Cleanup Duplicate Device Records

This script groups all Intune managed devices by serial number and identifies duplicates - typically left behind by re-enrollment, OS reinstalls, or Autopilot resets. For every duplicate set it keeps the record with the most recent sync and marks the older records for cleanup. By default the script only reports; deletion requires the -Remove switch and is preview-safe via -WhatIf. Removing a device record from Intune does not wipe the device; it only deletes the stale management object.

DevicesOperational
1 viewsVersion 1.0By Ugur Koc
View on GitHub

New to runbook deployment? Follow the step-by-step guide from the Deploy to Azure button to the first scheduled run, including granting Graph permissions to the managed identity.

// QUALITY CHECKS

Validation status

Quality checks

All checks pass
  • ParsePass
  • LintPass
  • MetadataPass
  • Runbook-readyPass
  • Module depsPass

Tests run automatically on every change. What does each check mean?

// REQUIRED PERMISSIONS

Microsoft Graph scopes

DeviceManagementManagedDevices.ReadWrite.All

Allows the app to read and write the properties of devices managed by Microsoft Intune, without a signed-in user. Does not allow high impact operations such as remote wipe and password reset on the device's owner

Running this as an Azure Automation runbook? These scopes must be granted to the account's managed identity, which has no portal UI. The deployment walkthrough shows the exact Cloud Shell commands.

// CHANGELOG

Version history

  1. Entry · 01

    1.0 - Initial release

// CODE

Source

cleanup-duplicate-device-records.ps1
<#
.TITLE
    Cleanup Duplicate Device Records

.SYNOPSIS
    Finds Intune device records that share a serial number and optionally removes the older stale duplicates.

.DESCRIPTION
    This script groups all Intune managed devices by serial number and identifies
    duplicates - typically left behind by re-enrollment, OS reinstalls, or Autopilot
    resets. For every duplicate set it keeps the record with the most recent sync and
    marks the older records for cleanup. By default the script only reports; deletion
    requires the -Remove switch and is preview-safe via -WhatIf. Removing a device
    record from Intune does not wipe the device; it only deletes the stale management
    object.

.TAGS
    Devices,Operational

.MINROLE
    Intune Administrator

.PERMISSIONS
    DeviceManagementManagedDevices.ReadWrite.All

.AUTHOR
    Ugur Koc

.VERSION
    1.0

.CHANGELOG
    1.0 - Initial release

.LASTUPDATE
    2026-07-20

.EXAMPLE
    .\cleanup-duplicate-device-records.ps1
    Reports duplicate device records without deleting anything

.EXAMPLE
    .\cleanup-duplicate-device-records.ps1 -Remove -WhatIf
    Shows exactly which records would be deleted, without deleting them

.EXAMPLE
    .\cleanup-duplicate-device-records.ps1 -Remove
    Deletes the older duplicate records after an interactive confirmation

.NOTES
    - Requires Microsoft.Graph.Authentication module
    - The newest record per serial number (by lastSyncDateTime, falling back to enrolledDateTime) is always kept
    - Devices with empty or placeholder serial numbers (e.g. "Defaultstring") are excluded from duplicate matching
    - Deleting an Intune device record does not wipe or retire the physical device
    - Uses beta Graph endpoints for consistency with the rest of the library
    - Local interactive sign-in uses the MgGraphCommunity module to avoid the Graph SDK's mandatory WAM broker on Windows
#>

[CmdletBinding(SupportsShouldProcess = $true, ConfirmImpact = "High")]
param(
    [Parameter(Mandatory = $false, HelpMessage = "Delete the older duplicate records instead of only reporting")]
    [switch]$Remove,

    [Parameter(Mandatory = $false, HelpMessage = "Export results to CSV")]
    [switch]$ExportToCsv,

    [Parameter(Mandatory = $false, HelpMessage = "Output path for exports")]
    [string]$OutputPath = ".",

    [Parameter(Mandatory = $false, HelpMessage = "Force module installation without prompting")]
    [switch]$ForceModuleInstall
)

# ============================================================================
# ENVIRONMENT DETECTION AND SETUP
# ============================================================================

function Initialize-RequiredModule {
    param(
        [string[]]$ModuleNames,
        [bool]$IsAutomationEnvironment,
        [bool]$ForceInstall = $false
    )

    foreach ($ModuleName in $ModuleNames) {
        Write-Verbose "Checking module: $ModuleName"

