package (without the licence the package doesn't apply), or, on devices that are already managed, with an edition upgrade profile in Intune:
A provisioning package uses configuration service providers (CSPs). It lets an administrator join many new corporate devices to Microsoft Entra ID and enroll them in an MDM service like Intune through automatic MDM enrollment. You can apply it during or after the out-of-box experience (OOBE), regardless of user identity, see the benefits of provisioning packages.
In this post I configure HoloLens (1st gen) with a provisioning package (.ppkg) created in Windows Configuration Designer and applied after OOBE.
This was my first post about HoloLens management. The later one, about HoloLens 2 and Autopilot self-deploying mode, is here. A big thank you to my Atos colleague Szymon Kudźma, who helped me test and document the user experience.
Prerequisites
Before you start, check that you have the following.
| Area | What you need | Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | Microsoft Intune Plan 1 and Microsoft Entra ID P1 (automatic MDM enrollment) | LicensingAuto-enrollment |
| Admin role | Global Administrator in Microsoft Entra ID to set the MDM user scope | Auto-enrollment |
| Entra ID | Automatic MDM enrollment turned on for the users who enroll the devices | HoloLens MDM |
| Devices | HoloLens (1st gen) on Windows 10 1809 (out of support since December 2024) | Release notes |
| Microsoft | Windows Configuration Designer on a Windows PC | Store |
| The Enterprise licence XML for the edition upgrade (HoloLens 1st gen only) | UpgradeFeatures |
The Enterprise licence file for the edition upgrade:
Configuration
Create the package in Windows Configuration Designer, then apply it to the devices.
Create a provisioning package
In Windows Configuration Designer, start the HoloLens wizard:
Note: the package applies only if it includes an edition upgrade licence to Windows Holographic for Business, or if the device already runs that edition.
Select Next on Getting started. Under Set up device, add the Enterprise licence (XML file) to unlock Windows Holographic for Business:
Configure the Wi-Fi connection under Set up network and select Next. Under Add accounts, select Enroll in Azure AD (now Microsoft Entra ID) for bulk enrollment:
Optionally add a certificate, turn on developer mode and so on. At the end of the wizard, select Create:
Apply the package
You can apply the .ppkg during or after setup. Once it's applied, the device is managed by Intune as a corporate device:
Join type Microsoft Entra joined:
The device overview shows the operating system Windows Holographic for Business:
Result
Finally, apply the package on the HoloLens after setup.
We enrolled a HoloLens (Development Edition) on Windows 10 1809 by applying the package after setup. The Microsoft HoloLens companion app streams the device's view live and captures mixed reality screenshots.
Under Access work or school, the administrator selects Add or remove a provisioning package:
Add a package:
Select the .ppkg file in File Explorer (Documents):
The device joins Microsoft Entra ID and enrolls in Intune automatically:
The device is managed by the organization:
Windows Holographic for Business is unlocked:
