Configure device restriction settings in Microsoft Intune

Important

On October 22, 2022, Microsoft Intune ended support for devices running Windows 8.1. Technical assistance and automatic updates on these devices aren't available.

If you currently use Windows 8.1, then move to Windows 10/11 devices. Microsoft Intune has built-in security and device features that manage Windows 10/11 client devices.

Important

Microsoft Intune is ending support for Android device administrator management on devices with access to Google Mobile Services (GMS) on December 31, 2024. After that date, device enrollment, technical support, bug fixes, and security fixes will be unavailable. If you currently use device administrator management, we recommend switching to another Android management option in Intune before support ends. For more information, see Ending support for Android device administrator on GMS devices.

Intune includes device restriction policies that help administrators control Android, iOS/iPadOS, macOS, and Windows devices. These restrictions let you control a wide range of settings and features to protect your organization's resources. For example, admins can:

  • Allow or block the device camera.
  • Control access to Google Play, app stores, viewing documents, and gaming.
  • Block built-in apps, or create a list of apps that allowed or prohibited.
  • Allow or prevent backing up files to cloud and storage accounts.
  • Set a minimum password length, and block simple passwords.

These features are available in Intune, and are configurable by the administrator. Intune uses configuration profiles to create and customize these settings for your organization's needs. After you add these features in a profile, you then assign the profile to devices in your organization.

This feature applies to:

  • Android device administrator
  • Android Open Source Project (AOSP)
  • Android Enterprise personally owned devices with a work profile
  • iOS/iPadOS
  • macOS
  • Windows 11
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 8.1

This article shows you how to create a device restrictions profile. You can also see all the available settings for the different platforms.

Create the profile

  1. Sign in to the Microsoft Intune admin center.

  2. Select Devices > Manage devices > Configuration > Create > New policy.

  3. Enter the following properties:

    • Platform: Select the platform of your devices. Your options:

      • Android device administrator
      • Android (AOSP)
      • Android Enterprise
      • iOS/iPadOS
      • macOS
      • Windows 10 and later
      • Windows 8.1 and later
    • Profile type: Select Device restrictions. Or, select Templates > Device restrictions.

      To create a device restrictions profile for Windows 10 Team devices, like Surface Hub, then select Device restrictions (Windows 10 Team).

  4. Select Create.

  5. In Basics, enter the following properties:

    • Name: Enter a descriptive name for the policy. Name your policies so you can easily identify them later. For example, a good policy name is iOS/iPadOS: Block camera on devices.
    • Description: Enter a description for the policy. This setting is optional, but recommended.
  6. Select Next.

  7. In Configuration settings, depending on the platform you chose, the settings you can configure are different. Select your platform for detailed settings:

  8. Select Next.

  9. In Scope tags (optional), assign a tag to filter the profile to specific IT groups, like US-NC IT Team or JohnGlenn_ITDepartment. For information about scope tags, go to Use RBAC and scope tags for distributed IT.

    Select Next.

  10. In Assignments, select the users or groups that will receive your profile. For information on assigning profiles, go to Assign user and device profiles.

    Select Next.

  11. In Review + create, review your settings. When you select Create, your changes are saved, and the profile is assigned. The policy is also shown in the profiles list.