        $module = Get-Module -ListAvailable -Name $ModuleName | Select-Object -First 1

        if (-not $module) {
            if ($IsAutomationEnvironment) {
                throw "Module '$ModuleName' is not available in Azure Automation"
            }
            else {
                Write-Information "Module '$ModuleName' not found. Installing..." -InformationAction Continue

                if (-not $ForceInstall) {
                    $response = Read-Host "Install module '$ModuleName'? (Y/N)"
                    if ($response -notmatch '^[Yy]') {
                        throw "Module '$ModuleName' is required but installation was declined."
                    }
                }

                try {
                    $isAdmin = ([Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal] [Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent()).IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole] "Administrator")
                    $scope = if ($isAdmin) { "AllUsers" } else { "CurrentUser" }

                    Install-Module -Name $ModuleName -Scope $scope -Force -AllowClobber -Repository PSGallery
                    Write-Information "✓ Successfully installed '$ModuleName'" -InformationAction Continue
                }
                catch {
                    throw "Failed to install module '$ModuleName': $($_.Exception.Message)"
                }
            }
        }

        Import-Module -Name $ModuleName -Force -ErrorAction Stop
    }
}

# Detect execution environment
$IsAzureAutomation = $null -ne $PSPrivateMetadata.JobId.Guid

# Initialize required modules
$RequiredModules = @("Microsoft.Graph.Authentication")

# MgGraphCommunity gives WAM-free interactive sign-in for local runs
if (-not $IsAzureAutomation) {
    $RequiredModules += "MgGraphCommunity"
}

try {
    Initialize-RequiredModule -ModuleNames $RequiredModules -IsAutomationEnvironment $IsAzureAutomation -ForceInstall $ForceModuleInstall
    Write-Verbose "✓ All required modules are available"
}
catch {
    Write-Error "Module initialization failed: $_"
    exit 1
}

# ============================================================================
# AUTHENTICATION
# ============================================================================

try {
    if ($IsAzureAutomation) {
        Write-Output "Connecting to Microsoft Graph using Managed Identity..."
        Connect-MgGraph -Identity -NoWelcome -ErrorAction Stop
    }
    else {
        Write-Information "Connecting to Microsoft Graph..." -InformationAction Continue
        $Scopes = @(
            "DeviceManagementManagedDevices.ReadWrite.All"
        )
        Connect-MgGraphCommunity -Scopes $Scopes -NoWelcome -ErrorAction Stop
    }
    Write-Information "✓ Successfully connected to Microsoft Graph" -InformationAction Continue
}
catch {
    Write-Error "Failed to connect to Microsoft Graph: $($_.Exception.Message)"
    exit 1
}

# ============================================================================
# HELPER FUNCTIONS
# ============================================================================

function Get-MgGraphAllPage {
    param(
        [string]$Uri,
        [int]$DelayMs = 100
    )

    $allResults = @()
    $nextLink = $Uri

    do {
        try {
            if ($allResults.Count -gt 0) {
                Start-Sleep -Milliseconds $DelayMs
            }

            $response = Invoke-MgGraphRequest -Uri $nextLink -Method GET

            if ($response.value) {
                $allResults += $response.value
            }
            else {
                $allResults += $response
            }

            $nextLink = $response.'@odata.nextLink'
        }
        catch {
            if ($_.Exception.Message -like "*429*") {
                Write-Information "Rate limit hit, waiting 60 seconds..." -InformationAction Continue
                Start-Sleep -Seconds 60
                continue
            }
            Write-Warning "Error fetching data: $($_.Exception.Message)"
            break
        }
    } while ($nextLink)

    return $allResults
}

function Get-EffectiveTimestamp {
    param([object]$Device)

    # lastSyncDateTime is the best liveness signal; fall back to enrollment time
    if ($Device.lastSyncDateTime) {
        return [DateTime]::Parse($Device.lastSyncDateTime.ToString())
    }
    if ($Device.enrolledDateTime) {
        return [DateTime]::Parse($Device.enrolledDateTime.ToString())
    }
    return [DateTime]::MinValue
}

# ============================================================================
# MAIN SCRIPT LOGIC
# ============================================================================

try {
    Write-Information "Retrieving managed devices..." -InformationAction Continue
    $devices = Get-MgGraphAllPage -Uri "https://graph.microsoft.com/beta/deviceManagement/managedDevices?`$select=id,deviceName,serialNumber,operatingSystem,model,manufacturer,lastSyncDateTime,enrolledDateTime,userPrincipalName,managementAgent"
    Write-Information "✓ Found $(@($devices).Count) managed devices" -InformationAction Continue

    # Placeholder serials would create false duplicate groups
    $invalidSerials = @("", "defaultstring", "tobefilledbyoem", "systemserialnumber", "0", "none", "unknown")
    $devicesWithSerial = @($devices | Where-Object {
            $_.serialNumber -and ($invalidSerials -notcontains $_.serialNumber.ToLowerInvariant().Trim())
        })

    $duplicateGroups = @($devicesWithSerial | Group-Object -Property { $_.serialNumber.Trim() } | Where-Object { $_.Count -gt 1 })

    if ($duplicateGroups.Count -eq 0) {
        Write-Information "`nNo duplicate device records found." -InformationAction Continue
        return
    }

    Write-Information "✓ Found $($duplicateGroups.Count) serial number(s) with duplicate records" -InformationAction Continue

    [System.Collections.Generic.List[Object]]$report = @()
    $deleted = 0
    $deleteFailed = 0

    Write-Information "`nDUPLICATE DEVICE RECORDS" -InformationAction Continue
    Write-Information ("=" * 50) -InformationAction Continue

    foreach ($group in $duplicateGroups) {
        $sorted = @($group.Group | Sort-Object -Property @{ Expression = { Get-EffectiveTimestamp -Device $_ } } -Descending)
        $keeper = $sorted[0]
        $stale = @($sorted | Select-Object -Skip 1)

        Write-Information "`nSerial: $($group.Name)" -InformationAction Continue
        Write-Information "  KEEP:   $($keeper.deviceName) | last sync $($keeper.lastSyncDateTime) | $($keeper.userPrincipalName)" -InformationAction Continue

        foreach ($staleDevice in $stale) {
            Write-Information "  REMOVE: $($staleDevice.deviceName) | last sync $($staleDevice.lastSyncDateTime) | $($staleDevice.userPrincipalName)" -InformationAction Continue

            $action = "Reported"
            if ($Remove) {
                if ($PSCmdlet.ShouldProcess("$($staleDevice.deviceName) ($($staleDevice.id))", "Delete Intune device record")) {
                    try {
                        Invoke-MgGraphRequest -Uri "https://graph.microsoft.com/beta/deviceManagement/managedDevices/$($staleDevice.id)" -Method DELETE
                        Write-Information "    ✓ Deleted" -InformationAction Continue
                        $action = "Deleted"
                        $deleted++
                    }
                    catch {
                        Write-Warning "    Failed to delete '$($staleDevice.deviceName)': $($_.Exception.Message)"
                        $action = "DeleteFailed"
                        $deleteFailed++
                    }
                }
                else {
                    $action = "Skipped"
                }
            }

            $report.Add([PSCustomObject]@{
                    SerialNumber   = $group.Name
                    DeviceName     = $staleDevice.deviceName
                    DeviceId       = $staleDevice.id
                    User           = $staleDevice.userPrincipalName
                    LastSync       = $staleDevice.lastSyncDateTime
                    KeptDeviceName = $keeper.deviceName
                    KeptDeviceId   = $keeper.id
                    Action         = $action
                })
        }
    }

    # Summary
    $totalStale = $report.Count
    Write-Information "`n" -InformationAction Continue
    Write-Information ("=" * 50) -InformationAction Continue
    Write-Information "Summary: $($duplicateGroups.Count) duplicate serials, $totalStale stale records" -InformationAction Continue
    if ($Remove) {
        Write-Information "Deleted: $deleted | Failed: $deleteFailed" -InformationAction Continue
    }
    else {
        Write-Information "Run again with -Remove to delete the stale records (add -WhatIf for a dry run)" -InformationAction Continue
    }
    Write-Information ("=" * 50) -InformationAction Continue

    # Export to CSV if requested
    if ($ExportToCsv) {
        $timestamp = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd_HH-mm-ss"
        $csvPath = Join-Path $OutputPath "Duplicate_Device_Records_$timestamp.csv"
        $report | Export-Csv -Path $csvPath -NoTypeInformation -Encoding UTF8
        Write-Information "✓ CSV report saved: $csvPath" -InformationAction Continue
    }
}
catch {
    Write-Error "Script execution failed: $($_.Exception.Message)"
    exit 1
}
finally {
    try {
        $null = Disconnect-MgGraph
        Write-Information "✓ Disconnected from Microsoft Graph" -InformationAction Continue
    }
    catch {
        Write-Verbose "Graph disconnection completed"
    }
}

// NOTES

Author notes

- Requires Microsoft.Graph.Authentication module - The newest record per serial number (by lastSyncDateTime, falling back to enrolledDateTime) is always kept - Devices with empty or placeholder serial numbers (e.g. "Defaultstring") are excluded from duplicate matching - Deleting an Intune device record does not wipe or retire the physical device - Uses beta Graph endpoints for consistency with the rest of the library - Local interactive sign-in uses the MgGraphCommunity module to avoid the Graph SDK's mandatory WAM broker on Windows

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